Gushcloud banks $11m to expand talent management service in the US, China

Global digital talent agency Gushcloud has raised US$11 million in a round led by Indonesian venture builder GDP Venture, marking its first fundraise since co-founders Althea Lim and Vincent Ha bought back the company from previous parent Yello Digital Marketing Global.

KB Investments, Kejora Ventures, Golden Equator Capital, and Korea Investment Partners’ GEC-KIP Fund also participated in the round, alongside strategic individual investors such as American entrepreneur and record executive Russell Simmons.

Gushcloud Talent Agency’s California office / Photo credit: Gushcloud

The influencer marketing and talent agency network operates three units. Through its advertising and marketing unit, Gushcloud Marketing, the company connects audiences and brands to influencers and content creators.

Gushcloud Talent Agency, on the other hand, currently represents over 13,000 influencers globally, including digital stars in beauty, wellness, parenting, fashion, gaming, music, and general lifestyle.

Gushcloud Entertainment Group, its brand builder unit, builds intellectual property in entertainment, talent-centric platforms and services, and talent-led global consumer businesses.

According to a statement, Gushcloud plans to use the new funds to fuel the global expansion of its digital celebrity representation business into key markets such as China and the US.

See also: Gushcloud weathered a PR disaster. It’s now growing and profitable.

To help pursue its growth plans, the company announced that Lim and Ha were promoted to group CEO and chairman of the board, respectively, while Simmons was appointed as president of the group to set up Gushcloud’s talent agency headquarters in Los Angeles.

“America is home to the world’s biggest talents and brands, while China to the world’s key platforms, technologies, and largest world audience,” said Ha. “With the new investors and partners that have come on board, we can capitalize on our unique network of talents and offices as well as our cultural intelligence to achieve significant growth for the company in the coming years.”

Gushcloud originally launched in 2011 as an influencer and brand-matching platform. The following year, it pivoted to become an influencer marketing agency and has since evolved into a digital talent agency group.

According to its public filings, the company’s revenue grew from US$3.75 million in 2015 to US$5 million in 2016. Gushcloud was profitable in 2016 and remains that way up until this year, Lim previously told Tech in Asia.