Erka Media

What Erka Media does

Erka Media (二咖传媒) is a Chinese Multi-Channel Network (MCN) that incubates and manages short-video influencers across the major Chinese social platforms. Founded in December 2016 with a Los Angeles office (initially signing YouTube creators such as @JakePaul and @Bigdaws), the company established its Beijing headquarters in September 2017 and subsequently expanded to Changsha (September 2018, content production base at Malanshan National Film and Television Cultural Creative Industrial Base) and Hangzhou (September 2020, e-commerce focus). Erka Media operates an Influencer Matrix (博主矩阵) of 600+ exclusive influencers, with 70% of talent incubated from zero, accumulating over 500 million fans across Douyin, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou, Bilibili, and overseas platforms including YouTube. Its flagship brand is 毒角SHOW (overseas Chinese content), supported by verticals such as 以为会化妆 (beauty) and 三鲜视频 (episodic IP).

The company's core technology is a proprietary influencer incubation and management methodology rather than a software product — covering content planning, production, platform operations, multi-platform IP development (Douyin, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou), and talent development. Erka Media maintains deep platform relationships and has been recognized as a preferred partner across major Chinese platforms, including first-batch Xiaohongshu deep cooperation MCN status (2019) and Xiaohongshu MCN Commerce TOP1 ranking (July 2020). The company also operates the industry's first school-enterprise joint modern apprenticeship program (Erka Class) with Hunan Mass Media Vocational and Technical College to build a talent pipeline.

Erka Media generates revenue through influencer management fees, commercial brand partnerships, content monetization, and emerging live-streaming e-commerce, with pricing structured on a project/quote basis and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is community-led: talent acquisition, content strategy development, and platform relationship management rather than traditional sales channels. The customer base is two-sided — individual influencers/creators (downstream, served by incubation and management services) and brand partners (upstream, served via commercial matchmaking and content collaboration). The company is privately held, with Sequoia China as the sole disclosed institutional investor following its ¥40M Series A in May 2018.

Name

Erka Media

Legal name

二咖传媒

Website

https://erkamedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Erka Media is a Chinese MCN incubating and managing 600+ exclusive short-video influencers across Douyin, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou, and Bilibili, with 500M+ cumulative fans. The company serves content creators with talent development and brand partners with commercial matchmaking from offices in Los Angeles, Beijing, Changsha, and Hangzhou.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Influencer Marketing / MCN Services

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs) & Creator Management Platforms (MPACABAH)

Keywords

• Influencer marketing
• MCN services
• Short video content
• Talent management
• Social media operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Influencer Management and Content Monetization: Revenue generated through management of influencer accounts across social media platforms, content monetization, and commercial partnerships with brands. The company serves as MCN connecting influencers with brands and platforms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Erka Media operates as a Multi-Channel Network (MCN) that incubates, develops, and manages a roster of 600+ exclusive social media influencers, with 70% incubated from zero. The company provides end-to-end influencer services including content planning, production, platform operations, and commercial monetization across Chinese platforms (Douyin, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou, Bilibili) and overseas platforms (YouTube), connecting influencers with brand partners for advertising and content campaigns.

Product overview

Erka Media is a leading Chinese MCN (Multi-Channel Network) company operating as a unified platform for short video content creation and influencer management. The core offering is the Influencer Matrix (博主矩阵) with 600+ exclusive influencers, anchored by flagship brand 毒角SHOW, supplemented by beauty vertical 以为会化妆 and episodic content IP 三鲜视频. The company provides integrated services including business cooperation, team collaboration, and public welfare initiatives, while maintaining offices in Los Angeles, Beijing, Changsha, and Hangzhou to serve both overseas and domestic Chinese markets across Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 毒角SHOW (Toxic角SHOW): Flagship overseas self-media brand positioned as '海外赤子中国心' (Overseas Chinese with Chinese Hearts), incubated from 2017. First major IP that gained significant popularity, debuting at Weibo Influencer Festival 2017 with over 1 million followers.

Products and services

• Influencer Matrix (博主矩阵) Portfolio of 600+ exclusive social media influencers incubated, developed, and managed by Erka Media across platforms including Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili. Offered to brand clients for commercial campaigns, sponsorships, and content partnerships.
• Business Cooperation Services (商务合作) Professional cross-department team collaboration services for brands seeking influencer marketing campaigns, content creation, and commercial partnerships with Erka's influencer roster.
• 毒角SHOW (Toxic角SHOW) Flagship content IP and overseas Chinese self-media brand developed under Erka Media's incubation methodology, featuring overseas Chinese perspectives in a humorous style, used as a key commercial property for brand campaigns.
• Influencer Commercial Monetization Commercial matchmaking and campaign execution service connecting brands with Erka's managed influencers for advertising, sponsored content, and marketing collaborations across Chinese social platforms.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hunan Mass Media Vocational and Technical College (湖南大众传媒职业技术学院)coreOthers · 1 October 2020Erka Media established the industry-first school-enterprise joint modern apprenticeship class called 'Erka Class' at Hunan Mass Media Vocational and Technical College in Changsha. The program aims to improve talent suitability and facilitate student-to-employee identity transformation.
• ByteDance Poverty Alleviation (字节扶贫)minorOthers · 1 April 2020In April 2020, Erka Media partnered with ByteDance's poverty alleviation initiative, helping Hubei's economic recovery through live streaming e-commerce. The company was recognized as a Quality Partner for Hubei Recovery Assistance.
• ByteDance Public Welfare (字节公益)minorOthers · 1 March 2020Erka Media became a Spirit Guardian (精灵守护者) public welfare partner with ByteDance in March 2020. Influencers under the company participated in public welfare activities.
• Xianzi Culture (仙梓文化)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Erka Media and Xianzi Culture formed a strategic partnership in March 2019 to jointly develop vertical influencers, short video incubation, and commercial business. The partnership focused on Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and Weibo platforms. In June 2019, both companies were among the first batch of 10 Xiaohongshu deep cooperation MCN institutions. In July 2020, both companies topped the Xiaohongshu MCN Commerce leaderboard (Erka at TOP1, Xianzi at TOP2).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ByteDance (Douyin/TikTok): ByteDance operates Douyin, the dominant Chinese short video platform on which Erka Media's influencers distribute content. While Erka is a customer of ByteDance's platforms, ByteDance also operates competing MCN initiatives and increasingly enables direct brand-creator connections, making it both a partner and a structural risk.
• Xiaohongshu (RED): Xiaohongshu (RED) is the leading Chinese lifestyle social commerce platform where Erka Media is a top MCN (TOP1 in live commerce). It is a key distribution partner but also increasingly competes with MCNs by enabling direct brand-creator commerce transactions.

Emerging players

• Nox (悦普集团): Nox (formerly Yipusheng/Yuepu) is a Chinese digital marketing and influencer marketing platform that connects brands with MCNs and creators. It is comparable to Erka Media as an intermediary in the brand-influencer matching ecosystem, though it operates more as an aggregator platform than a direct MCN.

Direct peers

• Tuziy Media (兔子传媒): Tuziy Media is a Chinese MCN focused on short video content production and influencer incubation across major Chinese platforms. It uses a similar creator incubation methodology and is a direct competitor in the MCN services market.
• Bayue Media (八月传媒): Bayue Media is a Chinese MCN specializing in short video content creation and influencer management across Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Weibo. It is comparable to Erka Media in size, vertical focus, and platform diversification.
• Papitube: Papitube is one of China's largest MCNs, founded by Papi Jiang and managed by B Station-affiliated operations. It directly competes with Erka Media in short video creator management across Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Weibo, with overlapping influencer rosters and identical monetization models.
• Wuyou Media (无忧传媒): Wuyou Media is one of China's largest MCNs with significant presence on Douyin and Kuaishou, having incubated many top-tier creators. It operates a comparable business model of short video incubation and brand-influencer matching, and is one of the most well-capitalized MCNs in China.
• Xianzi Culture (仙梓文化): Xianzi Culture is a leading Chinese MCN and Erka Media's strategic partner, ranked TOP2 on Xiaohongshu's MCN live commerce leaderboard (just behind Erka's TOP1). It is directly comparable in size, platform focus (Xiaohongshu, Douyin, Weibo), and creator incubation model, while also being a cooperation partner.

Regional players

• Jellysmack: Jellysmack is an international creator economy company that manages and optimizes video creators across YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. It is comparable to Erka Media in its role as an MCN/creator management business, though it operates primarily in Western markets.
• Studio71: Studio71 is a major international MCN (owned by Axel Springer) managing YouTube and social media creators. It is comparable to Erka Media as an MCN business model, though it operates primarily in Western markets rather than China.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Erka Media