San Francisco, United States
HOOKED is reshaping the landscape of entertainment by offering unique storytelling experiences tailored for the smartphone generation. Their catchy slogan, "The future of storytelling," reflects their dedication to engaging teens and millennials through "flash" fiction, captivating multimedia audio stories, and narrative videos. With a staggering user base of over 50M monthly across platforms like iOS, Android, Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook, HOOKED is a force in mass-market entertainment. Their app has topped the #1 position on the App Store in 25 countries, including major markets such as the U.S., U.K., France, and Japan.
Founded in 2015 in the United States, the company operates at the intersection of the Creator Economy, Internet, Mobile, and Social Media industries. Having raised $15M from notable investors in both Silicon Valley and Hollywood, including celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, and athletes like LeBron James, HOOKED is positioned as a significant player in the entertainment sector. Moreover, the last investment—a $10M Series A—from investors such as MaC Venture Capital and Founders Fund on May 2, 2017, signifies strong backing and confidence in their growth trajectory.
The company's founders, Prerna Gupta and Parag Chordia, bring substantial expertise from the mobile app world. Their previous ventures, including inventive music apps like AutoRap, have reached over 150MM people, showcasing their ability to capture user imagination and enthusiasm. This combination of innovative leadership and robust backing makes HOOKED a compelling consideration for venture capitalists eyeing transformative ventures in modern storytelling and social media interaction.
