Peter Csathy

Dude Perfect raised $100M for global biz expansion. The deal is getting lots of buzz, but our team’s math signals challenges ahead. Let’s break it down… DEAL DETAILS • $100 - 300M growth capital investment • Led by Highmount Capital • Unclear if 100% invested upfront OR draw down of commitment over time • No previous capital raised USE OF FUNDS • Hire mgmt team to expand biz • More live experiences incl int’l tour, consumer products • Grow content formats, frequency, channels, global localization e.g. animation, TV, movies, streaming • Extend brand beyond 5 founders by building talent network • New HQ in Frisco, TX as prod facility and “family-friendly entertainment destination”: – Retail store, podcasts / gaming / fan UGC spaces, trick shot tower, DP museum, mini golf, restaurants – Original plans for 3-story, 30 acre facility est to cost $100M+, 2 yrs to build COMPANY OVERVIEW: Dude Perfect • Digital-native comedy and sports media brand • Faith-based mission: “We’re about giving back, spreading joy and glorifying Jesus Christ”  • Other YouTube franchises: “Stereotypes,” “Overtime”, “Bucket List”  • Media brand also incl books, mobile games, board games and toys, and merch / retail / food and beverage partnerships • 25 current team members PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS • 60M YouTube Followers, 17B views • Est 2024 revenue: $50M per DP • Est 2023 and 2022 revenue: $25M and $20M per WSJ  • Consumer product partnerships incl Nerf toy line, Columbia Sportswear • Partnered with A Parent Media co to launch a streaming service • ESPN “30 for 30” doc premiering at Dallas Int’l film festival • TV series on CMT in 2016, later aired on Nickelodeon • Alternate broadcasts for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football • 4 live nationwide tours as of 2023 ORIGIN STORY • Founded 2009 by 5 friends at Texas A&M • Cofounders = twins Coby Cotton and Cory Cotton, Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert • Started as YT channel featuring trick shot videos INVESTOR OVERVIEW: Highmount Capital • Growth stage and middle mkt PE fund for tech, media, healthcare • Founded in 2023 by jason illian and David Hawkins • 4 team members on website + advisor • 3 team members have faith-based ties per bios • No other investments listed on website other than DP My takeaway... I really like and support the trend of increased investment into YouTubers and digital-native media brands. But as I wrote about in my 2024 State of Creator x Media capital markets reports (will link them below), investment must match market and opportunity size. To ensure good ROI, and to set good precedent for future investment into our space. The DP bet is exciting, but could be overly optimistic based on our prelim math. My colleague Michael Booth's post breaks the math down (link below). More analysis to come in my Friday newsletter. —- I’m the founder of RockWater Industries. We do m&a and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My dm’s are open. #media #agency #creatoreconomy

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🌟Innovative VC Firm Overcomes Exits Drought with Secondary Sales🌟 ⛵Navigating a challenging landscape where exits are scarce, Santa Barbara Venture Partners (SBVP) has pioneered a novel approach to sustain its growth and attract investors for its second fund: secondary sales. Instead of waiting for traditional exits like IPOs or acquisitions, SBVP opted to sell shares of its portfolio companies, demonstrating its ability to generate returns for investors and stand out in a competitive market. 🎤According to Dan Engel, founder and managing partner of SBVP, these secondary transactions have been a game-changer, sparking investor interest and bolstering the firm's credibility. By leveraging its recent successes, including a lucrative stake in sports-betting company DraftKings Inc.' acquisition of digital lottery app Jackpocket, SBVP seized the opportunity to return profits to its limited partners (LPs) and pave the way for its second fund. 💡Engel highlighted the challenges faced by young VC firms in raising subsequent funds, particularly amid a downturn in exit activity and heightened investor scrutiny. With traditional exit routes becoming increasingly elusive, the pressure is on for firms to demonstrate tangible returns and establish a track record of success. ✨"For us, secondary sales have been a game-changer. They've helped us return profits to our LPs and attract investors for our second fund," said Dan Engel. 💰For SBVP, the decision to pursue secondary sales was driven by the need to provide liquidity to LPs and validate its investment thesis in the eyes of prospective investors. By strategically offloading portions of its holdings in high-performing portfolio companies like Bark Technologies and Rad AI, SBVP not only generated substantial returns but also bolstered investor confidence in its ability to deliver results. ⚠Despite the complexities and potential stigma associated with early share sales, Engel emphasized the importance of prioritizing investor returns and seizing opportunities to unlock value for stakeholders. With a focus on profitability and transparency, SBVP remains committed to its mission of delivering sustainable growth and maximizing returns for its LPs. 🔍 "Returning profits to our investors is our top priority. By strategically selling shares, we're proving our commitment to delivering results and driving value for our stakeholders," added Engel. As SBVP continues to explore secondary transactions and expand its investor base, the firm stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in the face of market challenges. 🚀 ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #fund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VCInnovation #SecondarySalesSuccess #InvestorReturns #ValueCreation 

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Ziff Davis acquired CNET for over $100M. The new owner is betting on more digital M&A with its $670M warchest. That price is down from $1.8B CBS paid for it in 2008. And $500M current owner Red Ventures paid for it in 2020. Let’s break it down👇 ---SELLER: CNET--- • Tech news and reviews site • Drives traffic via SEO • Monetizes via affiliate links • 38M visitors in Jun 2024 • Launched 1994 ---M&A HISTORY: CNET--- • 2002 CNET Networks acquired tech publisher Ziff-Davis Inc. (different co) and ZDNet for $1.6B • 2008 CBS acquired CNET Networks for $1.8B • 2020 Red Ventures acquired CNET for $500M ---SELLER OWNER: Red Ventures--- • PE-backed marketing-turned-media company • Provides client services, owns brands, makes investments • Portfolio incl Bankrate, Lonely Planet, Points Guy, others ---BUYER: Ziff Davis--- • Vertically focused digital media and internet company • Brands incl PCMag, Mashable, IGN, Retailmenot, Lifehacker • 2010 CEO led buyout of ZD w/ Great Hill Partners • 2012 ZD sold to J2 Global, went on M&A spree • Founded 1927 as mag publisher ---FINANCIALS: Ziff Davis--- Stock price as of 10:10AM ET on 8.12… • Stock price: $41.64 • Mkt Cap: $2B • Down 38% YTD • Down 39% YoY 1H 2024 financials as of 6.30.24... • Revenue: Up 0.3% to $635M • Adj EBITDA: Down 2% to $197M • Adj EBITDA margin: Down 0.7 pps to 31% • FCF: Down 27% to $73M • C&CE: $687M ---DEAL DETAILS--- • Undisclosed • Will close in 3Q 2024 ---DEAL VALUE PROP--- • Audience is attractive to tech advertisers • Target consumers/businesses navigating tech/telecom purchases • Part of ZD digital media rollup strategy ---WHAT ELSE I FIND INTERESTING--- I'll write more about the deal in my newsetter this Friday. I'm curous to dig into financial performance trend of Ziff Davis, which we can see in public filings. Of note, its 1H 2024 performance has declined VS 1H 2023. Wonder what the key macro VS micro drivers are. I want to better understand viability of its digital media rollup strategy, and future M&A strategy, particuarly since it has $670M of cash on hand and CEO Vivek Shah said he wants to keep doing deals. --- I'm the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open.

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Kanopy is here to change the game and offer a refreshing streaming alternative in an industry dominated by endless reality shows and sequels. Read more about it here: https://loom.ly/jbRCq_4 #streaming #tv #Kanopy

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Gerry Cardinale, through his firm RedBird Capital Partners, played a pivotal role in Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount Global. As part of a consortium led by Skydance, Cardinale helped orchestrate an $8 billion investment plan to take over Paramount, which included buying out National Amusements Inc. (NAI)—the parent company of Paramount—for $2.4 billion. This strategic move resulted in Skydance IG securing a 70% equity stake in the newly formed entity, while Class B stockholders retained a 30% stake. While the acquisition of Paramount Global has garnered significant media attention, less focus has been given to how this fits into RedBird Capital’s broader strategy of partnering with world-class storytellers to create impactful and meaningful content. Some notable investments by Gerry and his team include: -SpringHill Company: Collaborating with LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, and their team to amplify diverse voices and produce impactful stories that go beyond traditional media. -Artists Equity: Partnering with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to establish a new model that provides artists with greater control and financial stakes in their projects. -All3Media: Investing in one of the UK’s largest independent production companies, led by Jane Turton and Sara Geater, to support global content creation. -Everwonder Studio: Supporting Ian Orefice’s venture to innovate digital-first content creation through premium short-form storytelling. (Ian is an Executive Producer of “Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy”) -Skydance Media: Facilitating the transformative acquisition of Paramount to uphold a legacy of high-quality, event-level entertainment and innovative content development under David Ellison's leadership. These are just a few examples of how RedBird is working with creatives, and they only scratch the surface of their broader portfolio in sports and media. It wouldn’t be surprising if the next great story originates from a RedBird portfolio partner. For more on RedBird Capital Partners, subscribe to my free newsletter "The Bag" at www.newbagdrops.com

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I’m going to give you guys the blueprint of how I believe the music industry is going to go: First was Fan Interaction: Where fans were able to buy music through vinyl, cassettes, and CDS. Fans were able to discover new music through traditional radio and cable TV which increased opportunities to interact with new music from breaking artists. With the advent of social media and music streaming came the next wave which is Fan Engagement: Now fans can actually engage with music through home videos which became a viral engine through platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Music streaming platforms like Spotify were able to simplify Fan Interaction through user generated fan-made albums (playlists) and discovery through algorithmic recommendations. Now, with generative AI comes a unique opportunity I call Fan Participation: For the first time in the history of the music business, fans can become part of the creative process and work with artists on a much more deeper level. Artists can earn royalties through the creative imagination of the fans. I look at Grimes AI as a perfect example of this. There are so many applications and possibilities that is untapped and riped for innovation. Instead of looking at it like Napster 4.0, majors need to take a double look at new AI technologies that can enhance the fan participation experience. Music used to be an art form where certain creators can benefit. Now with AI, the art can be shared and collaborated with the fans. This not only increases fan engagement but also fan interaction as well. It’s a triple-win for major record companies and large indies.

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You absolutely need to read Tom Friedman. If you only read one commentator on international affairs, make it Tom. This column deals with the Middle East and the competition in A.I. powered robots that could replace almost all blue collar workers. Who will deploy them first-China or the U.S.?

https://lnkd.in/gW4jifNH #ai #falseadvertising #ftc #government #artificialintelligence #agi #artificialgeneralintelligence #machinelearning #ml #openai There is going to be a crackdown soon on products labeling themselves as artificially intelligent. They may be artificial, albeit, not one of them is intelligent. We know what that means, and none of them are in that class. You've been warned.

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Quote - “Once the JV launches, the JV defendants have no reason to take actions that could allow for the emergence of direct competitors,” Garnett wrote. ‘Quite the opposite: the multi-year monopolistic runway they have created for themselves will provide powerful incentives to thwart competition and hike prices on both consumers and other distributors. But even if the JV defendants swear that such price-hiking and competition excluding will not actually occur (though, as discussed below, there is good reason to believe that it will), one purpose of antitrust injunctions is to prevent anticompetitive incentives from forming in the first place so that American consumers do not have to simply take their word for it and hope for the best. #Trust/#Law

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Join me as I share the secrets to gaining Angel Investment (being ESIC is one) and help you land your pitch and get your message across. I'm joined by experienced founders who can share their experiences and help you develop your own (survive the) Chasm Plan.

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Is Paramount's Tech Transformation Just a Pipe Dream? In the ever-evolving landscape of media, David Ellison’s announcement about transforming Paramount into a tech powerhouse stirred quite the conversation. Including by me: https://lnkd.in/eBsi2xbi But as we dive deeper, several challenges emerge, casting shadows of doubt over this ambitious pivot. #1. Financial Feasibility With Paramount grappling with substantial debt and pressing financial obligations, notably hefty NFL payments, the costs of attracting top tech talent become a significant concern. Can Paramount realistically afford this tech overhaul amidst economic uncertainties and a struggling stock? The talent war isn't won on ambitions alone, especially when competitors like Google offer more stable havens. #2. Creator vs. Coder Paramount’s tech ambition, while necessary, seems at odds with maintaining the creator-friendly environment Ellison dually promised. In an era when interest rates have climbed, balancing tech innovation with creative freedom is a tightrope walk. Remember, even Netflix, once a haven for creators with its blank checks during #ZIRP, is tightening its purse strings. How can Paramount navigate these waters without the cushion of a tech giant's capital or rising stock prices? 3. Building vs. Buying Tech Infrastructure David Ellison’s plan for Paramount involves a substantial commitment to developing in-house tech capabilities, focusing on cloud services, AI, user interfaces, recommendation algorithms, and ad-serving technologies. This approach aims to differentiate Paramount from competitors and enhance user experience. However, the tech sector’s history suggests leveraging established third-party platforms could be more cost-effective and reliable. Giants like Disney have successfully integrated platforms like BamTech, while HBO initially utilized external technology before transitioning. AMC Networks similarly relies on Brightcove for streaming technologies. The pivotal question for Ellison is whether the potential benefits of custom-built solutions justify the investment and risk, especially when patching together proven third-party solutions might yield quicker and more economical results. #InEssence... These challenges are monumental, yet not insurmountable. As we watch Paramount’s narrative unfold, one thing is clear: transitioning into a tech entity is more than just a strategic pivot—it’s a gamble on the future of entertainment itself. Thoughts? #Paramount #StreamingWars #MediaTech

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