At Best Startup California we track over 300,000 Californian startups and over 1,500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and organisations we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
We’ve ranked the top 101 Media and Entertainment companies in Santa Monica, California. The companies, startups and institutions listed in this article are all exceptional companies, well worth a follow. We have included links to their websites, socials and CrunchBase (if you’re interested in their financials).
We selected the organisations listed in this article based on:
- Track record
- Executive leadership
- Market share
- Innovation
- ESG rating
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Top Media and Entertainment Companies & Startups (Santa Monica, California)
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group offers music recording, publishing, and merchandising services worldwide.
Founder(s): Brian Brater, David Gould, Jarret Myer
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Music, Publishing
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Team SoloMid
Team Solomid is successful gaming organizations.
Founder(s): Andy Dinh
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Gaming, Internet, Media and Entertainment, Public Relations
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Religion of Sports
Religion of Sports is a Santa Monica, CA-based sports media company.
Founder(s): Gotham Chopra, Tom Brady
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Broadcasting, Content, Media and Entertainment, Sports
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Seriously
Seriously is a developer and manufacturer of mobile games for ios and android platforms.
Founder(s): Andrew Stalbow, Petri Järvilehto, Reko Ukko, Samuli Viikinen, Serdar Soganci, Tommi Kiviniemi
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film, Gaming, Media and Entertainment, Mobile, Software
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Pray.com
Pray.com is the #1 app for daily prayer & faith-based audio content
Founder(s): Matthew Potter, Michael Lynn, Ryan Beck, Steve Gatena
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Communities, Media and Entertainment, Personal Health, Private Social Networking, Religion, Wellness
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Tongal
Tongal is an online platform for content creation, used by studios, brands, and talent from all over the world.
Founder(s): James DeJulio, Mark Burrell, Rob Salvatore
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Communities, Content Creators, Media and Entertainment, Video
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Culture Genesis
Culture Genesis is a digital studio, focused on remixing digital technology for urban multicultural audiences.
Founder(s): Cedric Rogers, Shaun Newsum
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Media, Media and Entertainment, Music, Software
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Activision
Activision develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment, and leisure products.
Founder(s): Alan Miller, Bob Whitehead, David Crane, Jim Levy, Larry Kaplan
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Gaming, Media and Entertainment, News, PC Games, Publishing, Video Games
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Granted
A brand new platform providing VIP access to some of the most in-demand events and tours the world has to offer.
Founder(s): Matt Ampolsky, Shayma Hesari
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: E-Commerce, Media and Entertainment, Sports, Ticketing
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Activision
Activision develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment, and leisure products.
Founder(s): Alan Miller, Bob Whitehead, David Crane, Jim Levy, Larry Kaplan
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Gaming, Media and Entertainment, News, PC Games, Publishing, Video Games
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RANDIAN
RANDIAN is a patented platform combining video content, web-based-technology and ecommerce.
Founder(s): Ian Truitner, Randall Scerbo Truitner
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Digital Media, E-Commerce, Internet, Marketing, Media and Entertainment, News, Social Media Management, Social News, Video
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Chromatik
Chromatik builds products for musicians to learn, play, and share the music they love.
Founder(s): Matt Sandler
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Apps, Audio, Media and Entertainment, Music, Software
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Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard is an entertainment company that develops, publishes, and distributes video games for gaming consoles.
Founder(s): Bobby Kotick
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Console Games, Gaming, Media and Entertainment, PC Games, Video Games
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Beats Electronics
Beats Electronics offers premium consumer headphones, earphones and speakers, software technology and streaming music subscription services.
Founder(s): Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Media and Entertainment, Music, Software
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Tastemade
Tastemade is a media company that engages a global audience on all major digital, mobile, and streaming television platforms.
Founder(s): Joe Perez, Larry Fitzgibbon, Steven Kydd
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Content, Cooking, Food Delivery, Internet, Media and Entertainment, Video Editing
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Fresno Unlimited
Fresno Unlimited is an entertainment company using machine learning-based proprietary insights to reinvent the premium content model.
Founder(s): Robert Goldberg
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Content, Machine Learning, Media and Entertainment
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Mammoth Media
Mammoth Media produces and delivers original short-form premier content that entertains and connects global audiences on their smartphones.
Founder(s): Benoit Vatere, Matt Turner
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Apps, Media and Entertainment, Mobile
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HitFix
HitFix offers breaking entertainment news, insider information and exclusives on film, movies, TV, music, local events and awards.
Founder(s): Gregory Ellwood, Jennifer Sargent
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Events, Media and Entertainment, Music
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Cirrina Studios
Cirrina Studios is operating as a entertainment, finance production company
Founder(s): David Lipman, Jeff Stentz, Jim Pesoli, Karine Martin
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Interscope Records
Interscope Records is a music label focusing primarily on EDM, dance, and electronic artists.
Founder(s): Jimmy Iovine
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Music, Music Streaming, Social Media
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Organic Media Group
Organic Media Group provides and distributes motion pictures.
Founder(s): Kelly Mi Li, Steve Chicorel
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film, Film Distribution, Film Production, Media and Entertainment, Video
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Otter Media
Otter Media provides a mobile and web-based video sharing app that allows users to chat, send video messages, and create video cards.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Internet, Media and Entertainment, Video
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Adconion Media Group
Adconian Media Group provides customized solutions and innovative products delivered across multiple screens on a single platform.
Founder(s): Fred Krueger, Tyler Moebius
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Ad Targeting, Advertising, Advertising Platforms, Digital Media, Media and Entertainment, Social Media
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PIXOMONDO
Pixomondo, an international creative design and visual effects studio with offices located throughout Europe, the Americas, and China.
Founder(s): Thilo Kuther
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Creative Agency, Media and Entertainment
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Interpret
Interpret provides custom market research services such as measurement and planning tools.
Founder(s): Grant Johnson
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Market Research, Media and Entertainment, Social Media
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Moving Picture Company
They craft spectacular visual experiences in any space, on any screen.
Founder(s): Michael S. Luckwell
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Film, Marketing, Media and Entertainment
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Filmustage
Filmustage is an automatic movie script breakdown and scheduling service that involves scheduling, pdf, and spreadsheets.
Founder(s): Andrei Karalkou, Egor Dubrovsky
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Content Creators, Film, Film Distribution, Film Production, Media and Entertainment, SaaS, Video
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TheWrap
The Wrap is a news website providing online stories on Hollywood and media businesses.
Founder(s): Sharon Waxman
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Blogging Platforms, Digital Entertainment, Media and Entertainment, News, Social Media
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Image Metrics
Image Metrics provides technology-based facial animation services for the entertainment and film industries.
Founder(s): Gareth Edwards
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Animation, Film, Media and Entertainment, Mobile, Software
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Lola Digital Media
Lola’s purpose is to teach, entertain, and inform readers about the passions, products, and people who improve their life.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Marketing, Media and Entertainment, News
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Maxx Marketing, Inc.
Maxx Marketing is a marketing and advertising company specializing in licensing and product solutions.
Founder(s): Michael Kwan
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Marketing, Media and Entertainment
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Summit Entertainment
Summit Entertainment operates as a theatrical motion picture development, financing, production, and distribution studio in the U.S.
Founder(s): Robert G. Friedman
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Entertainment, Digital Media, Media and Entertainment
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AWAYN
AWAYN is a media publisher and software technology company with a focus on hyperlocalized travel content.
Founder(s): Dela Ariela Rostami, P. Ariel Rostami
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Confirmed360
Confirmed360 is an entertainment experience provider that connects select individuals and corporations with the worlds biggest stars.
Founder(s): Matt Ampolsky
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Events, Internet, Media and Entertainment, Ticketing
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Digital Nation Entertainment
Digital Nation Entertainment offers volumetric videos, mixed reality and digital entertainment services.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Entertainment, Media and Entertainment, Virtual Reality
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The Black List
The Black List is where moviemakers find great scripts to make and scripts find moviemakers to make them.
Founder(s): Franklin Leonard
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Media, Film, Media and Entertainment
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Blue Rider Pictures
Blue Rider Pictures engages in motion picture development, TV production, film financing and distribution services.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film Production, Media and Entertainment, Motion Capture
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Vertical Entertainment
Vertical Entertainment is an independent film distribution and production company that offers full-service marketing and sales services.
Founder(s): Mitch Budin, Rich Goldberg
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Broadcasting, Film Distribution, Media and Entertainment
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Game Show Network
Game Show Network operates a television network in the United States, the Caribbean, and Canada.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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EntertainmentCareers.Net, Inc
Career website for the entertainment, broadcast and media industries.
Founder(s): Brad Hall
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Employment, Human Resources, Media and Entertainment, Publishing
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Sfera Studios
Sfera Studios operates as the company behind a globally-focused, cloud-based localization platform.
Founder(s): Morgan Fiumi
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Tempo
Tempo is an in-game advertising platform that enables brands to showcase, a/b test, and sell their products directly within mobile games.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Gaming, Media and Entertainment
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Boardwalk Pictures
Boardwalk Pictures is a multimedia production company that provides service for documentary content on a digital platform.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film Production, Media and Entertainment
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Social Project
Social Project is a social networking site focused on the teen, young and adult social networking market.
Founder(s): Alex Karelin, Evan Rifkin, Ryan Rifkin
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Social Media, Social Network
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DJ2 Entertainment
DJ2 Entertainment develops and produces content for theatrical, television, web, mobile, videogame platforms and social media.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Content, Film, Media and Entertainment
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ARTISTE PRO™
ARTISTE PRO™ is a media and entertainment industry.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film Production, Internet, Media and Entertainment, Software
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Kinetic Content
Kinetic Content produces and creates non-scripted content and entertainment for the global market.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Consumer, Content, Media and Entertainment
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Artistdirect
Artistdirect is a digital media entertainment company focused primarily on music.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Entertainment, Digital Media, Media and Entertainment, Music
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Nerve
Nerve is a bold and dynamic visual communications agency.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Marketing, Marketing, Media and Entertainment
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VIM Media LLC
All things Entertainment and Lifestyle.
Founder(s): Anthony Bawn
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Prospect Point
Prospect Point is a technology company that specializes in media.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Debmar-Mercury
Debmar-Mercury is a television syndication company that produces and distributes television shows.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Broadcasting, Media and Entertainment, TV
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Sky Castle Studios
Sky Castle Studios is a development studio that makes tools to create customized products.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Art, Customer Service, Media and Entertainment
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SODERE
Sodere is Ethiopian movies, news and entertainment, marketplace websites.
Founder(s): Girum Sodere
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: E-Commerce, Media and Entertainment, Video Streaming
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Haibu
Haibu is a media and entertainment company that offers books, films and video games worldwide which brings positive thoughts to children.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Children, Media and Entertainment, Video
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Filmmo
Filmmo is freedom for filmmakers
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film, Media and Entertainment, Social Media
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FilmsOn.com
FilmsOn.com, an Internet search engine and guide for films.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film, Film Production, Media and Entertainment
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Handmade Mobile
Handmade Mobile Entertainment operates a flirting website that enables members to discover people based on their preferences.
Founder(s): Avi Azulai
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Mobile, Social Media
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Beck Media & Marketing
Beck Media & Marketing provides strategic communications and public relations services.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Marketing, Media and Entertainment, Public Relations
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National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
N.A.R.A.S. – The people behind the Grammys.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Association, Media and Entertainment, Music, Professional Services, Training
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Immersiva
SaaS, Edutainment Platform
Founder(s): Bobby Alexis
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Edutainment, Media and Entertainment, SaaS, Video Streaming
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Furious M
VR production studio creating unique VR content with emotional storylines
Founder(s): Daniel Kenyon
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Broadcasting, Film, Media and Entertainment
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Sports Lifestyle in Culture
Sports Lifestyle in Culture offers the opportunity for creators and brands to freely create, distribute, and monetize their content.
Founder(s): Baron Davis
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Collaboration, Content, Creative Agency, Media and Entertainment
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Exploration
Exploration is a media management and technology company.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Publishing
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Movie Ranker
Movie Ranker is a social media management platform to discover and engage movie enthusiasts.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Service Industry, Social Media
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Fomograph
Fomograph lets you and your staff easily control the media content on screens at your event or venue from any device.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Content, Media and Entertainment
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Studio Systems
Studio Systems is in the entertainment industry database and information services provider business.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Valley Girl
Valley Girl is a web content company offering The Valley Girl Show, which is a web series interviewing CEOs from various industries.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Broadcasting, Content, Media and Entertainment
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Bruder Releasing, Inc
BRI is a distributor of programming to pay per view, pay cable and basic cable systems.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Sales, Video
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ScoopBroker, Inc.
Citizen Journalism/Stringers/Broadcast Media/News
Founder(s): Lance Ophof, Peter Oegren
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Broadcasting, Crowdsourcing, Media and Entertainment, News
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GTL Media
GTL Media is a video game localization company comprised of industry experts from the entertainment, law, finance & technology industries.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Information Technology, Media and Entertainment, News, Video Games
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Kernel Media
Kernel is a digital media company.
Founder(s): Andy Martinez, David Harvilicz
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Digital Media, Media and Entertainment, News, Social Media
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Tunnel
Tunnel is a media production company that provides post-production and software development services to the media industry.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Software, TV Production
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Smoking Gun Media
Smoking Gun Media has been delivering growth solutions since 2006. Our experience includes designing and executing hundreds of products.
Founder(s): Heather Stewart
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Media, Media and Entertainment, Social Media
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Silver Lion Films
Silver Lion Films is an independent film finance and production company.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film Production, Media and Entertainment
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Tennis
Tennis is a sports media website that provides match coverage information, tickets, breaking news, live scores, and commentary on tennis.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Information Services, Media and Entertainment, News, Publishing, Sports
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Entity FX
Entity FX is a visual effects studio creating digital imagery for feature films, 3D stereoscopic features and high-definition television.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Broadcasting, Film Production, Internet, Media and Entertainment
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Buffalo 8
Buffalo 8 is a full-service film and media company focused on production, post-production, design, and finance.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Media and Entertainment
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Firecracker Films
Firecracker is a leading TV + Branded Entertainment production company.
Founder(s): Jeremy Groman
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Broadcasting, Content, Media and Entertainment
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LA TechWatch
LA TechWatch is a media property focused on the Los Angeles tech and startup ecosystem.
Founder(s): Reza Chowdhury
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Inverleigh
Inverleigh is a media firm that offers commissioned content, event production and delivery, content management and digital services.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Content, Information Services, Media and Entertainment
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Famous
Famous is a mobile application that focuses on talent contests for singers, dancers, models and comedians to make them famous.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Entertainment, Media and Entertainment, Mobile Apps
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Janet Yang Productions
Janet Yang Productions is led by Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning producer Janet Yang.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Tree Media Group
Tree Media Group is a production think tank with a mission is to tell new stories that inspire, awaken and catalyze positive change.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Belief
Belief is a production and design studio specializes in developing commercials, short films, websites and motion graphics.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Graphic Design, Media and Entertainment, Motion Capture, Video
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Autograph
Autograph is an NFT platform that brings together the iconic brands in sports and culture to create unique digital collections.
Founder(s): Dillon Rosenblatt, Josh Payne
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Blockchain, Media and Entertainment, Sports
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Summit Media
Summit Media is one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in Los Angeles.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising, Media and Entertainment, Social Media
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KARTENZ
Computer animation studio.
Founder(s): Akbar de Wighar
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Animation, Media and Entertainment
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Innovative Beauty
Innovative Beauty is an online company that gives advice about beauty and beauty products.
Founder(s): Brian Weiss, Tatiana Aynbinder
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: E-Commerce, Media and Entertainment
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Piero Dusa Creative Studio
Piero Dusa Creative Studio is a drama school.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment
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Still Water
Still Water Interactive provides products and services enabling clients to get the most from the internet.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Marketing, Media and Entertainment, Web Design
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Independent Comedy Network
Independent comedy network (ICN) offers media distribution services.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Entertainment, Digital Media, Media and Entertainment
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Beacon Pictures
Beacon Pictures is a motion picture company in the entertainment industry.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film, Media and Entertainment, Motion Capture
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Perfect Reach
Perfect Reach is a platform to find new customers right in their Facebook newsfeed.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Customer Service, Media and Entertainment, News
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JuntoBox Films
JuntoBox Films is a media & entertainment firm & a filmmaking platform that deals with filmmaking services.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Film, Media and Entertainment
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SK Global Entertainment
SK Global Entertainment develops, finances, and produces commercial content for film, TV, digital media, and virtual reality.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Digital Entertainment, Digital Media, Media and Entertainment
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Millbrae Community Television
MCTV is a PEG channel and a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves Millbrae, San Carlos, San Mateo, and Brisbane in the Bay Area.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Broadcasting, Media and Entertainment, TV Production
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Kartenz Records
A record label.
Founder(s): Akbar de Wighar
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Music, Music Label
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Lost Planet
Lost Planet is a commercial and feature film editorial company.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Advertising Platforms, Broadcasting, Film Production, Media and Entertainment
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Lightwork Creative
Lightwork Creative is a full-service creative agency that involves in media production.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Animation, Content Creators, Media and Entertainment
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Mojo Sport
Mojo is an education and training services information center.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Media and Entertainment, Sports, Training
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