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Vaunt — founded by former NBA player Roger Mason Jr. alongside startup and technology executive Omari Ware — has raised a $5 million Series A funding round to reimagine the future of sports and entertainment, according to a press release. The platform was created to help athletes and artists generate income by showcasing their talent to live and digital audiences. “When we created Vaunt, we envisioned a company where players and artists can display their talents and competitiveness both inside and out of their crafts,” said Vaunt Co-founder and CEO, Roger Mason Jr., in a press release. “We are so proud for Vaunt to take this step forward and prepared for us to go even further. The opportunities for this brand and company are endless.”
Content is ubiquitous. That’s great for consumers who devour streaming audio and video voraciously each day. But it’s a mixed bag for content creators who have to cut through the clutter to have their creative work seen and heard. To be fair, not all content is good content. But everyday content creators are often competing with established television, film production, and record companies on the same platform for the same eyeballs. And even the talented aspirants often struggle to stand out. Historically, many young Black Americans have gravitated towards sports or entertainment as career choices. And with platforms like YouTube, where anyone with a smartphone can quickly showcase their singing, rapping, or dancing ability, dreams of fame and fortune feel closer than they’ve ever been. Many aspiring musicians start by putting their music out there on streaming platforms like SoundCloud, Spotify, and YouTube. Doing so is a good start. But, understand, streaming revenue from these...
2019 has been a busy year for actor and producer Issa Rae, and it seems she has no intention of slowing down. Issa has acquired a minority stake in L.A-based streaming startup Streamlytics , which is lead by serial entrepreneur Angela Benton. Angela Benton, a Silicon Valley powerhouse, founded at least two other companies before starting Streamlytics in 2018. She’s also served in advisory capacities for several other startups, including NewME, a startup accelerator for minority founders . Under her leadership, the accelerator assisted entrepreneurs from underrepresented demographics in raising over $47MM in venture capital funding. According to Streamlytic’s website, their goal is “to level the playing field by democratizing access to streaming media data for both users and companies who want to leverage it.” NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 25: Issa Rae attends Black Girls Rock 2019 Hosted By Niecy Nash at NJPAC on August 25, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty...