• Home
  • News
  • Coins2Day 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Maker Studios raises another $26 million

By
Miguel Helft
Miguel Helft
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Miguel Helft
Miguel Helft
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 12, 2013, 9:00 AM ET
Ynon Kreiz, executive chairman of Maker Studios

FORTUNE — Maker Studios, the powerhouse network of YouTube channels, said Thursday that it secured an additional $26 million investment, bringing the total amount it has raised since December to $62 million.

Maker, which is behind YouTube mega-hits like Epic Rap Battles of History and PewDiePie, said the additional financing, much of it from overseas investors, will help it expand globally. Already half of Maker’s audience comes from outside the U.S., Ynon Kreiz, the company’s executive chairman said in an interview. In addition, content creators from more than 80 countries contribute to its network.

Like other YouTube-based networks, Maker has been trying to diversify its audience across other platforms, both to reach more viewers and to find venues where monetization could be more effective than on YouTube (GOOG). Maker took a big step in that direction last month when it acquired Blip, a video maker and distributor.

MORE:YouTube founders try for their next big thing

“We look to reach people wherever they are,” Kreiz said. “Not everyone is on YouTube all the time. As part of our expansion we are looking to grow our web presence and mobile presence.”

Maker has amassed a network of some 60,000 channels, whose videos are viewed 4 billion times a month in aggregate. Almost all of those views are on YouTube. Kreiz said that while other platforms will help Maker reach new users and draw new sources of revenue, the core of the company’s business will remain on YouTube. “Most of the revenue we expect to generate is on YouTube,” he said.

With the latest investment, the frenzy of activity around Google-owned YouTube, which was the subject of a recent Coins2Day cover story (How YouTube changes everything), continues to gather steam. Last month, Tastemade, which aims to create an online rival to cable channels like The Food Network, raised an additional $10 million.

MORE:Why does Apple charge so much for its iPhones?

Kreiz said the investments reflect the emergence of online video as a mainstream medium that is exploding in popularity. “If you look at the numbers, you don’t have to be a genius to see where it’s heading,” he said.

Kreinz declined to discuss Maker’s finances and would not comment on whether the company, which has about 350 people, is profitable. But he said that Maker’s revenue this year will be three times larger than in 2012.

Maker’s new investors include Canal +, the French media company, Astro, a Malaysian media group, and SingTel Innov8, a unit of SingTel, a leading telecommunications company in Asia. With the additional cash, Maker is closing its Series C investment round, which was led by Time Warner Investments (a unit of Coins2Day’s parent company Time Warner (TWX)). Other investors included Upfront Ventures, Greycroft Partners, and Downey Ventures, the investment company for Robert Downey Jr. And Elisabeth Murdoch. The first portion of the round was announced in December.

About the Author
By Miguel Helft
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Coins2Day 500
  • Global 500
  • Coins2Day 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Coins2Day Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Coins2Day Brand Studio
  • Coins2Day Analytics
  • Coins2Day Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Coins2Day
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Coins2Day Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Coins2Day Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.