Lion Forge secures $30m investment from HarbourView
September 9, 2025
HarbourView Equity Partners (HarbourView), an alternative asset management company focused on investment opportunities in the music, entertainment, media and sports ecosystem, is leading a $30 million (€25.5m) investment in Lion Forge Entertainment, further enhancing the company’s ability to fund and own its IP. The Steward Family and Polarity are investors in the round and continue to be the majority owners of Lion Forge Entertainment.
HarbourView’s investment is part of a new $30 million minority investment in Lion Forge, which plans to use the invested capital to scale and expand its IP portfolio and premium franchise pipeline, reinforcing the studio’s core lines of business and fueling key organic growth initiatives across the studio’s business verticals.
“We believe that content has the extraordinary power to influence the world,” said Sherrese Clarke. “This is a unique moment in the kids & family space and Lion Forge is seizing an opportunity to lean into its ability to tell compelling stories authentically and cultivate global franchises at scale. This synchronises with our vision of how the next generation of multiplatform media companies can grow – by introducing fresh images, ideas and paradigms that reflect the evolving world in which we live and creating culturally authentic and socially relevant content.”
“Sherrese is a trailblazing investor, leading a culture-driving company. Her knowledge and track record will be immensely additive as we continue to scale our company and properties,” commenrde David Steward II. “This is a validating moment for our young company. The synergy between the shrewd investment strategy of HarbourView and the franchise-building blueprint at Lion Forge will enable us collectively to optimise opportunities at the nexus of entertainment, culture and content and grow into a category defining leader from a position of strength.”
Stephanie Sperber, President and Chief Creative Officer of Lion Forge Entertainment, added: “We work with incredible creators and exceptional IP, and the backing of HarbourView will allow us to develop and invest in expanding our library. Sherese and her team see what we see – an opportunity in the marketplace for premium kids, family and YA franchises, which motivates us to double down on what we believe we do best – create global content and build franchises.”
Lion Forge develops and produces animated and live action content targeting kids & family, YA and adult audiences, building on the success of earlier Lion Forge Animation projects including the Oscar-winning Hair Love. The studio’s latest series Iyanu has become a breakout cross-platform success on ITVX, HBO Max and Cartoon Network, debuting as the number one series among kids on Cartoon Network and is a Top 10 Kids & Family series on HBO Max. Season 2 of animated series, along with two feature films expanding its universe, have been greenlit by Cartoon Network and HBO Max.
Lion Forge has a multi-year first-look deal with Nickelodeon covering animated series and features that has resulted in multiple projects in development including Marley & The Family Band series in partnership with the Bob Marley Estate, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom in partnership with Simon & Schuster, and Iron Dragon in partnership with Mostapes. Additional strategic partnerships include an alliance with Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House, to develop series and features based on select children’s books. Lion Forge also recently joined forces with George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones) to adapt the renowned novella A Dozen Tough Jobs into an adult animated feature film; set a partnership with TalesVision to expand their short-form YouTube sensation, Lostlings, into a premium long-form series; entered into a first look deal with Oware to identify and develop global kids & family and YA content; and is working with Rebel Girls to develop content around Rebel Girls Sports in the unscripted space.
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