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Social media content creator and curator for Gen Z and millennials, focused on viral trends and entertainment.
IMGN Media, based in New York, USA, creates and curates shareable social media content, operating a portfolio of mobile-first media brands in esports, gaming, and entertainment. Known for its flagship Instagram brand Daquan, the company leverages its in-house AI tool, ViralLab, to grow audiences, primarily Gen Z and millennials. Generating an estimated $9.5 million in annual revenue from branded content partnerships with clients like Netflix, IMGN Media was acquired by Warner Music Group in August 2020 after raising approximately $6 million in total funding from investors including Rhodium. At acquisition, IMGN Media reported 3 billion monthly views and 40 million subscribers across its network, including Daquan's 12.3 million Instagram followers. It was founded in 2015 by Barak Shragai.
IMGN Media has raised $5.0M across 2 funding rounds.
IMGN Media has raised $5.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
IMGN Media has raised $5.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
IMGN Media's investors include Robert Taub, Ron Zuckerman, Big Block Media, Dot Capital, KDC Media Fund, Rhodium, UTA Ventures, AiSprouts VC, Draper Associates, Earth and beyond ventures, GSF Accelerator, Hearst Ventures.
IMGN Media is a technology-driven media company that produces and programs next-gen social content for Gen Z audiences, primarily through its proprietary AI-powered ViralLab platform, which scales content curation, channel management, and audience growth.[1][2][3] It operates a portfolio of 14 media brands, including Daquan (11M+ Instagram followers for comedy and pop culture), SoSatisfying (satisfying content), and others in esports, gaming, entertainment, and ASMR, serving brands like Levi's, Panasonic, and Adidas with Gen Z-targeted campaigns and achieving a collective cross-platform reach of 60-80 million followers.[1][2][3] Founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York with R&D in Tel Aviv, IMGN raised $6M in funding before being acquired by Warner Music Group (WMG) in August 2020, where it operates as a standalone entity with editorial autonomy, generating estimated annual revenue of $9.5M.[1][2][4]
IMGN Media was founded in 2015 by CEO Barak Shragai and launched as a tech-media startup focused on social content for youth culture, quickly gaining traction with Daquan, its flagship Instagram brand known for viral comedy and pop culture memes.[1][2][4] The idea emerged from identifying the need for scalable, data-driven content production amid the rise of mobile-first social platforms, leading to the development of ViralLab, an in-house AI tool for curating trends and growing audiences.[3] Early milestones included $3M in venture funding in June 2018 from investors like Rhodium, KDC Media Fund (Keshet Studios & Dick Clark Productions), Ron Zuckerman, and Dot Capital, building to its acquisition by WMG in 2020, which provided resources for expansion while preserving independence.[1][2][4]
IMGN Media rides the wave of social media's shift to short-form, algorithm-driven content tailored for Gen Z, where platforms like Instagram prioritize viral, niche programming over traditional media.[1][2] Its timing capitalized on the 2010s mobile explosion and AI's maturation for content scaling, positioning it ahead of competitors in youth culture sectors amid rising demand for authentic, shareable assets.[3] Market forces like advertiser flight to high-engagement social (e.g., concerns over platforms like Twitter) and WMG's integration of music with digital media favor IMGN, enhancing WMG's ecosystem with social trend data and revenue from 80M+ followers.[1][2][4] It influences the landscape by pioneering AI curation for publishers, helping brands navigate Gen Z preferences and bridging entertainment with tech-driven virality.
IMGN Media's acquisition by WMG positions it for sustained growth in AI-enhanced social content, potentially expanding its brand portfolio and tech stack amid evolving platforms like TikTok successors and metaverse social features. Trends like advanced AI for personalization and cross-media synergies (e.g., music-social integrations) will shape its path, amplifying influence through WMG's global reach. As Gen Z matures into key consumer demographics, IMGN could evolve from a content curator to a broader youth culture intelligence hub, driving revenue beyond $9.5M while maintaining its tech-media edge.[1][2][4]
IMGN Media has raised $5.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Series A in June 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2018 | $3.0M Series A | Robert Taub, Ron Zuckerman, Big Block Media, Dot Capital, KDC Media Fund, Rhodium, UTA Ventures | |
| Apr 1, 2016 | $2.0M Seed | AiSprouts VC, Draper Associates, Earth and beyond ventures, GSF Accelerator, Hearst Ventures, LOI Venture, NXTP Labs, Qualcomm Ventures, Sequoia Capital Israel, Softbank Latin America Fund, Surround Ventures, Valor Capital Group, Bruno Bowden, Ethan Beard, Henry Kravis, Mike Hennessey |