Kyiv-based firm HOLYWATER has secured a $22 million investment round, with Horizon Capital committing $16 million as the lead investor. The round will enable the firm to expand its content production and IP incubation engine, as well as develop new formats such as AI-enabled comics and anime.
- Founded in 2020 by Bogdan Nesvit and Anatolii Kasianov in Kyiv, HOLYWATER is a technology-driven entertainment company that develops mobile-first, vertical video content platforms. The company builds tools and platforms that enable creators to produce, distribute, and monetize short-form series, e-books, and interactive AI-powered content.
- HOLYWATER’s product portfolio includes:
- My Drama – a vertical series platform delivering short-form episodic content.
- My Passion – an e-book platform offering a range of digital reading material.
- My Muse – an interactive streaming platform with AI-generated series.
- Freebits – an ad-supported vertical streaming service providing free access to premium content.
- The company combines AI technology and data-driven production to enable rapid content creation, IP testing, and global distribution. HOLYWATER has grown from a 7-person startup into a team of over 200 employees operating internationally, with platforms reaching over 55 million users and more than 100 million hours of streamed content.
Details of the deal
- The $22 million round was led by Horizon Capital, with participation from Wheelhouse and Endeavor Catalyst, marking Endeavor’s second investment in Ukrainian startups after its first backing of Headway Inc during an extension of the company’s Series A round led by Bullhound Capital.
- HOLYWATER will use the fresh funding to expand its content production and IP incubation engine, grow its mobile-first vertical video ecosystem, and develop new genres and formats, including AI-enabled comics and anime.
