EST Media
Los Angeles, US · Founded 2020 · 12 known investors
EST Media is the parent company of three Asian-focused content brands: EST Studios (development, financing, and worldwide sales/distribution of Asian film and TV), Eastern Standard Times (web-optimized video content aimed at Asian youth and the diaspora), and Established (a content studio producing ad campaigns, influencer collaborations, commercials, and experiential events for global brands). It operates in the media and entertainment industry with a focus on Asian stories and talent for international markets.
Also known as EST Media Holdings, Inc.
Founders & leadership
EST Media was founded in 2020 by Eric Tu.
Investors · 12
Also in the syndicate · 10
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$33.5M disclosed across 3 of 4 rounds · 2020–2023
▶$26.1MraisedSep 2022 · 45 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Jaeson MaExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $35M
- Amount sold
- $26.1M
- Finders' fees
- $15K
- First sale
- Sep 2022
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2020
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$4.1MraisedSep 2020 · OtherRule 506(c)
- Eric TuExecutive Officer, Director
- Jaeson MaExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $7.5M
- Amount sold
- $4.1M
- Minimum investment
- $10
- Proceeds to insiders
- $25K
- First sale
- Apr 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2020
- Federal exemptions
- 06c
▶$3.4MraisedJul 2020 · OtherRule 506(c)
- Jaeson MaExecutive Officer, Director
- Eric TuExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $5M
- Amount sold
- $3.4M
- Minimum investment
- $10
- Proceeds to insiders
- $25K
- First sale
- Jul 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2020
- Federal exemptions
- 06c
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Valuation · disclosed
Disclosed eventsSource: SEC prospectus filings, and round valuations the company or its investors disclosed — follow each entry's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026EST Media is the parent company of three Asian-focused content businesses. EST Studios develops, finances, produces and handles worldwide sales and distribution of Asian film and television across genres, working with Asian talent to bring titles to the international marketplace. Eastern Standard Times produces premium, web-optimized video content aimed at Asian youth and the diaspora, positioning itself as a global media platform carrying stories from Asia to worldwide audiences. Established is a content studio that works with global brands on advertising campaigns, influencer collaborations, television commercials and immersive experiential events, drawing on a roster of culturally rooted creatives.
The group's stated editorial premise is that stories should be told by the people who have lived them, and it markets its slate under the tagline "the Greatest Stories Never Told." It sits at the intersection of digital media and traditional film and television production, connecting Asian-origin intellectual property with international viewers. The corporate entity is EST Media Holdings, Inc., with offices at 8445 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, California.
Founding story
EST Media was co-founded by Jaeson Ma and Eric Tu. Ma is a media executive, artist and investor whose prior ventures include the production studio Stampede Ventures, the digital music label 88rising, the web3 creator platform OP3N, Nasdaq-listed ZASH Global Media, and East West Ventures, and he has advised and financed the social music video app Triller. Tu previously led brand partnerships at Anonymous Content's creative incubator The Lab and served as US Director of Partnerships at VICE Media's creative agency VIRTUE Worldwide; his advertising work includes the Ad Council PSA "Love Has No Labels," which won eight Cannes Lions.
Business model
EST Media operates as a holding company across three units with distinct revenue paths: content sales, licensing and distribution of Asian film and TV through EST Studios; digital video production and advertising-supported/sponsored content through Eastern Standard Times; and brand-commissioned campaigns, influencer work, commercials and experiential events through Established.
Revenue is derived from worldwide film and TV sales and distribution, development and production financing arrangements, advertising and sponsored storytelling around its digital video output, and fees from brand clients for advertising and experiential production work.
Traction
EST Studios sales titles include the Korean horror film CHABAK from producer Tiger Yeongseop Kim, the Cannes-selected Indian action thriller KENNEDY, the Cantonese drama TAPE starring Selena Lee, the Philippine title ASOG (Tribeca 2023 premiere), THE SCARECROW, Tokyo International Film Festival title MOUNTAIN WOMAN and Busan competition documentary APRIL TRAGEDY. Producing credits include K-POPS!, directed by Anderson .Paak with a Toronto world premiere, and HIDDEN LETTERS by Violet Du Feng, a 2023 Academy Award-shortlisted and Emmy-nominated documentary that premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. Eastern Standard Times has been covered by CBS New York for its work on younger AAPI representation in media.
Latest developments
In March 2023, EST Media Holdings was reported to have raised $28 million in a round led by Animoca Brands, with participation from a broad investor group including CAA Ventures, BRV Capital Management, Galaxy Digital, Warner Music Group and Russell Westbrook, at a stated $100 million post-money valuation.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
The company positions EST Studios as a bridge between East and West film and television industries and Eastern Standard Times as a Gen Z-focused global media platform for stories from Asia. Third-party data services classify it in broadcast media production and distribution with estimated annual revenue in the $1M-$10M range and roughly 11-50 employees.
EST Media concentrates specifically on Asian stories, talent and creators across three complementary layers - long-form film/TV, short-to-mid-form digital video, and branded content - allowing it to package production, distribution and brand work around the same cultural focus.
Technology
Its digital operations use advertising and web technologies including PubMatic, Magnite, Reddit Ads, Google Tag Manager, Webpack, PWA and Windows Server.
Go-to-market
EST Studios represents titles to buyers in the international marketplace and appears at and through major festival channels including Cannes, Tribeca, Toronto, Busan and Tokyo, where its sales and production titles have screened. Eastern Standard Times distributes web-optimized video via social and digital platforms, while Established sells directly to global brands, with published work including a Volvo campaign featuring comedians Andrea Jin and Kevin Lee.
International film and TV buyers, distributors, streamers and studios seeking Asian content; Gen Z and younger Asian and Asian-diaspora audiences for its digital video; and global consumer brands buying campaign, influencer and experiential production services.
Geography
Headquartered in West Hollywood, California, with content sourcing and distribution activity spanning Asia (Korea, India, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, China) and international markets; third-party employee data indicates staff across North America, Asia and Africa.
History
EST Media Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2020 and filed successive SEC Form D equity offerings that year, followed by a larger 2022 filing. Its studio arm built out a leadership bench including CEO Jaeson Ma, COO Eric Tu, Head of Studios Sophie Shi, EVP of Acquisitions & Global Distribution Jan Paul Villanueva, Head of Sales Cathy Ni, and marketing and creative development staff drawn from AFI, UCLA, HBO, Vertical Entertainment, VIZ Media, Disney, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsEST Media Holdings announced it raised $28 million led by Animoca Brands, with participation from CAA Ventures, BRV Capital Management, Galaxy Digital, Superscrypt, Dragonfly, GSR Markets, The Spartan Group, Blizzard the Avalanche Fund, Republic Crypto, Connect Ventures, Ava Labs, Warner Music Group and Russell Westbrook, at a $72M pre-money and $100M post-money valuation.
$28M source ↗
The EST-produced documentary HIDDEN LETTERS, directed by Violet Du Feng, was shortlisted for the 2023 Academy Awards and Emmy-nominated after its 2022 Tribeca Film Festival world premiere.
EST Media Holdings, Inc. filed a new Form D reporting $26,070,417 in equity sold under exemption 06b.
$26.1M source ↗
An amended Form D reported $4,075,000 in equity sold.
$4.1M source ↗
EST Media Holdings, Inc. filed a new Form D reporting $3,375,000 in equity sold.
$3.4M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- EST Mediaestmedia.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does EST Media do?
- EST Media is a Los Angeles-based holding company for Asian-focused film, TV, digital video and branded content brands.
- Who founded EST Media?
- EST Media was founded by Eric Tu in 2020.
- Who are EST Media's investors?
- EST Media's investors include 500 Global, Dreamers VC.
- How much funding has EST Media raised?
- EST Media has disclosed $33.5M raised across 3 of its 4 known rounds.
- Where is EST Media headquartered?
- EST Media is headquartered in Los Angeles, US.