Maker Studios takes in $26M in additional funding

New funding brings YouTube network's Series C round to $62 million

Think back to all of the YouTube stars we have come to know over the years. There was Chocolate Rain guy. And Chris Crocker, of LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE fame. And David, the drugged out who went to the dentist. All of these people have one thing in common: they became sensations from their YouTube videos, but were not able to parlay that fame into actual money.

Sadly, YouTube doesn't seem like a really a great way to launch yourself to financial success. The only person who was able to do it was Justin Beiber.

Maker Studios, a talent first media company based in Los Angeles, is changing that by offering tools to these performers to maximize their potential by creating, distributing, and monetizing their original content on YouTube. Now the company has raised $26 in Series C funding, it was reported by the L.A. Times on Thursday.

The new funding came from a group of European and Asian investors including French media company Canal+ Group, Malaysian firm Astro Overseas Limited and Singapore's SingTel Innov8. Swiss company Lakestar, Northgate Capital and Upfront Ventures also participated.

This funding was the second part of its series C financing round, which included $36 million from Greycroft Partner, GRP Partners, Downey Ventures, Elisabeth Murdoch; FUEL: M+C, Daher Capital and producer Jon Landau in December. The company has now raised $62 million in Series C funding.

The new money will be used to expand to markets outside of the United States, though no specific markets were specified. It will also go toward hiring more staff, as well as grow its technology offerings.

Maker Studios is a talent first media company, which allows artists to create, distribute, and monetize their original content on YouTube. 

Founded in 2009, the conpany is dedicated to helping cultivate talent, take existing talent to the next level and build lasting brands with engaged audiences. It does this by offering its partners tools for development, production, promotion, distribution, sales and marketing.

Maker is the home to many of online video stars and content including KassemG, The Game Station, Nice Peter’s “Epic Rap Battles of History,” the Shaytards, Andrea’s Choice, The Yogscast, Snoop Lion, The Gregory Brothers, Mike Tompkins and celebrity actress/comedian LisaNova, among many others.

Maker now has over 4 billion views online a month, with 60,000 channels and roughly 260 million subscribers. 

The company has recently begun looking outside of YouTube as a distribution channel, buying up Blip, a video maker and distributor, last month. 

Maker Studios was not available for additional comment. 

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