Creator-focused entertainment company Invisible Narratives has announced long-term capital partnerships with Verance Capital and funds managed by affiliates of BC Partners Credit. The investment is intended to accelerate the company’s ability to acquire and scale intellectual property from the digital creator ecosystem into global entertainment franchises spanning film, television, gaming, and consumer products.
Founded by CEO Adam Goodman, and with filmmaker Michael Bay serving as advisor, the company also announced the appointment of Mark Shedletsky as president. Shedletsky will oversee business operations and M&A strategy, with a focus on creator IP, YouTube channels, brands and games with “passionate audiences, repeatable formats, and defensible characters or worlds.”
Shedletsky brings more than 25 years of experience across entertainment and digital media, including leadership roles at MTV and Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment, as well as experience building and multiple startups.
At the core of Invisible Narratives’ strategy is what the company describes as ‘tradigital’ production – a hybrid studio model designed to combine the speed and creative freedom of digital-native creators with the structured development and franchise-building systems of legacy Hollywood.
The capital commitment includes plans from BC Partners Credit to deploy more than $300m into the creator economy through the Invisible Narratives platform. Alongside Verance Capital, the firms have also made an initial $25M investment tied to the company’s majority acquisition of Skibidi Toilet, a viral YouTube-born IP that has expanded into gaming, consumer products, and multi-platform content.
“BC Partners sees a significant opportunity in the creator economy and has strong conviction in platforms with deeply engaged, loyal audiences,” said Ted Goldthorpe, partner and head of BC Partners Credit. “Invisible Narratives has demonstrated an ability to cultivate and scale creator led businesses. We look forward to working with the team to deploy capital as they build a billion-dollar studio that extends the confines of traditional film and TV. Following our investment in other digital IP platforms, we are doubling down on the creator economy with Invisible Narratives as platform of choice.”
Regarding Shedletsky’s appointment, Goodman said: “Mark has repeatedly and successfully scaled companies across film, TV, music, digital media, talent management, and live entertainment. As Invisible Narratives becomes the defining studio of the creator era, there is no one more uniquely qualified to serve as president.”
“Audiences have migrated to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Steam, and Roblox where visionary creatives are building the most valuable IP,” added Shedletsky. “Adam and Michael Bay are two of the most talented creative executives in Hollywood who have already established a successful track record of partnering with the top talent in the creator economy. Along with our capital partners Verance and BC Partners, Invisible Narratives is uniquely positioned to become the studio of the future.”
Previous projects from Invisible Narratives include a livestream format for Twitch titled Crimson, a horror film with FaZe Clan creators, and collaborations with HBO Max and STX Studios. The company has also expanded the Skibidi Toilet IP across Roblox, consumer products, and licensing, reporting 47 million subscribers, 20 billion views, over $150m in consumer spending, and 8.7 billion visits across Roblox experiences.
