Metaverse studio Melon raises $5m after creating Roblox experiences for KSI, Zara Larsson and more
Summary
Other investors include Gaingels, Comcast Spectacor and a large SPV (special purpose vehicle) led by Matt Finick, who has also joined Melons board. Finick was formerly CFO at Roblox and at Marvel Entertainment.The round also includes Paul Yook, health care investor; Deborah Dugan, CEO of Beyond Type 1 and former CEO of Product (Red) and The Recording Academy of Music; Spencer Baim, chief brand officer at Kinship, and former CCO of Vice Media; Jason Ve, head of BD/Brand Partnerships at 88rising; and Gene Salomon, partner at entertainment law firm Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.At Comcast Spectacor, were always looking for new ways to engage fans with great events and memorable experiences, and thats what this investment is all about, said Tucker Roberts, president of Spectacor Gaming, a gaming and entertainment company connected to Comcast NBCUniversal. They are perfectly positioned to build some of the most impactful experiences across music, film and TV, fashion, and sports over the next few years of critical growth on these developing platforms. With this group, were going to be able to strategise and navigate the evolving landscape at the highest level.Before becoming Melons co-CEO in 2021, Neuman was a co-founder and key executive of music, media, branding and talent companies, including 88rising, Recreation Worldwide (acquired by Vice Media), Control Management (former management of DJ Ti\xebsto) and Crush Music. He made a name for himself in Minecraft before mastering the art of creating games in Roblox, where most of Melons work is currently focused.They lead a team at Melon that has attracted executive talent from major game studios (EA, Pok\xe9mon GO) and lifestyle brands (Urban Outfitters, the Marketing Arm agency).Heather Healy, SVP of partnerships and operations, helped launch the careers of Bruno Mars and Foster The People.Becky Wilson, VP of entertainment partnerships, previously worked at Urban Outfitters where she led key music initiatives, including in-store events, collaborations, and partnerships with artists such as Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, SZA, Khalid and Lany.Crush Ventures looks to invest in teams that are building the future of how creators and fans will interact, said Andrew Kahn, head of Crush Ventures.