BLOOMINGTON, Ind.– (BUSINESS WIRE)–Stagetime, a networking platform for the performing arts industry, announced today that it has secured a $1.5MM raise in a round led by Hyde Park Angels with participation from M25 and a follow-on investment from IU Angel Network. The funding will enable Stagetime to build its team, further fuel its organic customer growth, and continue to enhance its product features.
The raise comes at a critical moment for the industry as instrumentalists, singers, agents, composers, and other professionals in the field look to restart interrupted careers, rebuild professional networks, and other issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Networking has always been a central tool for professional success in the performing arts industry, but having an effective platform for it is now more important than ever. Yet traditional networking products do not meet the unique needs of the sizable and active performing arts industry; they do not effectively accommodate the dynamism of artists’ work schedules or the multifaceted nature of their resumes and creative portfolios. Meanwhile, existing solutions created with artists in mind offer inadequate networking or a clunky user experience.
Founded in October 2019, Stagetime was built as a custom solution for performing arts professionals and employers. On the platform, artists can create customized online profiles that showcase the various multimedia that embody their careers, including photo, audio, and video files, all in one place. With the easy-to-navigate platform, professionals can stay informed about potential opportunities and peers’ career updates. Arts employers can issue announcements and connect with artists. Because of Stagetime’s comprehensive functionality, artists no longer have to devote resources to designing and maintaining portfolio websites (which can be costly and time-consuming for the average professional, who does not have a web design background) or rely on their personal social media accounts for sharing professional updates.
“Just like any other professionals, artists require digital resources to successfully build their careers, but most solutions are not built to both accommodate artists’ needs and provide a great experience,” said Jennie Moser, founder and CEO of Stagetime. “Since we began building Stagetime, the top priority has been to give artists a powerful tool that puts them in charge of their own careers. Our platform empowers artists to tell their stories easily and creatively, then leverage those narratives to connect with people who can help them advance. This, in turn, will help the performing arts industry grow and flourish.”
“I continue to be impressed by Jennie and her vision for a networking platform for the performing arts industry,” said Scott Eisen, principal at Paceline Capital and the deal lead for Hyde Park Angels. “As an artist herself, Jennie understands the unique needs of the industry. And as a strong entrepreneur, she saw that those needs were not being met and created Stagetime to lead this space. Given the traction she has already built in terms of user growth and capital, I feel confident that Stagetime is on track for great success.”
With this milestone, Stagetime enters its next phase of growth, one that will be defined by product refinement and more aggressive customer acquisition. In the coming months, Stagetime plans to launch features to help arts organizations, which often book performances years in advance, find top talent; one noteworthy example is a “casting tool,” which will allow users to plan for future talent needs efficiently. The casting tool is scheduled to launch in Spring 2022.
To sign up for Stagetime or to learn more about the platform, visit stagetimearts.com.
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