Media for Equity

A way of financing by offering investors equity in return for marketing space.

Author: Adin Lykken
Adin Lykken
Adin Lykken
Consulting | Private Equity

Currently, Adin is an associate at Berkshire Partners, an $16B middle-market private equity fund. Prior to joining Berkshire Partners, Adin worked for just over three years at The Boston Consulting Group as an associate and consultant and previously interned for the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Senate.

Adin graduated from Yale University, Magna Cum Claude, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics.

Reviewed By: David Bickerton
David Bickerton
David Bickerton
Asset Management | Financial Analysis

Previously a Portfolio Manager for MDH Investment Management, David has been with the firm for nearly a decade, serving as President since 2015. He has extensive experience in wealth management, investments and portfolio management.

David holds a BS from Miami University in Finance.

Last Updated:November 30, 2023

What is Media for Equity?

Media for equity is a way of financing by offering investors equity in return for marketing space. It is a different way of getting investments from the classical form of venture capital. The majority of investors investing via this model are media and advertising companies.

This allows start-ups to advertise their product without having to spend their cash reserves. And unlike other investments, a business sells its equity without getting any funding in the form of cash.

This also helps businesses increase their net sales and customers through media outlets without spending any budget on marketing and sales

Before exploring media for equity, businesses should have a product or service to sell and a marketing campaign in mind, which could make looking for the right investor a bit easier. 

If circumstance prevails, multiple media companies could align together for the specific requirement a company requires. 

Doing media for equity for a start-up gives them a marketing space and vast exposure to venture capital for any future investments.

What is media for equity funds?

Media for an equity fund is similar to media for equity, where multiple media companies come together to fund a high-growth company and give it a media space.

Media company collaboration helps start-ups or businesses to have media outlets in various spaces, for example, television, billboards, etc.

When is the Media for Equity Model used?

The model can be used in the following scenarios:

  • When a start-up is just out of the developmental phase, marketing campaigns provide tremendous value by bringing a new customer base and a community, making your company name a known brand which further legitimizes the business and the product.

But marketing campaigns can be expensive and do not, in any way, provide a guarantee for returns through the number of sales; that's when media of equity can be helpful.

  • Not only does the company receive accessible media outlets for its marketing campaign, but it also receives professional advice and support throughout the campaign's making from the media companies investing.

In exchange, media companies receive a part of the company, which could provide a future investment return.

  • The model is also used when a start-up is having issues receiving investments through venture capital; having a media outlet and marketing campaign makes the company reasonable for investment for venture capital.

Researched and authored by Abhijeet Avhale | LinkedIn

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