HarbourView Equity Partners has led a $30m minority investment in Lion Forge Entertainment, the Oscar-winning animation and family entertainment studio founded by David Steward II. The Steward Family and Polarity will remain majority shareholders.

The capital will support Lion Forge’s expansion of its IP portfolio and franchise pipeline, reinforcing growth across kids, family, YA, and adult content. The studio has surged in prominence with projects such as the Academy Award-winning Hair Love and Iyanu, a hit animated fantasy series on Cartoon Network and HBO Max, now greenlit for a second season and feature films.

“This is a unique moment in the kids & family space and Lion Forge is seizing an opportunity to cultivate global franchises at scale,” said Sherrese Clarke, founder of HarbourView. “It synchronises with our vision of how the next generation of media companies can grow — with authentic and socially relevant content.”

David Steward II, founder of Lion Forge, added: “This is a validating moment for our young company. The synergy between HarbourView’s investment strategy and our franchise-building blueprint will allow us to optimise opportunities at the nexus of entertainment, culture, and content.”

Lion Forge has multiple projects in development through a first-look deal with Nickelodeon, including Marley & The Family Band, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and Iron Dragon. It is also collaborating with Penguin Young Readers, George R.R. Martin, and Rebel Girls, among others.

For HarbourView, the deal builds on recent activity including an $85m investment in French AI-powered kids’ media group Animaj, a partnership with Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios, and the financing of Usher’s 2024 concert film. The firm, founded in 2021, manages $2.67bn in regulatory AUM and has acquired over 70 music catalogues comprising 35,000 songs.

The investment underscores the growing appetite among private equity investors for scalable, franchise-driven content platforms at the intersection of culture, media, and technology.

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