Scaleup Mediafund invests in Naked Life & Settle Easy
Scaleup Mediafund has recently completed two investments as part of its AUD $15 million funding round.
The two new investees are Naked Life, a non-alcoholic cocktail drinks business, and Settle Easy, an online property conveyancing platform. These companies will receive brand advertising and paid media services in exchange for equity, a model employed by Scaleup Mediafund to support start-ups aiming to expand their market presence.
Michael Lamont, Investment Principal at Scaleup Mediafund, explained that these investments underscore the fund's unique approach, which emphasizes the importance of marketing for business expansion. "Scaleup Mediafund continues to offer consumer-facing brands affordable access to high-impact branding and advertising opportunities in exchange for equity. Since our inception in 2017, we've consistently demonstrated how we help founders build their brand, attract consumers, scale effectively, and accelerate growth," Lamont stated.
David Andrew, Founder and CEO of Naked Life, shared his perspective on the investment: "Scaleup Mediafund's unique proposition to support building brands and driving growth aligns perfectly with our mission to change the face of drinking in Australia. The fund provides us with a valuable opportunity to expand our awareness and reach through premium channels - helping to increase penetration and demonstrate that life's moments can be celebrated with both alcoholic and non-alc drinks - the choice is yours."
Sam Almaliki, Co-Founder and CEO of Settle Easy, remarked on the significance of the investment for his company's growth: "Since our launch in 2020, we've expanded nationally to become one of the country's fastest and most efficient conveyancing providers. With Scaleup Mediafund's investment, we can continue to build the brand, extend our services to more Australians, and achieve our growth plans. This will help cement our position as the number one provider of settlement services for property buyers and sellers."
The media-for-equity fund has now completed five deals from its third funding round. Michael Lamont highlighted this as a sign that more founders are recognising the pivotal role marketing plays in propelling business growth. "We've now completed five deals from our third funding round, which showcases that more founders are proactively seeking media-for-equity support for their ambitious growth plans. They're recognising the critical role that marketing plays in driving business expansion," he added.
Scaleup Mediafund has previously demonstrated the impact of its advertising channels on companies such as a vitamins subscription business, which saw a 200% increase in its conversion rate, and Hawkes Brewing, which is now undertaking its second campaign with the fund to further expand its retail distribution.
Since being established, Scaleup Mediafund's investors have committed more than AUD $45 million in advertising and marketing inventory to support 19 Australian start-ups. This has led to noteworthy milestones for several, including acquisition and IPO events. Key investors in the fund include prominent media companies such as News Corp Australia, NOVA Entertainment, Foxtel, REA Group, and oOh!media.