Advancit Capital

Advancit Capital Research Investment Thesis Advancit Capital is a strategic bridge between established media powerhouses and emerging creator platforms, technology companies, and web3 startups. Founded in 2011 by Shari Redstone (of the prominent Redstone media family) and Jason Ostheimer, the firm leverages decades of experience running global media businesses at scale. The firm believes in partnering with best-in-class entrepreneurs building the next generation of leading companies across media, entertainment, technology, and web3 sectors. The firm's distinctive positioning comes from its ability to facilitate introductions between portfolio companies and major media conglomerates, distribution partners, and executives from Paramount Global, CBS, and other leading media organizations. This creates a unique moat for portfolio companies seeking media partnerships, distribution deals, or strategic validation from established industry players. Sector Focus Advancit Capital invests across three primary sectors: Media & Entertainment: Streaming and content platforms (BRAT TV, Wondery, The Athletic) Creator platforms and community tools (Irreverent Labs, POAP) Production companies and content studios Digital media and publishing Gaming and esports Consumer Technology: Consumer apps and social platforms (Headspace, Public, Masterclass) Fashion and beauty tech (Pair Eyewear, Merit Beauty, Versed Skin) Fitness and wellness technology (Strivr, Fit Plan App) Gaming and interactive entertainment (100 Thieves, Beamable) Web3 & Emerging Tech: Blockchain and crypto projects (Pragma.gg, Receipts.xyz, Kiki.world) Metaverse and virtual worlds (Futureverse, OnUniverse, Sanctuary World) NFT and digital collectibles platforms Web3 gaming and infrastructure Notably, the portfolio is heavily weighted toward consumer-facing businesses with media or entertainment components, reflecting the firm's media-first thesis. The firm explicitly avoids pure B2B enterprise software, infrastructure plays, and biotech. Stage Focus Advancit primarily focuses on early-stage investments: Seed stage : Dominant investment stage with average round sizes of $2.94M Series A : Occasional investments for scaling companies with product-market fit Pre-seed : Selective participation for exceptional founding teams Growth/Later stage : Minimal participation, primarily in successful portfolio company follow-ons The firm has made 106 total investments with 43 companies in seed stage, indicating a clear preference for early-stage entry points. Check Size & Investment Approach Sweet spot : $500K - $1M per company Range : $50K - $250K historical average (earlier vintages), scaling up to $500K-$1M+ in recent years Investment philosophy : Fund 10-12 startups annually with hands-on operational support Total AUM : Over $70M (Fund III actively deploying) Lead tendency : Acts as lead investor and co-lead in significant portion of rounds Portfolio allocation : Maintains 50% of fund reserves for follow-on investments Recent Activity As of February 2025, Advancit Capital is actively deploying from Fund III with strong deal flow across media, technology, and web3: Recent Notable Investments (2024-2025): Beamable (Series A6, January 2025) - Game development platform Karatage (Series A, November 2025) - Web3/gaming project Continued investments across consumer, gaming, and media sectors 1 new investment in the last 12 months according to TradXN data Fund Status : Actively deploying, with strong momentum in 2025. The firm has demonstrated consistent investment activity and maintains an active pipeline across its core sectors. Team & Network Core Team: Shari Redstone, Co-Founder & Managing Partner : Former Vice Chairman at CBS Corporation, Chairwoman and President of National Amusements, and controlling shareholder of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). Brings unparalleled access to major media executives, distribution capabilities, and strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 media companies. Her Redstone family background provides deep connections across Hollywood and media. Jason Ostheimer, Co-Founder & Partner : Investment professional who previously served as Vice President at Blackstone. Handles day-to-day deal sourcing and portfolio company operations. Jonathan Miller, Senior Advisor : Former Chief Digital Officer at News Corp and former Chairman/CEO of News Corporation's digital media group. Former Director of BBC News Worldwide. Brings deep expertise in digital transformation, media partnerships, and strategic growth for media companies. Network Advantages: Direct access to Paramount Global executives and resources Connections to major media distribution platforms and content partnerships National Amusements network of executives and board members News Corp/FOX relationships through Jonathan Miller Deep entertainment and creator economy relationships Portfolio Highlights The portfolio includes 60+ active portfolio companies across media, consumer tech, and web3: Notable Portfolio Companies (Active): 100 Thieves - Gaming/esports organization Masterclass - Premium online learning platform Headspace Health - Mental wellness and meditation Wondery - Podcast network and production The Athletic - Sports news and subscription platform POAP - NFT and digital collectibles platform Brat TV - Digital media and content platform Resy - Restaurant reservation platform Mux - Video infrastructure and analytics Baobab Studios - VR/AR content production Religion of Sports - Sports media platform Skift - Travel industry intelligence platform The Noun Project - Design assets and community Strivr - VR training platform Rocket Jump - Digital video production Creatively - Creator platform and tools Decision Process & Involvement Decision structure : Partnership-based with Shari Redstone and Jason Ostheimer reviewing deals Decision speed : Relatively efficient given small partnership structure Involvement level : Active board members and advisors providing strategic guidance, media connections, and operational support Follow-on strategy : Maintains 50% reserves for follow-on investments and can scale checks up significantly for breakout companies Geographic Focus Primarily US-based with concentration in: Los Angeles, California (media and entertainment hubs) San Francisco, California (tech and startup ecosystem) New York (media, finance, consumer tech) Selective international investments in media/entertainment hubs Founder Preferences Advancit gravitates toward: Experienced operators : Founders who understand media, consumer behavior, or entertainment deeply Passionate founders : Teams deeply committed to their vision and user base Distribution-savvy : Founders who recognize media partnerships and creator networks as strategic assets Technical or creative talent : Product-focused founders with strong product instincts or creative vision Team dynamics : Founders who can collaborate effectively with the firm's extensive network Competitive Advantages Media Connection Moat : Unique access to Paramount Global, CBS, National Amusements, News Corp executives and resources. This creates distinct value for portfolio companies seeking media partnerships, distribution, or strategic validation. Experienced Operator Network : Through Shari Redstone's experience running major media companies, investors gain access to scaling playbooks and strategic advice from someone who has managed Fortune 500 businesses. Creator Economy Focus : Deep relationships across influencers, creators, production studios, and content platforms give the firm pattern recognition and deal flow advantages in emerging creator economy. Early-stage Conviction : Willingness to write $500K-$1M checks at seed stage before companies have clear product-market fit, enabled by experienced team confident in their ability to help shape early companies. Follow-on Capital : With $70M+ AUM, the firm has meaningful reserves to support breakout companies through Series A and beyond.