Third Wave Digital
Third Wave Digital is a privately held, early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2014 by Allen DeBevoise, investing in digital media technology, distribution, and programming across a 40+ company portfolio. The firm is based in Los Angeles and recently expanded into interactive digital experiences for higher education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBeverly Hills, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Third Wave Digital does
Third Wave Digital is a privately held, early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2014 by Allen DeBevoise and headquartered in Beverly Hills/Los Angeles, with additional offices in San Francisco and New York. The firm invests in digital media technology, distribution, and programming, organized around a "third wave" thesis of streaming media delivered over broadband mobile networks to a global, multi-billion-user audience. Its disclosed portfolio of 40+ companies spans digital video platforms (88Rising, Pluto.TV, Vessel, DanceOn, Mitu), creator and influencer tools (CreatorIQ, Greenfly, Spotter, Tubular Labs, TopFan), digital media services (FameBit, ZEFR, VideoAmp, IRIS.TV, Jebbit, Hexagram), mobile gaming (NextGames, Pop.in), VR (WeVR), and vertical content (Mondo Media, PocketWatch, TasteMade, Hello Giggles, Merry Jane). Third Wave has both led rounds (Series Seed in 88Rising, Canvas, and Insurrection Media; Series A in PocketWatch; Series B in Mondo Media) and co-founded operating businesses (DanceOn, Mitu, Tubular Labs), and has realized exits through acquisitions by Viacom (Pluto.TV), Google (FameBit), Verizon (Vessel), Time Inc. (Hello Giggles), Live Nation (IndMusic), Trusted Media Brands (Jukin Media), Eventbrite (ToneDen), Omnia Media (Wisecrack), Everyone Happy (StarMaker), and the NextGames IPO.
The firm monetizes through standard venture economics: it deploys equity capital into portfolio companies, generates ongoing returns via management fees on committed capital, and realizes upside through exits. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven, sourcing deals through founder/industry networks and the personal brand of Allen DeBevoise rather than through a scaled platform or institutional sales motion. Beyond its VC core, Third Wave Digital in March 2026 launched an interactive virtual campus tour for Savannah State University—an operational product that suggests a nascent extension into digital experience services for the higher-education vertical. The firm has 11–50 employees, no disclosed parent, and no disclosed funding rounds of its own (i.e., it is an LP-funded vehicle, not a venture-backed startup).
Third Wave Digital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Third Wave Digital
- Legal name
- Third Wave Digital
- Website
- https://thirdwavedigital.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Third Wave Digital is a privately held, early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2014 by Allen DeBevoise, investing in digital media technology, distribution, and programming across a 40+ company portfolio. The firm is based in Los Angeles and recently expanded into interactive digital experiences for higher education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Third Wave Digital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- akta.pro primary industry
- Late-Stage Venture Capital (Series C+) (FSANAAAC)
Keywords
Where Third Wave Digital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beverly Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Third Wave Digital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Investment Returns: Third Wave Digital generates returns through equity investments in early-stage media and technology companies. The firm provides startup capital and receives equity stakes in portfolio companies, with returns realized through exits via acquisitions or IPOs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Third Wave Digital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Third Wave Digital is an early-stage venture capital firm that provides startup capital and strategic support to exceptional media and technology entrepreneurs. The firm leads and co-leads Seed, Series A, and Series B equity rounds in digital media technology, distribution, and programming companies, and has also selectively developed digital products such as an interactive virtual campus tour. Its returns are realized through equity stakes that exit via acquisitions or IPOs.
Product overview
Third Wave Digital is a venture capital firm founded in 2014 by Allen DeBevoise, based in Los Angeles with offices in San Francisco and New York. The company provides startup capital to exceptional early-stage media and technology entrepreneurs addressing opportunities in digital media technology, distribution, and programming. The company has an investment portfolio spanning digital video platforms (88Rising, Pluto.TV, Vessel), digital media services (CreatorIQ, FameBit, Jebbit), mobile apps (NextGames, DanceOn), VR (WeVR), and various other digital media properties including food/travel content (TasteMade, Foodstirs), social entertainment (Hello Giggles, Merry Jane), esports (Battlefy, Immortals), and creator tools (Tubular Labs, Spotter, TopFan). Notably, Third Wave Digital recently launched an interactive virtual campus tour product for Savannah State University, representing a move into education technology services alongside their VC operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Interactive Virtual Campus Tour Interactive digital platform that provides comprehensive virtual exploration of campus facilities, designed for higher education institutions to enhance student engagement through modern digital storytelling.
- Early-Stage Venture Capital Investments Equity capital investment services (Seed, Series A, Series B) provided to early-stage digital media and technology entrepreneurs, with strategic support aimed at building major media companies.
Companies that use Third Wave Digital
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Third Wave Digital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Third Wave Digital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Savannah State UniversityportfolioThird Wave Digital launched an interactive virtual campus tour for Savannah State University to enhance student engagement. The digital platform offers a comprehensive exploration of the campus and adapts to modern digital storytelling trends.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Third Wave Digital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Emerson Collective: Impact- and media-focused investment entity of Laurene Powell Jobs with material digital media exposure; broader scope and balance sheet than Third Wave, but overlapping media/creator-economy mandate.
- Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI): Corporate venture arm of Bertelsmann investing globally in digital media and consumer tech; broader portfolio scale and deeper media synergies than Third Wave, but directly comparable sector focus.
Direct peers
- Cross Culture Ventures: Early-stage digital media VC backing diverse founders across content, platforms, and consumer media; similar sector niche and check size to Third Wave.
- Lerer Hippeau: Early-stage media and consumer-tech focused VC based in New York; closely overlaps with Third Wave's media-sector thesis and Seed/Series A orientation.
- Greycroft Partners: Early-to-growth-stage VC firm with deep digital media and consumer Internet focus; comparable in stage preference (seed/Series A), media-sector concentration, and New York/LA presence to Third Wave Digital.
- WndrCo: Multi-stage venture firm with a strong media/consumer-Internet franchise and active co-investor in Third Wave-aligned deals (e.g., Pluto.TV, Vessel); comparable thematic focus and founder-led model.
Emerging players
- UTA Ventures: Venture arm of United Talent Agency investing at the intersection of media, talent, and technology; similar media/entertainment thesis and Los Angeles base.
- Advancit Capital: Early-stage media and technology VC; comparable in stage and media-thematic investing although smaller and more recent in vintage than Third Wave.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Third Wave Digital social profiles
Digital presenceThird Wave Digital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Third Wave Digital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Third Wave Digital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Third Wave Digital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments68 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Third Wave Digital
What does Third Wave Digital do?
Third Wave Digital is an early-stage venture capital firm that provides startup capital and strategic support to exceptional media and technology entrepreneurs. The firm leads and co-leads Seed, Series A, and Series B equity rounds in digital media technology, distribution, and programming companies, and has also selectively developed digital products such as an interactive virtual campus tour. Its returns are realized through equity stakes that exit via acquisitions or IPOs.
Is Third Wave Digital a public or private company?
Third Wave Digital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Third Wave Digital founded?
Third Wave Digital was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Third Wave Digital based?
Third Wave Digital is headquartered in Beverly Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Third Wave Digital make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Returns.
Who are Third Wave Digital's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Emerson Collective and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI). Direct peers are Cross Culture Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Greycroft Partners and WndrCo. Emerging players are UTA Ventures and Advancit Capital.
Does Third Wave Digital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Third Wave Digital.
What industry is Third Wave Digital in?
Third Wave Digital's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAC, Late-Stage Venture Capital (Series C+).