When we launched Shibuya in March, it was an experiment to see if we could change the way content is funded and produced using the wonderful technology of Web3. Shibuya is the culmination of everything I’ve learned in my career thus far, from crowdfunding to monetizing engagement to empowering creators.
Since then, the novel idea has caught the attention of many - from consumers to creators to investors. We have completed over 7 minutes of high quality animation, raised over $1.5 million through NFT sales to support the development of White Rabbit, fostered a strong community of fans and creators, and now raised institutional funding to support growth of the platform.
I’m excited and blessed to announce that we’ve raised a seed round of $6.9 million led by a16z crypto and Variant with participation from notable angels Joe Tsai, GMJP, Kevin Durant, Paris Hilton, and others.
The funding will be used to on-board new IPs and creators to Shibuya, scale the engineering team, and hire a lead UI/UX designer amongst other roles as we scale and grow the platform.
Unlike traditional streaming platforms, Shibuya is built with decentralization as a priority and uses blockchain technology to securely distribute and monetize content. We want to build a range of tools and resources to help creators produce high-quality content, and provide them with direct access to their audiences. This can empower creators to build deep connections with their fans and create a loyal following that helps drive the growth of the platform.
Chapter 3 of White Rabbit comes out January 10th, and we can’t wait for you guys to watch it!
good
gm