What is WaitWhat?
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in New York City, WaitWhat operates as a media invention company. Its core mission is to invest in, develop, produce, and distribute wholly-owned media properties. The company focuses on creating new genres, categories, and formats of content designed for scalability. WaitWhat is recognized for producing the Webby award-winning Masters of Scale podcast, hosted by LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Should this Exist?, a property hosted by Caterina Fake that critically examines the impact of technology on society. This strategic focus positions WaitWhat at the forefront of media innovation, aiming to redefine content consumption and engagement.
How much funding has WaitWhat raised?
WaitWhat has raised a total of $16.3M across 2 funding rounds:
Series A
$4.3M
Series B
$12M
Series A (2019): $4.3M with participation from Cue Ball, Liminal Ventures, and Burda Principal
Series B (2021): $12M led by Cue Ball, Gingerbread Capital, Capital One Ventures, Maywic Select Investments, Emerson Collective, Lupa Systems, Raga Partners, Reid Hoffman, and Burda Principal Investments
Key Investors in WaitWhat
Cue Ball
Cue Ball is a purpose-driven company that partners with entrepreneurs across various industries, focusing on creating value at the intersection of purpose and profit. They support innovation and positive change in sectors like child safety, environmental stewardship, and career development.
Gingerbread Capital
Gingerbread Capital is dedicated to closing the funding gap for women-led ventures and supporting emerging funds led by women and diverse teams. They invest in exceptional women founders across sectors like healthcare, consumer products, and education.
Emerson Collective
Emerson Collective invests in entrepreneurs and innovators driven by purpose, aiming to create a world that expands opportunity and ensures human flourishing. They address complex challenges in education, economic mobility, immigration, and the environment.
What's next for WaitWhat?
The recent major strategic investment signifies WaitWhat's transition into a scaling phase, likely aimed at expanding its portfolio of media properties and enhancing its production capabilities. With a history of successful ventures like Masters of Scale, the company is well-positioned to leverage this new capital for further innovation in content formats and distribution channels. Future initiatives may include the development of new podcasts, digital series, or other media ventures that align with its mission of creating scalable, genre-defining content. The company's focus on wholly-owned properties suggests a long-term strategy for building a robust intellectual property library.
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