Pennant is a white-label subscription video ecosystem that enables creators to directly monetize their content and connect with superfans.
The Problem
Content creators and performing artists don’t have a direct and centralized connection to their fans and patrons. They lack revenue opportunities, give up control of their content, and are beholden to the algorithms of large social platforms. Marketplace and social media channels like Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are great ways to be discovered by a global audience, but they put the creator at the mercy of the platforms where revenue can be unpredictable and content noise can drown them out.
Our Solution
Pennant provides creators with a hosted solution to launch their own custom-branded video monetization platform. Fans subscribe to their channel, buy on-demand content, and purchase merchandise. Creators control their content, set their own pricing, and directly own the relationship with their fans, patrons, and subscribers.
Revenue Model
Our platform exists to empower and enable creators to monetize their content, control their brand, and own a direct relationship with their fans. Pennant takes $1 per subscriber per month, so the more successful our customers are, the more successful Pennant is. It’s truly a win-win relationship. We also charge a monthly SaaS fee to use the platform, starting at $99 per month with tiers that go to $799 per month and more for custom plans.
Traction
Our platform has attracted 60 accounts, with 22 ready to monetize through connected bank accounts, and our active creators (12 and growing) have generated $22,750 in sales over the past year. We are taking a B2B approach for our go-to-market strategy, and are currently working with American Public Media Group as one of our flagship channel partners along with other media production companies in the music and podcast verticals.
Pre-Seed Capital Raise
To date, we have raised $424,000 of our $1M pre-seed SAFE at a $6.5M post-money valuation cap. Our first investment came from American Public Media Group’s Horizon Fund, which invests in high-potential startups that will revolutionize the media industry. We also received investment from Groove Capital and a number of angel investors.
Team
Pennant’s founding team members have decades of entrepreneurial experience in product design, software engineering, brand strategy, media industry innovation, and performing arts leadership.
Jeff merges technical expertise with arts and media leadership. He founded digital agency Bust Out in 2005 and now drives Pennant’s vision to empower creators and performing artists with streaming platforms. Jeff actively serves on boards including Minnesota Public Radio and the Ordway Center for Performing Arts. He also invests in startups as a Limited Partner at Groove Capital and Tundra Ventures.
Amanda Zweerink has 25 years of brand strategy and digital innovation experience. She helped develop one of the first video upload platforms at Current TV and led customer experience transformation at 3M. Amanda has built strategic partnerships with major brands such as Target and Nike, bringing deep cultural insight and expertise in scaling digital platforms.
Partnership
Pennant also has a strategic partnership with Bust Out, a digital product agency founded and owned by Jeff Lin. Bust Out provides expert design and development services, giving Pennant access to a fully-stacked product team without the overhead of maintaining people on staff.
Quick Snapshot
- Pennant Media Inc. is a Delaware C-Corp with headquarters in Minneapolis, MN
- To-date raised 43% of a $1M pre-seed SAFE with a $6.5M post-money valuation cap
- Product is live with 12 customers
- $22,750 in revenue to-date