2019 has been a busy year for actor and producer Issa Rae, and it seems she has no intention of slowing down. Issa has acquired a minority stake in L.A-based streaming startup Streamlytics, which is lead by serial entrepreneur Angela Benton.
Angela Benton, a Silicon Valley powerhouse, founded at least two other companies before starting Streamlytics in 2018. She’s also served in advisory capacities for several other startups, including NewME, a startup accelerator for minority founders. Under her leadership, the accelerator assisted entrepreneurs from underrepresented demographics in raising over $47MM in venture capital funding. According to Streamlytic’s website, their goal is “to level the playing field by democratizing access to streaming media data for both users and companies who want to leverage it.”
How Streamlytics Works
Streamlytics differentiates itself for other digital streaming services by retrieving accurate streaming data directly from the source. They focus on the streaming account used to interact with media rather than the device being used. Streamlytics employs highly targeted consumer-facing applications to harness media data from the most prolific consumers. These users are compensated when they allow the service to share their streaming data across platforms.
Celebrities in Technology
Issa joins a long list of celebrities who’ve diversified their business portfolios beyond traditional entertainment. Will Smith, Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Diddy, among many others, have made significant investments in the technology sector.
When asked about her new venture, Rae stated “As streaming services become the standard for how people consume content and information, tools and companies like Streamlytics are necessary for transparency and consumer ownership. Angela’s drive and innovative spirit is the reason why she is a pioneer in the tech space and why I’m excited to partner with her in this endeavor.”
Benton also gushed “Having Issa involved as an owner is beyond exciting. Her pioneering work as both a creator and as a businesswoman creating digital-first content that has transcended the Internet-only medium aligns seamlessly with our company’s core values on ownership.”
