{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":91398,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:91398","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/upstaged","generated_at":"2026-06-23T00:33:01Z","updated_at":"2026-06-22T05:03:22Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:91398","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:upstaged"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-23T00:33:01Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-22T05:03:22Z","as_of":"2026-06-23T00:33:01Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-22T05:03:22Z","as_of":"2026-06-23T00:33:01Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2026-04-29T23:34:07Z","as_of":"2026-06-23T00:33:01Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2026-04-29T23:34:07Z","as_of":"2026-06-23T00:33:01Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":91398,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:91398","slug":"upstaged","name":"UpStaged Entertainment Group","tagline":"“March Madness meets Pitch Perfect!\" Empowering College/HS Performers","elevator_pitch":"We are *The* College/HS Performing Arts hub around the 7.5 million social media-savvy student performers and their fans, friends, family, sponsors and universities. As a start, we produce “March Madness meets Pitch Perfect”-type bracketed championships in 25+ genres including a cappella, theater, step, comedy, improv, gospel, DJ'ng, dancing, band, spoken word, etc.","story":"High school and college performers in the U.S. are a large, visible group that has the potential to fuel an exponential growth in revenue. The force of presence, cultural value, and overall clout that these performing artists\u0026nbsp;generate for their institutions is priceless. Yet\u0026nbsp;their\u0026nbsp;contributions\u0026nbsp;remain\u0026nbsp;unmonetized, representing an exciting\u0026nbsp;opportunity for investment in\u0026nbsp;an ever-expanding, and proven,\u0026nbsp;collegiate and high school competitive performing arts business model.\u0026nbsp;Most student performers hone their skills and provide entertainment to the masses for free, because of a simple love for their craft. But if 480,000 NCAA athletes can sustain a $14 BILLION college athletics industry, why can't the same competitive spirit and spectacle sustain an even LARGER group of talented student performers? UpStaged events are expanding significantly across college campuses and world-class venues!With the continued expansion\u0026nbsp;of our UpStaged\u0026nbsp;trademarked brands, we are\u0026nbsp;creating new and exciting opportunities for students across the nation, to perform in brand-new, high-value, high-visibility,\u0026nbsp;talent competitions and showcases. These events are attracting thousands of performers and spectators alike — and generating an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize.400K student athletes, on 15K teams, generate a $14B college athletics industry. If this seems like a lot, it pales in comparison to the potential of the performing arts. Imagine what 7.5 million\u0026nbsp;student performers in 300K groups across 25+ genres could generate in revenue, if only given the chance.UpStaged is building an enormous, experiential marketing platform in the collegiate and high school performing arts space.\u0026nbsp;We're launching a\u0026nbsp;business\u0026nbsp;ecosystem that integrates the goals and objectives of corporate sponsors and philanthropic funders with those of the student performers, industry professionals, content platforms, schools and the media, to come together in fruitful collaboration.UpStaged has established a multi-stream revenue model with event registration fees, ticket sales, national broadcasting, apparel, advertising, sponsorship, and in the future, a nonprofit arm to leverage philanthropic fundraising opportunities and more.\u0026nbsp;UpStaged has a dynamic team with years of experience in entertainment, finance and delivering supreme shareholder value. We have an intimate understanding of the entertainment industry and how to best leverage it to deliver maximum value to our student performers and investors alike.As the world’s first and only company to recognize and\u0026nbsp;monetize student performing arts, we have an unrivaled opportunity to attract, grow and retain audiences who won’t find our content elsewhere. And we’re keeping a close eye on the second act. Similar companies, with a smaller scope than UpStaged, have exited at stunning valuations.Just like athletics, performing arts take skill, dedication and practice to reach a high-level worthy of competition. UpStaged Entertainment is poised to be the world’s first company devoted to raising the profile of student performing artists while giving our investors the opportunity to profit.Forbes Magazine (Dec. 2020) says, “Market analysts seeking value where stronger productivity, higher revenues and historic innovations are virtually guaranteed, need look no further than the entertainment industry...which is poised for a healthy, robust and truly massive and transformative surge.”\u0026nbsp;With a dedicated team, we’ve put everything in place for exponential growth in the coming months. Our proprietary performance ecosystem is designed to powerfully bring together talent, fans, technology and commerce to create massive opportunities for performers and investors alike.The perks of investing and more...Beyond the\u0026nbsp;awesome perks (such as\u0026nbsp;event tickets, VIP access, formal recognition, and more)\u0026nbsp;of investing in UpStaged,\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;there's also the added benefit of knowing that you are impacting student performers across the nation. This is your opportunity to influence the lives\u0026nbsp;and career trajectory of MILLIONS of young artists.","location":"New York, NY","website":"https://www.upstagedu.com","total_amount_raised":305927,"total_investors":55,"is_funded":false,"is_active":false,"quality_score":4,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/upstaged","https://www.upstagedu.com"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/91398/xxl_cropped_InvestorDeck_UpStaged_7.30.21_v13_FINAL.jpg","logo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/logo/91398/large_cropped_UpStaged__Tite_Logo.jpg","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/91398/standard_cropped_InvestorDeck_UpStaged_7.30.21_v13_FINAL.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/91398/standard_cropped_InvestorDeck_UpStaged_7.30.21_v13_FINAL.jpg","profile_video_url":"https://wefunder.wistia.com/medias/pfg7575sjb"},"links":{"company_url":"https://www.upstagedu.com","twitter_url":"http://twitter.com/UpstagedNCPA","facebook_url":"https://www.facebook.com/UpStagedNCPA","instagram_url":"https://www.instagram.com/upstagedncpa/"},"highlights":[],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"FIRST \u0026amp; ONLY Performing Arts Hub dedicated to 7.5M college/HS performers similar to 480K NCAA athletes generating $14+B"},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"500,000 performing groups in more than 25 genres, including theater, a cappella, DJ, gospel, step and comedy"},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"Proven monetization plan in place across live/virtual events, sponsorship, uniforms, NIL \u0026amp; IMDb/LinkedIn-type community"},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Valuable OWNED trademark: UpStaged, National Collegiate Performing Arts (NCPA) TM \u0026amp; National High School Performing Arts"},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"Most similar business: Varsity Spirit Cheer, sold to Bain for $750M, and only one performing genre, compared to our 25+"},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"Wall Street exec CEO conceived and built acclaimed U. S. Sports Film Festival and entertainment \u0026amp; education businesses"},{"index":7,"claim_id":"claim-fact-7","value":"Executive team from Disney, Nike, Elite Models, Starbucks, Marvel, McKinsey and more"},{"index":8,"claim_id":"claim-fact-8","value":"25 savvy entertainment, media and Wall Street investors, including Lead Investor CEO builder of the Marvel Experience"}],"team":[{"id":1830161,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1830161","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2389325","role":"founder","name":"Stephan Hartman","title":"Founder, Chairman \u0026 CEO ","bio":"Founder/creator of the US Sports Film Festival. Past executive positions include PE, banking \u0026amp; Law at Apollo Management, Houlihan Lokey, \u0026amp; Lehman Brothers. Graduate of Penn (BA), Wharton (BS), Villanova (JD), and Kellogg School of Management (MBA).","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1830161/square_cropped_Stephan.jpg?1677260855","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/stephanhartman","personal_url":"","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-hartman-246a2b5/","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/stephanhartman",""]},{"id":2465778,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2465778","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2446809","role":"founder","name":"Victoria O Duruh","title":"Founder and Chief Talent Officer","bio":"Renowned fashion/model industry talent agent, casting director \u0026amp; producer. Former Elite Model Management director. Worked with celebrities \u0026amp; athletes. Premier branded clients incl Lancôme Int., L’Oreal USA, Teen \u0026amp; L’Uomo Vogue \u0026amp; Sports Illustrated.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2465778/square_cropped_Victoria_Duruh.jpg?1677110557","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/victoriaoduruh","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/victoriaoduruh"]},{"id":1830183,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1830183","role":"employee","name":"Peter May","title":"Founder and Lead Counsel ","bio":"Internationally recognized higher-ed \u0026amp; emerging companies’ attorney/general counsel advising on partnerships, business structures, complex contracts, intellectual property matters. Extensive nonprofit board charitable service. Yale (BA), BU Law (JD).","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1830183/square_cropped_Peter.jpg?1650942825","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-f-may-15b313a/","related_urls":[]},{"id":3323158,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:3323158","role":"employee","name":"Jeff Gibb","title":"President","bio":"Jeff has sat on the Boards of Directors of several entertainment related programs and venues. He has over 20 years of experience at premier law firms, where he practiced transactional and sports law.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/3323158/square_cropped_Jeff_headshot.jpg?1678791225","related_urls":[]},{"id":3464264,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:3464264","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2798889","role":"employee","name":"Lizzie Seedhouse","title":"Chief Marketing Officer","bio":"Lizzie Seedhouse is a marketing executive with a 10-year track record of leadership stretching sports, technology, and marketing. She is a passionate leader who believes in building authentic connections with fans and supporters of performing arts.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/3464264/square_cropped_Seedhouse_Lizzie.jpg?1678904972","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/lizzieseedhouse","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzieseedhouse/","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/lizzieseedhouse"]},{"id":3306370,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:3306370","role":"employee","name":"Alexa Johns","title":"Marketing \u0026 Project Director","bio":"Alexa is a visual artist who endlessly creates personal works of art, supplementing her work across industries including event production, sales, photography, \u0026amp; advertising.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/3306370/square_cropped_Alexa.jpg?1678802615","related_urls":[]},{"id":2610909,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2610909","role":"employee","name":"Lisa Mar","title":"Strategic Advisor","bio":"Lisa is an international management consultant experienced in strategy, operations and change management. Previously with Starbucks, Yum! Restaurants and The Economist. Northwestern (BS from Medill) and Kellogg School of Management (MBA).","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2610909/square_cropped_Lisa.jpg?1678802615","related_urls":[]}],"featured_investors":[{"id":4738,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:4738","investor_profile_id":1500788,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:1500788","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:user:1992427","name":"Doug Schaer","avatar_url":"http://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/user/avatar/1992427/medium_blob.jpg","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/dougschaer","investment_total":25000,"investment_info":"Invested $25,000 this round","is_lead_investor":true,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/dougschaer"]}],"investor_memos":[],"tab_counts":{"posts":0,"ask_questions":3,"featured_investors":1,"faq_entries":1},"active_fundraises":[{"id":100973,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:100973","state":"open","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":1070000.0,"minimum_target":"50000.0","maximum_target":"1070000.0"},{"id":47629,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:47629","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"safe","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":50000.0,"funding_started_at":"2021-10-26T01:31:12Z","funding_closed_at":"2023-05-01T05:09:56Z","auto_close_at":"2023-05-01T03:59:59Z"},{"id":47630,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:47630","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":50000.0,"funding_started_at":"2021-08-02T20:29:19Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":100973,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:100973","state":"open","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"ttw","testing_the_waters":true,"can_invest_now":true,"funding_started_at":null,"funding_closed_at":null,"terms":{"eb":null,"nb":null,"txt":null}},"recent_posts":[],"q_and_a":[{"id":320371,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:320371","question":"***HELP ME FUND MY 5-SONG VISUAL ALBUM!*** https://wefunder.com/junine YOUR INVESTMENT WILL GO TOWARD PRODUCTION, MUSIC VIDEOS, PHOTOSHOOTS, AND MARKETING, BRINGING THIS PROJECT TO LIFE! THANK YOU https://wefunder.com/junine","author_name":"Ian Oztas","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-11-29T09:25:53Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/upstaged#question-320371","answers":[]},{"id":230221,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:230221","question":"Can you please elaborate on what ‘Founding Investor Benefits’ are?","author_name":"Stephanie Grande","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-01-03T23:11:34Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/upstaged#question-230221","answers":[{"id":230291,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:230291","answer":"Hi Stephanie, thanks for the question. Founding Investor Benefits mean that you’ll be treated just like UpStaged’s 25 direct founding investors – who receive the detailed (5-10 pages) direct shareholder letter, are invited to shareholder meetings and/or retreats, and direct communication access to UpStaged’s CEO and executives.","author_name":"Lizzie Seedhouse","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-01-04T18:30:06Z"}]},{"id":205074,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:205074","question":"Looking forward to seeing the 2022 financials.","author_name":"Kenneth J Carangelo","votes":0,"created_at":"2022-05-13T19:29:19Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/upstaged#question-205074","answers":[]}],"faq":[{"question":"Can you please elaborate on what ‘Founding Investor Benefits’ are?","answer":"Hi Stephanie, thanks for the question. Founding Investor Benefits mean that you’ll be treated just like UpStaged’s 25 direct founding investors – who receive the detailed (5-10 pages) direct shareholder letter, are invited to shareholder meetings and/or retreats, and direct communication access to UpStaged’s CEO and executives."}]}}}