Entertainment investment landscape changed significantly in 2025.
Streaming services need original content. Gaming companies acquire new IP. Creator platforms scale globally.
Traditional studios no longer dominate funding. VCs, angels, and strategic investors now back entertainment startups across content, technology, and distribution.
AI reshapes production costs. Virtual stages replace physical sets. Direct-to-fan models prove profitable.
This guide provides a list of active entertainment investors. Investment criteria, portfolio companies, and contact information for 40+ funds and angels.
From media-focused VCs to platform investors. Each profile includes focus areas and typical check sizes.
How to pitch your entertainment startup to investors
You've built a creator platform with 10,000 active users. Your AI tool cuts production time by 70%. Early customers include known studios.
But investors ignore your emails.
Stop sending PDF pitch decks. They vanish in inboxes. You can't see who opened them. Partners can't track which slides matter.
Use trackable links instead. Know when investors open your deck. See time spent per slide. Get alerts when shared internally.
Ellty makes it simple. Share secure links. Track pitch deck engagement. No more guessing if investors saw your work.
Entertainment Investors
1. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Leading Silicon Valley VC with strong entertainment and consumer focus.
Investment focus: Consumer technology, gaming, media platforms, creator economy
Investment range: Seed to Series D+, $500K to $100M+
Notable investments: Roblox, Clubhouse, Epic Games, Substack
Contact: a16z.com
2. Lerer Hippeau
Early-stage VC focused on consumer and media startups.
Investment focus: Media, content, entertainment tech, consumer internet
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series B, $100K to $10M
Notable investments: BuzzFeed, Casper, Mirror, Group Nine Media
Contact: lererhippeau.com
3. CAA Ventures / Connect Ventures
Venture arm of Creative Artists Agency partnered with NEA.
Investment focus: Consumer brands, content, media tech at culture/commerce intersection
Investment range: Early stage, up to $20M
Notable investments: Spire Animation, FightCamp, OpenSea, Pair Eyewear
Contact: connectventures.com
4. Lightspeed Venture Partners
Global multi-stage VC with entertainment portfolio.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, gaming, media platforms
Investment range: Seed to growth, $1M to $100M+
Notable investments: Snap, Epic Games, Cameo
Contact: lsvp.com
5. Bessemer Venture Partners
One of the oldest VCs with active entertainment investments.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, media tech, content platforms
Investment range: Seed to growth stage
Notable investments: Pinterest, Twitch, Periscope
Contact: bvp.com
6. NEA (New Enterprise Associates)
Large fund with dedicated consumer and entertainment practice.
Investment focus: Digital media, consumer platforms, entertainment tech
Investment range: Seed to late stage, $1M to $100M+
Notable investments: BuzzFeed, MasterClass, Robinhood
Contact: nea.com
7. Raine Ventures
Merchant bank focused on technology, media, and telecommunications.
Investment focus: Media, entertainment, sports, digital content
Investment range: Growth equity, $20M+
Notable investments: Imagine Entertainment, Vice Media
Contact: raine.com
8. TCG Capital (The Chernin Group)
Peter Chernin's investment vehicle for media and entertainment.
Investment focus: Consumer media, entertainment tech, content companies
Investment range: Growth stage, $10M+
Notable investments: Headspace, The Athletic, Action Network
Contact: tcg.com
9. WME Ventures
Investment arm of William Morris Endeavor.
Investment focus: Media, sports, entertainment technology
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: DraftKings, Peloton
Contact: wmeagency.com
10. Advancit Capital
Early-stage VC focused on media innovation.
Investment focus: All things media, content platforms, creator tools
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: Media and content startups
Contact: advancitcapital.com
11. Greycroft
Two-coast VC with strong media and consumer portfolio.
Investment focus: Internet, mobile, media, consumer brands
Investment range: Seed to growth, $500K to $25M
Notable investments: Huffington Post, Maker Studios, Thrive Market
Contact: greycroft.com
12. Greylock Partners
Tier 1 VC with consumer and entertainment investments.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, social platforms, media tech
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: Facebook, LinkedIn, Discord, Roblox
Contact: greylock.com
13. Index Ventures
Global VC investing in transformative entertainment companies.
Investment focus: Gaming, consumer platforms, media tech
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: King (Candy Crush), Supercell, Discord
Contact: indexventures.com
No pitch deck yet? Start with this template
14. General Catalyst
Multi-stage investor with entertainment portfolio.
Investment focus: Consumer platforms, media tech, content
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Snapchat, ClassPass
Contact: generalcatalyst.com
15. Accel
Global VC with strong consumer and entertainment practice.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, gaming, media platforms
Investment range: Seed to late stage
Notable investments: Facebook, Spotify, Supercell
Contact: accel.com
16. Upfront Ventures
LA-based VC focused on Southern California ecosystem.
Investment focus: Digital media, gaming, consumer internet
Investment range: Seed to Series B, $500K to $15M
Notable investments: Maker Studios, TrueCar
Contact: upfront.com
17. Kleiner Perkins
Silicon Valley institution with entertainment investments.
Investment focus: Consumer platforms, digital media
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: Spotify, Peloton, MasterClass
Contact: kleinerperkins.com
18. GV (Google Ventures)
Alphabet's venture arm investing across entertainment.
Investment focus: Media tech, AI-powered content, platforms
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Medium, Slack
Contact: gv.com
19. Baseline Ventures
Steve Anderson's fund focused on consumer and media.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, media platforms
Investment range: Seed stage, $100K to $1M
Notable investments: Instagram, Stitch Fix
Contact: baselinev.com
20. Makers Fund
Gaming and interactive entertainment specialist.
Investment focus: Gaming, esports, interactive media
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Epic Games, Niantic
Contact: makersfund.com
21. Bitkraft Ventures
Esports and gaming focused fund.
Investment focus: Gaming, esports, interactive entertainment
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series B
Notable investments: Discord, Epic Games ecosystem
Contact: bitkraft.vc
22. March Capital
LA-based growth equity firm.
Investment focus: Media tech, enterprise software for entertainment
Investment range: Series B+, $10M+
Notable investments: Entertainment technology companies
Contact: marchcp.com
23. Evolution Media Capital
CAA's merchant bank for media and entertainment.
Investment focus: Media rights, content companies, sports
Investment range: Growth equity and advisory
Notable investments: Calm, Scopely
Contact: caaevolution.com
24. 776 Management
Alexis Ohanian's fund focused on consumer and culture.
Investment focus: Consumer brands, creator economy, sports media
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: TMRW Sports, Doodles
Contact: 776.com
Send regular investor updates with Ellty
No investor update template yet? Start with this one
25. Sapphire Sport
Dedicated sports and entertainment fund by Sapphire Ventures.
Investment focus: Sports media, entertainment tech
Investment range: Series A to growth
Notable investments: Sports media platforms
Contact: sapphireventures.com
26. Left Lane Capital
Consumer internet focused fund.
Investment focus: Internet and consumer tech including entertainment
Investment range: Growth stage
Notable investments: Gaming and entertainment platforms
Contact: leftlanecap.com
27. Shamrock Capital
Entertainment and media specialist investor.
Investment focus: Content, media, entertainment, sports
Investment range: Growth equity, $25M+
Notable investments: Content funds and media companies
Contact: shamrockcap.com
28. Waverly Capital
Media-focused VC fund.
Investment focus: Media innovation, content platforms
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: Media technology companies
Contact: waverlycapital.com
29. Serena Ventures
Serena Williams' fund investing in diverse founders.
Investment focus: Consumer brands, media, entertainment
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: MasterClass, Daily Harvest
Contact: serenaventures.com
30. Science Inc.
LA-based incubator and fund.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, media, commerce
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: Dollar Shave Club, FameBit
Contact: science-inc.com
Entertainment angel investors
Jason Calacanis
Serial investor, founder of LAUNCH
Focus: Media startups, consumer platforms
Notable: Early investor in Uber, Robinhood
Ronald Conway
Super angel, former Google investor
Focus: Consumer internet, media
Notable: PayPal, Google, Ask Jeeves
Gary Vaynerchuk
CEO of VaynerMedia
Focus: Media, consumer brands, sports
Notable: Uber, Twitter, Tumblr
Michael Jones
Co-founder of Science Inc.
Focus: Consumer internet, entertainment
Notable: Dollar Shave Club exit to Unilever
Mark Cuban
Dallas Mavericks owner, Shark Tank investor
Focus: Media, entertainment, sports tech
Notable: Broadcast.com, numerous entertainment ventures
Scooter Braun
Entertainment executive, SB Projects founder
Focus: Music tech, creator platforms
Notable: Raised in Space fund
Troy Carter
Music manager turned investor
Focus: Music tech, creator economy
Notable: Spotify, Uber, Warby Parker
Ashton Kutcher
Actor and Sound Ventures co-founder
Focus: Consumer tech, media platforms
Notable: Airbnb, Spotify, Duolingo
What entertainment investors actually fund
They want platforms, not projects
Forget pitching your indie film. Or your podcast series.
Entertainment VCs fund infrastructure. The tools creators use. The platforms audiences visit daily.
Substack: $65M raised. Not for newsletters. For the platform.
Patreon: $4B valuation. Not for content. For creator payments.
Discord: $15B valuation. Not for chat. For community infrastructure.
One movie might make millions. A platform makes billions.
Working AI, not AI promises
Your deck says "AI-powered." So does everyone's.
Show them AI that's already cutting costs. Virtual production saving 70% on shoots. Automated editing that creators actually use.
Runway ML got $141M because filmmakers use their tools today. Not tomorrow. Today.
The boring stuff that makes money
Rights management software. Analytics dashboards. Payment processing for creators.
Unsexy? Yes. Fundable? Absolutely.
These tools touch every transaction. Every view. Every payment. That's what VCs want.
Gaming tech outside gaming
Unreal Engine in film production. Gaming mechanics in education. Virtual worlds for concerts.
Epic Games hit $31B valuation. Not just Fortnite. The engine Hollywood can't live without.
Skip the middleman economy
Creators selling direct to fans. No labels. No studios. No networks.
Every platform cutting out traditional gatekeepers gets attention. Music. Education. Fitness. All going direct.
The math is simple: Creator keeps 90% instead of 10%. Investors love that math.
What kills entertainment funding
Pitching content instead of technology
"We're making a revolutionary film about climate change."
Dead on arrival.
VCs don't fund movies. They fund MoviePass (RIP). They fund Netflix. Not the shows on Netflix.
Your amazing script? They don't care. Your platform that helps 10,000 filmmakers distribute their scripts? Now they're listening.
Celebrity attachments without revenue
"We have [famous person] attached to the project."
So what?
Celebrity partnerships mean nothing without proven monetization. Quibi had every celebrity. Died in 6 months.
Show revenue, not name drops. Cameo works because celebrities drive transactions, not because they're famous.
Comparing yourself to Netflix
"We're the Netflix of [insert niche]."
You're not.
Netflix spent $17 billion on content last year. You have a pitch deck.
Better: "We help creators monetize without Netflix." Different story.
Web3 buzzword soup
"Blockchain-based decentralized entertainment metaverse with NFT integration."
Investors translate this as: "We have no business model."
If you can't explain your business without Web3 terms, you don't have a business.
Asking for money to "build community"
Community isn't a business model. It's a result.
"We need $2M to build our community" = instant pass.
"Our 50K paying members generate $200K MRR" = let's talk.
Revenue first. Community follows.
The "if we get 1% of the market" pitch
"If we capture just 1% of the $100B entertainment market..."
Stop.
Every bad pitch includes this. You won't randomly get 1% of anything.
Show specific user acquisition costs. Prove unit economics. Skip market size fantasies.
Get your entertainment pitch funded with Ellty
See who's really interested
Sent 30 decks. Got silence.
But three investors spent 10+ minutes on your revenue model. One shared with partners.
Without Ellty, you'd never know. With Ellty, you focus on the three who care.
Learn what works
Traction slide: 45 seconds
Technology slide: 3 minutes
Message clear: lead with tech.
Every view improves your next pitch.
Real results
"CAA Ventures spent 12 minutes on our monetization model. Sent one targeted follow-up. Got the meeting." - Entertainment founder
Before Ellty: 2% response rate
With Ellty: 40% response rate
Protect your ideas
PDFs get forwarded to competitors. Can't stop it.
Ellty links expire. Revoke access anytime. See everyone who has it.
Follow up smarter
"Hi Sarah, saw you reviewed our AI dubbing tech. Here's a 2-minute demo."
Beats "just following up" every time.
FAQs
What check sizes do entertainment investors typically write?
Angels: $25K-$250K
Seed VCs: $500K-$3M
Series A: $5M-$15M
Growth: $20M+
Do I need Hollywood connections to raise?
No. But warm intros help. Get them through accelerators, other founders, or industry events.
Which entertainment sectors get funded most?
Gaming (40%), creator tools (25%), streaming tech (20%), other (15%). Single content projects: nearly zero.
Should I move to LA?
Not required. 60% of entertainment funding happens remotely. But being in LA/NYC helps for networking.
How long does entertainment fundraising take?
Seed: 3-4 months
Series A: 4-6 months
Add 2 months if you're outside the industry.
What metrics matter most?
B2B: MRR, churn, CAC/LTV
B2C: MAU, retention, engagement time
Platform: GMV, take rate, creator retention
Can I raise without revenue?
Seed: Yes, with strong team and traction
Series A: No. Need $1M+ ARR minimum.
Do entertainment investors require board seats?
Lead investors: Yes
Non-leads: Usually board observer rights
Angels: No
What kills most entertainment deals?
Unclear business model (35%), single content focus (25%), no technical differentiation (20%), unrealistic valuations (20%).
Best time to raise for entertainment?
Q1 and Q3. Avoid summer (everyone's in Cannes/vacations) and December.
