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Vooks
Stow, US · Founded 2019 · Delaware corporation
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Vooks is an online streaming library of animated read-aloud storybooks made from children's picture books, featuring narration, music, sound, and highlighted read-along text. It is aimed at kids and families as a digital reading and entertainment product.
Founders & leadership
Vooks was founded in 2019 by Russel Hirtzel and Marshall Bex IV.
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Russel HirtzelCo-Founder • Chief Content Officer • Director2017–2026Russel Hirtzel began his career in animation and design at Nike in brand design and motion graphics, then worked as a designer and director at advertising agencies before co-founding the creative agency Mode Adjust in 2010. He co-founded Vooks with his wife Natasha, an animated children's book streaming platform, where he directed and produced over 100 titles.
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Marshall Bex IVCo-FounderMarshall Bex IV spent over 9 years in brand design at Nike, where he led creative teams on product development and marketing. He later founded Mode Adjust Group, a Portland-based creative and digital agency serving Fortune 500 clients, before founding Vooks, a streaming service offering animated read-aloud storybooks for children.
RH
Russell HirtzelNamed on SEC filing
JJ
Joey JenkinsNamed on SEC filing
ML
Marshall Lee BexNamed on SEC filing
Board
KS
Karen SnowBoard director
SB
Shannon BasadaBoard director
BM
Bernie MurphyBoard director
JF
John FurstBoard director
WH
Wallace HallBoard director
WC
William Cameron PowellBoard director
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$39M disclosed across 5 of 7 rounds · 2019–2026
▶$3.3MraisedJan 2025 · 11 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$3.3MraisedJan 2025 · 11 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Shannon BasadaDirector
- Wallace HallDirector
- Russell HirtzelExecutive Officer, Director
- Bernie MurphyDirector
- William PowellDirector
- John FurstDirector
- Joey JenkinsExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Karen SnowDirector
- Offering amount
- $3.3M
- Amount sold
- $3.3M
- First sale
- Jan 2025
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶Undisclosed amountofferedDec 2024 · 19 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶Undisclosed amountofferedDec 2024 · 19 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Karen SnowDirector
- Shannon BasadaDirector
- Bernie MurphyDirector
- Russell HirtzelExecutive Officer, Director
- John FurstDirector
- Wallace HallDirector
- William Cameron PowellDirector
- Joey JenkinsExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- First sale
- Dec 2024
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2019
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$21.9MraisedNov 2020 · 34 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$21.9MraisedNov 2020 · 34 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Wallace HallDirector
- Russell HirtzelExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Joseph JenkinsExecutive Officer
- John FurstDirector
- William Cameron PowellDirector
- Marshall Lee BexExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Shannon BasadaExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $25M
- Amount sold
- $21.9M
- First sale
- Nov 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2017
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$12MraisedFeb 2020 · 26 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$12MraisedFeb 2020 · 26 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Marshall Lee Bex IVExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Russell HirtzelExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- William Cameron PowellDirector
- John FurstDirector
- Scot MortimerExecutive Officer
- Shannon BasadaExecutive Officer
- Joseph JenkinsExecutive Officer
- Seth PattersonExecutive Officer
- Wallace HallDirector
- Offering amount
- $12M
- Amount sold
- $12M
- Proceeds to insiders
- $647.5K
- First sale
- Feb 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2017
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$3raisedJul 2019 · 1 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$3raisedJul 2019 · 1 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Russel HirtzelExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Marshall Lee BexExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- William Cameron PowellDirector
- Joey JenkinsExecutive Officer
- Shannon BasadaExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $3
- Amount sold
- $3
- First sale
- Jul 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2017
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$1.8MraisedJul 2019 · 22 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$1.8MraisedJul 2019 · 22 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Marshall Lee BexExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Russel HirtzelExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- William Cameron PowellDirector
- Shannon BasadaExecutive Officer
- Joey JenkinsExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $3M
- Amount sold
- $1.8M
- Proceeds to insiders
- $120K
- First sale
- Jun 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2017
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Vooks do?
- Vooks is an online streaming library of animated read-aloud storybooks made from children's picture books, featuring narration, music, sound, and highlighted read-along text. It is aimed at kids and families as a digital reading and entertainment product.
- Who founded Vooks?
- Vooks was founded by Russel Hirtzel, Marshall Bex IV in 2019.
- How much funding has Vooks raised?
- Vooks has disclosed $39M raised across 5 of its 7 known rounds.
- Where is Vooks headquartered?
- Vooks is headquartered in Stow, US.