What Dropout does

Dropout (legal entity Dropout Connected Ventures) is a subscription video streaming service founded in 2018 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, operating as an independent, privately held company with approximately 292 employees. It serves a direct-to-consumer audience of comedy fans, offering an exclusive library of original unscripted and improvised programming including Game Changer (seven seasons), Dimension 20, Very Important People, Make Some Noise, Dirty Laundry, Crowd Control, Gastronauts, Parlor Room, and Smartypants, with growing forays into scripted and animated formats. The product is delivered through owned web and mobile applications available on iOS, Android, and approximately a dozen additional connected platforms, and is increasingly distributed through a parallel YouTube Memberships channel and a 24/7 always-on streaming channel.

The underlying technology stack is a conventional consumer video streaming platform with no disclosed proprietary AI, machine learning, or data flywheel components. The offering is supplemented by a Dropout Store for merchandise and a community-oriented Superfan tier that bundles behind-the-scenes access with subscription benefits. The business model is primarily recurring subscription revenue, priced at $6.99 per month or $55.99 for the first year and $69.99 on renewal at the annual level, with a premium $129.99 per year Superfan tier and a 3-day free trial reducing entry friction. Merchandise sales and YouTube Memberships fees provide secondary revenue streams.

Dropout is the commercially independent successor to CollegeHumor's direct-to-consumer pivot, and its strategic posture over recent years has been to broaden monetization (premium tier, 24/7 channel, merchandise) and distribution (YouTube Memberships, expanded app footprint) while continuing to deepen its original content slate, without taking on disclosed institutional funding or executing material M&A.

Name

Dropout

Legal name

Dropout Connected Ventures

Website

https://signup.dropout.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Dropout is a subscription video streaming platform offering original unscripted and improvised comedy programming such as Game Changer and Dimension 20 to direct-to-consumer subscribers via web, mobile, and connected TV apps, with a $129.99/year Superfan premium tier and merchandise arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Subscription Video Streaming: Core revenue from monthly and annual subscription plans for streaming access to original comedy content library. Includes three tiers: Standard (Monthly/Annual), Superfan premium tier, and gift subscriptions.
2. Merchandise Sales: Dropout Store sells exclusive merchandise including apparel, collectibles, and exclusive Superfan products. Superfan subscribers receive a 10% discount on store purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dropout is a subscription video streaming platform that distributes original, unscripted comedy series to consumers on a monthly or annual basis. The service is ad-free and offers a library of exclusive shows across game shows, improvised interviews, fantasy role-playing, and culinary competitions, plus a premium Superfan tier and a merchandise store.

Product overview

Dropout is a subscription video streaming platform offering original unscripted comedy content. The platform operates as a unified streaming service (the main Dropout platform) with multiple original comedy series including Game Changer (7 seasons), Very Important People (3 seasons), Dimension 20: Cloudward Ho! (1 season), Make Some Noise (4 seasons), Dirty Laundry (5 seasons), Crowd Control (1 season), Gastronauts (2 seasons), Parlor Room (1 season), and Smartypants (2 seasons). The platform offers tiered subscription options including Monthly Membership ($6.99/month), Annual Membership ($55.99 first year), and a premium Superfan add-on tier ($129.99/year) with exclusive perks. Additional offerings include the Dropout Store for merchandise and Dropout 24/7 channel. All plans provide ad-free access to the complete show library across web and mobile apps.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Superfan: A premium subscription tier offering exclusive merch, 10% store discount, early access to live events, and behind-the-scenes content access to the Superfan Hub.

Products and services

• Game Changer A game show series (7 seasons) where a new, surprise premise is introduced every episode and contestants adapt and compete.
• Very Important People A makeover and interview series (3 seasons) where comedians are transformed into new personas and conduct fully improvised interviews with host Vic Michaelis.
• Dimension 20: Cloudward Ho! A fantasy adventure series (1 season of this iteration) set in a world of machine wonder where six explorers search for new lands and adventure.
• Make Some Noise A game show (4 seasons) where contestants compete to bring silly and creative prompts to life.
• Dirty Laundry A social game show (5 seasons) where host Lily Du gathers four guests to tell secrets, guess who they belong to, and enjoy drinks.
• Crowd Control An improvised stand-up series (1 season) where the audience serves as the material for comedian performances.
• Gastronauts A culinary competition series (2 seasons) where culinary masterminds compete in challenges created by comedians.
• Parlor Room A game night series (1 season) hosted by Becca Scott featuring comedian friends in competitive games.
• Smartypants A discussion series (2 seasons) featuring thinkers and comedians asking unconventional questions.
• Dropout 24/7 A 24/7 linear-style streaming channel available on the Dropout platform.
• Superfan Tier Premium annual subscription tier ($129.99/year) offering exclusive merchandise, 10% Dropout Store discount, early access to live event tickets, and the Superfan Hub behind-the-scenes content.
• Monthly Membership Standard subscription plan at $6.99/month with a free 3-day trial, granting access to the complete show library, zero ads, and apps across nearly a dozen platforms.
• Annual Membership Standard subscription plan at $55.99/year for the first year (then $69.99/year), offering the same benefits as monthly at less than $5/month for the first year.
• Dropout Store Online merchandise store offering Dropout-branded products, exclusive items for Superfans, and retired collectibles; Superfan subscribers receive a 10% discount.
• YouTube Memberships Alternative subscription access through YouTube Memberships, allowing users to access Dropout content via the YouTube platform.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mubi: Curated arthouse and independent film subscription streaming service with daily film rotations and original productions. Comparable as a specialty D2C streamer monetizing a curated library plus originals through subscriptions.
• Shudder: AMC Networks' genre-specific subscription streaming service focused on horror. Closely comparable as a niche-content, subscription-only streamer with curated original and library programming for a passionate fan base.
• Crunchyroll: Largest specialty subscription streaming service for anime, now owned by Sony. Comparable as a category-defining subscription streaming platform built around a passionate, niche audience and original-licensed content.
• Nebula: Creator-backed indie subscription streaming service offering originals plus curated third-party content. Directly comparable as a niche, subscription-led D2C platform targeting a passionate audience rather than mass-market viewing.
• Curiosity Stream: Subscription streaming service specializing in factual/documentary originals. Comparable as a niche, subscription-only D2C streamer monetizing a curated library plus originals in a single content vertical.
• Criterion Channel: Subscription streaming service from The Criterion Collection offering curated classic, arthouse, and original programming. Comparable as a niche, library-plus-originals subscription streamer serving cinephiles.
• BritBox: Joint venture streaming service offering British television content via subscription. Comparable as a genre/catalog-specific subscription streamer owned by major media companies and sold D2C globally.

Broad incumbents

• Apple TV+: Subscription streaming service from Apple featuring a growing slate of originals including comedy and unscripted formats. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for the same premium unscripted and comedy audiences.
• AMC+: AMC Networks' broader streaming bundle that includes Shudder and other linear-channel streaming. Comparable as the parent-style platform that houses a Dropout-equivalent niche service alongside a wider content portfolio.

Emerging players

• Angel Studios: Independent streaming and theatrical distributor focused on faith- and family-friendly originals (e.g., Sound of Freedom, The Chosen). Comparable as an emerging indie streamer monetizing a passionate niche audience through subscription and theatrical windows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dropouttv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Dropout