Children’s social platform Zigazoo and entertainment and media company Wheelhouse have launched a joint venture designed to develop businesses around creators emerging from the Zigazoo community.
Called Zigazoo Studios, the venture will work with selected young creators on projects spanning original content, consumer products, live events, brand partnerships and other commercial opportunities, extending their reach beyond social media.
“The next generation of creators is already here, but the world has barely noticed,” said Zak Ringelstein, co-founder and CEO of Zigazoo. “Zigazoo Studios is designed to give Zigazoo creators and their families something that hasn’t existed until now: a trusted ecosystem that creates a sustainable pathway to build the superstars of the future.”
The initiative builds on an existing relationship between the two companies. Wheelhouse has been an investor in Zigazoo and has supported the platform’s strategic growth in recent years. Wheelhouse CEO Brent Montgomery said the company viewed the partnership as a natural extension of its long-standing involvement with Zigazoo and its focus on creator-led businesses.
Zigazoo Studios plans to begin rolling out creator development programmes, original productions and strategic partnerships later this year. On LinkedIn, Zigazoo described the launch as “an investment in the future of the creator economy”.
The launch comes as companies across the creator economy increasingly look to build long-term IP and diversified revenue streams. It also arrives amid heightened scrutiny of youth-focused social platforms, with governments in several markets introducing or considering tighter regulations governing minors’ use of social media.
