ESSENCE Ventures Makes Strategic Investment in REVOLT’s Parent Company, Connecting Two Leaders in Cultural Influence

ESSENCE Ventures, the investment and operating arm of Sundial Media & Technology Group today announced a strategic investment in Offscript Worldwide, the parent brand of REVOLT, REVOLT Sports, 3BLACKDOT and the Offscript Creator Network, bringing together two media portfolios with complementary audiences and capabilities across entertainment, music, women’s lifestyle, beauty, creators, sports and gaming, technology and live experiences. The partnership will offer advertisers access to diverse, highly engaged audiences at scale.

The investment gives ESSENCE Ventures a minority stake in Revolt New Media Holdings LLC and gives Sundial founder and Chairman Richelieu Dennis a seat on the board. Offscript Worldwide and REVOLT will continue to operate independently under Chief Executive Officer Detavio Samuels, with the relationship focused on expanding commercial opportunities for advertisers.

Together, the broader portfolios span ESSENCE (Girls United, ESSENCE Studios, ESSENCE Festival of Culture®), Refinery29, AFROPUNK, Beautycon™, and now REVOLT, REVOLT Sports, 3BLACKDOT, Offscript Creator Network, along with a growing network of content, creators and live experiences, reaching all audiences across generations. Collectively, the portfolios reach millions of consumers across owned, social, creator, video and live experiences, giving advertisers access to diverse, highly engaged audiences at scale.

This comes at a moment when human connection and shared experiences are becoming increasingly valuable in an AI-driven world. Both organizations are at the forefront of creating experiences that bring audiences, creators and brands together in real life. Most recently, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® welcomed a collective audience of 500,000, demonstrating the continued power of live experiences to convene communities at scale.

“This investment is about continuing the momentum both organizations have built and creating the scale to compete for where media and advertising are going,” said Kirk McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of Sundial Media & Technology Group, parent company of ESSENCE Ventures. “For generations, Black-owned media has punched above its weight, shaping culture while being underinvested relative to the value it creates around the world. By bringing together complementary audiences, platforms and capabilities, we have an opportunity to give advertisers greater access to the people and communities shaping culture — while preserving the independent ownership, audience trust and authentic voices that make these brands distinct.”

“Black-owned media has never meant a Black-only audience — and this ecosystem is proof at scale,” said Detavio Samuels, Chief Executive Officer, Offscript Worldwide and REVOLT. “Offscript Worldwide and REVOLT built the audiences driving youth culture across music, gaming and sports. Sundial Media Group adds cross-cultural, multigenerational women’s audiences. Together, that’s the full range of people shaping what’s next. For advertisers, that’s not a niche buy. That’s access to culture itself.”

The relationship builds on the evolution already underway across both organizations. ESSENCE Ventures and Sundial Media & Technology Group have expanded beyond their flagship properties into a broader portfolio spanning media, technology, commerce and experiences, while Offscript Worldwide has expanded beyond REVOLT into a broader portfolio of media brands, creator platforms and cultural experiences designed to shape culture and engage the next generation of audiences.

Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.

About ESSENCE Ventures

ESSENCE Ventures, the investment arm of Sundial Media & Technology Group, is a purpose-driven investment and operating company focused on building businesses that advance culture, community and economic opportunity. Through strategic investments and operating companies, ESSENCE Ventures supports brands and platforms shaping the future of media, technology, commerce and live experiences.

About Offscript Worldwide

Offscript Worldwide is a creator-owned ecosystem that connects culture-shaping brands and platforms under one roof — including REVOLT, REVOLT Sports, Rap-Up, 440 Artists, 3BLACKDOT and #000000 (Six Zeros). Creators within Offscript maintain full ownership of their platforms and IP while gaining access to the infrastructure, distribution, and brand partnerships that expand their reach and revenue. Built for the new creator economy, Offscript exists to help creators scale what they already own — turning cultural influence into lasting enterprise.

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