HK property tycoon Adrian Cheng leads $8m round in celeb fandom startup

Photo Credit: Stanly

Fueled by social media and fan conventions like Comic-Con and VidCon, the fan engagement market is on the rise. Its market size is likely to surpass US$27.3 billion by 2033, with digital platforms like Cameo reaching billion-dollar valuations at one point.

Another startup capitalizing on this trend is Stanly, which connects fans with artists through digital fan clubs and exclusive content. The US-based company has received US$8 million in pre-series A funding.

C Capital – the venture fund owned by Hong Kong business tycoon Adrian Cheng – led the round, with participation from AppWorks, Goodwater, and Palm Drive Capital.

Founded in 2023 by Rebecca Leung, Popular Culture, and Liberty City Ventures, Stanly aims to encourage direct interactions between fans and artists. Leung was a founding member of Hong Kong-based KKday, while Popular Culture is the family office of Jens and Emma Grede, known for running Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Skims along with the Kardashian family’s other businesses.

“The fans in Southeast Asia have all along been showing great enthusiasm in participating in the fan clubs events [and] have become one great pillar of our fast-growing community on Stanly,” Leung tells Tech in Asia.

Since its launch, Stanly has attracted over 200,000 members. Leung adds that the number of fans on the platform has grown by 30x since February 2024. The platform hosts 50 fandoms, including those of Taylor Swift and BTS, with 300 more coming soon.

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