Top Entertainment Industry Startups in 2026

We are creating the base layer of monetization for the intersection of entertainment and e-commerce. Through the use of computer vision, we aim to radically change consumer shopping trends forever.

Invisible Narratives is a digital content studio founded by Adam Goodman, former President of Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks SKG. Invisible Narratives creates original franchises using the most-engaged social media influencers and partners them with Hollywood filmmakers and authentic brands.

Sundance Institute is a non-profit organization that is focused on developing creative and financial support for the development of original stories for the screen and stage. It provides a space for independent artists to explore their stories free from commercial and political pressures. It is focused on developing documentaries, feature films, film music, short films, theatre productions, and more. It is also focused on developing its female filmmakers’ initiative, artist alumni, and artist awards. It is well known for its Sundance film festival that features films from around the world. It is also engaged in organizing educational programs, benefit events, and more. Its online platform provides its users with information related to its work and video clips, images, and overviews related to its area of focus. Sundance Institute was founded in 1981 by Robert Redford as an initiative to provide a platform for American film makers. It is currently recognized worldwide for its work and initiative. Sundance Institute is currently based in Los Angeles, California.

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is a winner-take-all, 5-on-5. single-elimination summer tournament for $1 million. Anyone 18 or older can enter as a player, coach, GM or fan. 96 teams played across the U.S. in 2015. The championship game airs live on ESPN.

Simon-Kucher, they have over 30 years of experience in creating top- and bottom-line growth strategies that deliver measurable results. A project with us increases their clients’ profitability by 100 to 500 basis points on average.They are especially renowned for their pricing experience. This is where they started, and this is where their core competence remains. Or, as acclaimed Northwestern University marketing professor Philip Kotler says, “No one knows more about pricing than Simon-Kucher.” Their solutions are made to last. That is easily said, but not so easily done in today’s dynamic business environment. The world has never been so dynamic, with digitalization unhinging established revenue models and urging everyone to rethink the way they market, price and sell products and services. At Simon-Kucher, they are ahead of these developments, and their solutions prepare their clients for the digital era.

GFR Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital fund that invests in early-stage startups that are disrupting the consumer entertainment industry. GFR Fund is managed by GREE VR Capital, an affiliate of GREE Inc., a global leader in the mobile gaming industry. With over a decade of experience driving innovators in multi-platform entertainment, we see emerging technologies such as VR, AR, AI, Video Streaming and Blockchain as powerful tools that will propel the entertainment industry into a new generation of consumable content. We are looking for talented entrepreneurs who share our passion and values to help realize their vision and expand their businesses globally.

Leftbrain is a fintech company serving the entertainment industry. Its mobile application for financial data gathering and analytics gives artists and their teams the tools to make informed business decisions. Leftbrain’s in-house business managers use its technology and the Leftbrain Royalty Tool to provide better accounting and operational service to entertainers than has ever been possible. Leftbrain sees average NPS of 100 and has seen triple digit growth since its founding in 2019. Leftbrain has offices in Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Premier Lacrosse League is the sole outdoor professional lacrosse league featuring the world’s 200 best players. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group composed of Joe Tsai Sports, Brett Jefferson Holdings, The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and other top investors in sports and media. The PLL season is distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group. The league has partnered with blue chips brands through its first two years of play, such as Ticketmaster, Gatorade, and Adidas. The Premier Lacrosse League is utilizing innovations in technology and media to drive rapid growth in the sport.

STARZ is home to thrilling Original Series like Da Vinci's Demons and Black Sails, and riveting movies that really take you places. Creating spectacular new Original Series you can't see anywhere else, and featuring movies that rocked the box office, STARZ delivers pure enjoyment 24/7. Entertainment doesn't get any better than this.

Allen Media Group also produces, distributes, and sells advertising for 68 television programs, making it one of the largest independent producers/distributors of first-run syndicated television programming for broadcast television stations. Allen Media Group International Television continues to extend its corporate branding and content around the globe. It currently has active license agreements and programming in South Africa, The United Arab Emirates, Australia, The Bahamas, Canada and New Zealand. With a library of over 5,000 hours of owned content across multiple genres, Allen Media Group provides video content to broadcast television stations, cable television networks, mobile devices, and multimedia digital. Our mission is to provide excellent programming to our viewers, online users, and Fortune 500 advertising partners.