Raw Ventures, a venture capital company, has announced an initiative for mediatech startups, through which they will be able to raise up to €1M in investment, regardless of their development stage. Understanding that the landscape for fundraising, especially when it comes to mediatech startups, is challenging due to the uncertain economic environment, Raw Ventures seeks to simplify the fundraising process and to give mediatech companies a chance to showcase their product or service, injecting capital in a sector that has been neglected as funds turn their attention to other emerging tech markets.
Raw Ventures and MediaTech Hub Conference’ initiative is called the Global MediaTech Pitch Day, and selected companies will be able to present their projects to investors and connect with innovative mediatech companies and industry leaders from around the world, such as Netflix, Paramount, Shutterstock, and others, who were in attendance last year. As a part of its process, Raw Ventures has committed to carefully review all submissions and provide feedback to every applicant, which will be of great help for entrepreneurs, who often have to pitch dozens of funds, often without getting any response or valuable feedback in return. The venture fund embraces the diverse landscape of media innovation, welcoming startups from the traditional TV and movie industry to all modern content-driven sectors, which is why it is encouraging startups, whether early-stage or more mature, to join its initiative.
Those companies that apply will have the chance to raise up to €1 million in investment from Raw Ventures and other investors, based on their current level, market, and business model. In addition to that, the fund will provide a platform for mature startups with positive traction and product-market fit to accelerate their business growth, offering access to an extensive network of investors, potential partners and clients. For early-stage startups, Raw Ventures can also support connections with top mentors, advisors, and mediatech accelerators, which can help them advance from the prototype stage to develop a market-ready product. Additionally, startups can present their ideas to over 600 industry leaders, and compete for a €10,000 award for the best pitch.
“Despite the exponential growth projected for the media industry, reaching over $3 trillion by 2028, startups in this sector often face limited public opportunities to showcase their ideas. Our mission is to catalyze the global mediatech ecosystem, empowering startups at every stage to realize their vision and revolutionize the industry. Whether they are early-stage ventures with an MVP and specific product hypotheses or those who have already gained positive traction and achieved product-market fit, we are here to champion their potential,” says Victoria Palatnik, managing partner at Raw Ventures.
While Raw Ventures has made significant investments across various sectors such as MediaTech, MedTech, AgroTech, FinTech, Mobility, and BuildTech, the company has identified a crucial gap in the mediatech market, which is the distinct lack of dedicated platforms for mediatech startups to pitch their ideas directly to investors within their specific industry. This hinders innovative founders from exposing their products to potential investment opportunities. Consequently, it limits investors from actively engaging and capitalizing on exceptional ideas brimming with exciting potential. In response to this need, and as a team of accomplished entrepreneurs who possess a deep understanding of the challenges involved in raising investments and accessing funds, Raw Ventures has taken the initiative to drive innovation and growth in the industry.
“Media and technology are now ubiquitous, no longer limited to traditional media, television, or cinema. They encompass the Metaverse, platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Web3.0 technologies, and of course, AI. It shapes our everyday experiences. While AI currently assists in scriptwriting, enhancing visuals, and performing synchronous translation, it will soon learn to create content and even films tailored to our personal preferences. We aim to create an event that will captivate everyone involved in the evolution and transformation of the media industry in its broadest sense.” adds Renat Lokomet, venture partner at Raw Ventures.
To be considered for Raw Ventures’ mediatech funding proposition, startups are encouraged to submit their applications before August 8th. Companies invited to participate include entities involved in streamlining production and distribution processes for various content types, enhancing creative processes, executing marketing tasks, or being involved in TV, cinema, streaming, advertising, podcasts, music, as well as those organizations that are facilitating the integration of diverse technologies into media processes.
