Digital entertainment firm POPS Worldwide raising $50m to fuel expansion

POPS Worldwide, a Southeast Asia-based digital entertainment company, has announced hitting a record 150 million more fans in 2020, boosting the number of its fans to-date to over 400 million.

The 14-year-old company, headquartered in Singapore, said it sees strong momentum in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia and will be expanding further this year.

To drive its aggressive growth strategy, POPS Worldwide looks to raise its Series D funding of $50 million this year, after raising $30 million in a Series C funding in 2019.

“In the near future, we hope to continue to push for growth by expanding across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, one of the region’s fastest-growing digital economies,” said POPS Worldwide founder and CEO Esther Nguyen.

Since its inception in 2007, POPS Worldwide has established a strong foothold in its key markets – Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, becoming the largest player in Southeast Asia’s digital entertainment industry.

Its sheer scale and multi-channel approach, including engaging third-party platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play Music, and Amazon Music, have been the driving force for connecting brands and content creators to users in Southeast Asia – a region with varied cultural nuances and a diverse demographic.

To date, the company has raised $37 million in funding to date, including its 2019 $30 million Series C round led by Eastbridge Partners, and Mirae Asset-Naver Asia Growth Fund, a joint initiative between Mirae Asset Financial Group and Naver Corporation.

Its targeted $50 million Series D raise enables the company to further innovate, grow and expand across Southeast Asia, starting with the Philippines, as well as go deeper into Indonesia where the company is seeing impressive traction.

POPS Worldwide also disclosed plans to open an office in Japan, focusing on partnerships and acquisitions, looking beyond Southeast Asia and towards Asia for more business opportunities.

The company curates and offers a diverse library of digital-first content including music, entertainment, and edutainment for different age groups and demographics, with a primary focus on children, Gen Z, and Millennials across Southeast Asia.