Unwell, the media company co-founded by Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper and producer Matt Kaplan, has secured its first outside investment, from Patrick Whitesell’s WTSL. The amount invested has not been disclosed but the business is now reported to be valued at $500m.
The $500m valuation puts Unwell among the more highly valued creator-led entertainment businesses, although not quite at the level of the sector’s biggest success stories. MrBeast’s Beast Industries has been valued at around $5bn, while digital-native kids entertainment company Moonbug has reached a valuation in the $2.5bn-$5bn range. YouTube-born sports and entertainment company Dude Perfect, meanwhile, secured a $100m investment in 2024 as it expanded into live events, merchandise and other areas. The comparisons underline the scale of the bet on Unwell’s ability to turn a creator-led audience into a broader entertainment business.
Cooper and Kaplan, who launched Unwell in 2023, have retained a majority stake. WTSL, the investment firm founded by former Endeavor executive Whitesell and Jason Lublin, will provide strategic expertise and industry relationships.
Cooper said Unwell was “scaling on all fronts”, combining “nimbleness, social-first premium content, and our understanding of culture” to serve its audience. She added that the WTSL backing would enable the company to accelerate the growth of its media platform through acquisitions and investments.
The investment comes as Unwell seeks to broaden its activities beyond podcasting. Its network currently comprises more than a dozen shows, with Call Her Daddy remaining its flagship property, alongside a partnership with SiriusXM and a growing presence on YouTube. Earlier this year, Unwell produced the Unwell Winter Games for its YouTube channel. At the time, the Unwell channel had 13,700 subs. As of this week the figure stands at 112,000 – demonstrating the brand’s growth potential.
The company targets Gen Z women and says 89% of its audience is female, with 72% aged between 18 and 35. It claims almost 100 million followers across platforms. The company also operates across film and television production, live events, brand and creative services and consumer products, including hydration and energy drinks.
