The Media and Entertainment industry is filled with successful companies that have raised millions of dollars in VC funding that came from some of the top investors in the world.

Many of these successes have turned into unicorns — private companies worth over $1 billion.

If you want to build the next unicorn in the Media and Entertainment space, these 16 companies should be your inspiration.

16 Media and Entertainment Unicorns Companies

1) Vice Media

Vice is a multi-platform media company. They make television, videos, magazines, and websites about the things that interest young people.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $5.70B (April 2011)
  • Country: United States
  • State: New York
  • City: Brooklyn
  • Started in: 1994
  • Founders: Shane Smith, Suroosh Alvi
  • Number of employees: 1,000-5,000
  • Funding: $2,690.00M
  • Funding rounds: 8
  • Number of investors: 13

You can find their website here.

2) Patreon

Patreon is a membership platform that makes it easy for artists and creators to get paid.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $4.00B (September 2020)
  • Country: United States
  • State: California
  • City: San Francisco
  • Started in: 2013
  • Founders: Jack Conte, Sam Yam
  • Number of employees: 500-1,000
  • Funding: $417.30M
  • Funding rounds: 10
  • Number of investors: 36

You can find their website here.

3) Autograph

Autograph is an NFT platform that brings iconic brands from sports and culture together to create digital collections.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $3.66B (January 2022)
  • Country: United States
  • State: California
  • City: Santa Monica
  • Started in: 2021
  • Founders: Dillon Rosenblatt, Josh Payne, Tom Brady
  • Number of employees: 51-100
  • Funding: $205.00M
  • Funding rounds: 3
  • Number of investors: 9

You can find their website here.

4) Dadi Cinema

Dadi Cinema is focused on the management and operation of theaters across China.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $3.24B (May 2016)
  • Country: China
  • State: Guangdong
  • City: Shenzhen
  • Started in: 2006
  • Number of employees: 5,000-10,000
  • Funding: $154.00M
  • Funding rounds: 1
  • Number of investors: 1

You can find their website here.

5) A24

A24 is a film distribution and film and television production company based in Los Angeles, California.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $2.50B (March 2022)
  • Country: United States
  • State: New York
  • City: New York
  • Started in: 2012
  • Founders: Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, John Hodges, Matthew Bires
  • Number of employees: 251-500
  • Funding: $225.00M
  • Funding rounds: 2
  • Number of investors: 3

You can find their website here.

6) SmartNews

SmartNews is an app that brings curated news from trustworthy sources to your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $2.00B (August 2019)
  • Country: Japan
  • City: Tokyo
  • Started in: 2012
  • Founders: Kaisei Hamamoto, Ken Suzuki
  • Number of employees: 100-250
  • Funding: $409.60M
  • Funding rounds: 6
  • Number of investors: 21

You can find their website here.

7) Amagi Media Labs

Amagi Media Labs is a media technology company that provides cloud-based broadcast and connected TV solutions.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.40B (March 2022)
  • Country: United States
  • State: New York
  • City: New York
  • Started in: 2008
  • Founders: Baskar Subramanian, Srinivasan KA, Srividhya Srinivasan
  • Number of employees: 501-1000
  • Funding: $349.70M
  • Funding rounds: 8
  • Number of investors: 9

You can find their website here.

8) Epidemic Sound

EPIDEMIC SOUNDS is a music company that helps online creators and people with passion in music to make their own soundtrack absolutely free.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.40B (March 2021)
  • Country: Sweden
  • City: Stockholm
  • Started in: 2009
  • Founders: David Stenmarck, Hjalmar Winbladh, Jan Zachrisson, Oscar Höglund, Peer Åström
  • Number of employees: 250-500
  • Funding: $476.14M
  • Funding rounds: 5
  • Number of investors: 10

You can find their website here.

9) Yidian Zixun

Yidian Zixun, a professional mobile news aggregator, provides users with concentrated and syndicated news feeds.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.40B (October 2017)
  • Country: China
  • State: Beijing
  • City: Beijing
  • Started in: 2012
  • Founders: Jeff Zheng, Xuyang Ren
  • Number of employees: 500-1,000
  • Funding: $526.50M
  • Funding rounds: 4
  • Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

10) Flipboard

Flipboard combines the functionality of a social news platform with a tablet app to create a magazine-like experience.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.32B (July 2015)
  • Country: United States
  • State: California
  • City: Palo Alto
  • Started in: 2010
  • Founders: Evan Doll, Mike McCue
  • Number of employees: 100-250
  • Funding: $210.50M
  • Funding rounds: 5
  • Number of investors: 19

You can find their website here.

11) Kuaikan Manhua

Kuaikan Manhua is an innovative online marketplace, connecting e-comic book readers to the best local and international visual novels.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.25B (December 2017)
  • Country: China
  • State: Beijing
  • City: Beijing
  • Started in: 2014
  • Founders: Anni Chen, Runchao Li, Ye Mingxiang
  • Number of employees: 50-100
  • Funding: $595.00M
  • Funding rounds: 6
  • Number of investors: 12

You can find their website here.

12) Genies

Genies is a company that creates avatars for individuals and communities.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.00B (April 2022)
  • Country: United States
  • State: California
  • City: Venice
  • Started in: 2017
  • Founders: Akash Nigam, Evan Rosenbaum, Jake Adams, Matt Geiger
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding: $266.96M
  • Funding rounds: 13
  • Number of investors: 68

You can find their website here.

13) News Break

News Break is the Nation’s #1 Intelligent Local News Platform

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.00B (January 2021)
  • Country: United States
  • State: California
  • City: Mountain View
  • Started in: 2015
  • Founders: Jeff Zheng, Xuyang Ren
  • Number of employees: 250-500
  • Funding: $140.23M
  • Funding rounds: 5
  • Number of investors: 3

You can find their website here.

14) Cameo

Cameo is making personal video shoutouts affordable and accessible to everyone. From saying thank you to sharing your birthday wishes, they’re giving fans a platform where they can connect with their favorite people.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.00B (March 2021)
  • Country: United States
  • State: Illinois
  • City: Chicago
  • Started in: 2016
  • Founders: Devon Townsend, Martin Blencowe, Steven Galanis
  • Number of employees: 250-500
  • Funding: $165.71M
  • Funding rounds: 8
  • Number of investors: 27

You can find their website here.

15) Fever Labs

Fever is a global live-entertainment discovery platform, helping people discover experiences in their cities

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.00B (January 2022)
  • Country: United States
  • State: New York
  • City: New York
  • Started in: 2012
  • Founders: Alexandre Perez Casares, Francisco Hein, Ignacio Bachiller, Pep Gomez
  • Number of employees: 500-1,000
  • Funding: $315.43M
  • Funding rounds: 8
  • Number of investors: 23

You can find their website here.

16) Red Ventures

Red Ventures is a portfolio that includes some of the most influential brands and digital platforms in the decision-making space. Their strategic partnerships with industry-leading companies also help them deliver a unique decision-making experience.

Details of the startup:

  • Valuation: $1.00B (January 2015)
  • Country: United States
  • State: South Carolina
  • City: Fort Mill
  • Started in: 2000
  • Founders: Dan Feldstein, Mark Brodsky, Ric Elias
  • Number of employees: 1,000-5,000
  • Funding: $613.16M
  • Funding rounds: 3
  • Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.