Trillium Lane Research
Investment Thesis & Core Focus
Trillium Lane is a Tech, Media and Entertainment Fund dedicated to identifying and investing in creative properties with significant potential to become worldwide media and entertainment franchises. Founded and led by experienced, award-winning entertainment professionals, the fund believes that the most valuable media assets are those with lasting cultural impact, strong monetization potential, and scalability across multiple formats (television, games, movies, licensing, and merchandising).
The fund's core conviction is that franchise-worthy properties represent the most durable and appreciating asset class in the evolving media landscape. Rather than investing in single projects, Trillium Lane employs a slate financing approach—diversifying capital across multiple media assets to balance risk and return while maximizing growth potential.
Fund Evolution & Current Status
Trillium Lane was founded by entertainment industry veterans with collective experience spanning Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Mattel, Sony Pictures, and other major media companies. The fund is actively deploying capital into its slate of properties, which currently includes five major projects in development.
Fund Status (2025): The fund is actively in development and production mode, with multiple projects under various stages of production and distribution partnerships. The fund has assembled a world-class team of Emmy-winning producers, creative directors, and business development executives.
Investment Focus & Thesis
Core Thesis: "We invest in creative properties that have significant potential to become worldwide Media & Entertainment Franchises spanning television, games, movies, licensing and merchandising."
Key Characteristics:
- Franchise Potential: All investments must have the potential to scale across multiple formats and revenue streams (TV, film, games, merchandise, licensing)
- Animation Focus: The fund has a demonstrated preference for animation as a proven franchise asset class due to its enduring value, scalability, and strong profitability
- Intellectual Property Creation: Investments are made with the explicit goal of building long-term IP value, not one-off productions
- Global Distribution: Properties are positioned for global distribution via dubbing, streaming platforms, and international partnerships with major distributors (Disney, Netflix, etc.)
- Team Quality: The fund prioritizes projects with experienced creators, executive producers, and showrunners with proven track records
Stage Focus & Investment Range
Investment Stage:
- The fund focuses on early-stage development through production of media properties
- Investments typically target properties that are either in early development, in active production, or approaching distribution deals
Check Size & Deployment:
- Investment range: Implied to be in the $1M-$10M+ range based on media production financing
- The fund employs a slate financing approach, allocating capital across multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong capacity for ongoing production financing and distribution support
Recent Activity & Fund Status
Portfolio Properties (2025):
- Super Free Play (video game universe animated series)
- Bebop & Jam (kids' concert animated series with music videos)
- Cartoon Cook-Off (live-action cooking competition with voice actors)
- Pretty Kitty Pinky Winky Ballerina Demon Slayer (demon-slaying animal series)
- Faily Verse: Fail Forward (expansion of 100M+ download game franchise)
Notable Team Accomplishments:
- Matt Danner: Emmy-winning producer; Muppet Babies executive producer
- Eric Bauza: Two-time Emmy Award-winning voice actor; Looney Tunes voice talent
- Michael Diaz: 30+ years animation production; major studio deals
- Steve Viner: Co-founder Liquid Group; Faily franchise (100M+ downloads)
- Bruce Robinson: CEO; former VP Business Development at Toongoggles
Team & Decision-Making
Core Leadership: Bruce Robinson (CEO), Matt Danner (Creative Director/Showrunner), Michael Diaz (Production Director), Eric Bauza (Talent/Promotion)
Advisory Team includes: Judy Coppage (Literary Agent), Sander Schwartz (former Warner Bros. Animation President), Brian Lacey (Pokemon distribution strategist), Richard Ellis (Warner Music Group), Gabe Swarr (Emmy-winning Executive Producer)
Decision Process: Leadership committee structure with integrated creative and business partnership. Deliberate due diligence process given creative, financial, and legal complexity.
Value-Add & Support Model
Trillium Lane positions itself as an operating partner and creative catalyst.
Post-investment support:
- Creative Direction – Emmy-winning producers provide showrunning
- Production Expertise – 30+ years of on-time, on-budget delivery
- Talent Relationships – Direct access to A-list voice actors
- Distribution Strategy – Navigate deals with Netflix, Disney+, Warner Bros.
- Merchandising & Licensing – Expert advisors and data analytics
- Market Research – Audience behavior analysis and targeting
Geographic Focus
Primary: Los Angeles area (Woodland Hills, CA)
Distribution: Global through partnerships with Netflix, Disney+, Warner Bros., and international broadcasters.
Key Insights
- Not traditional VC – Media-focused investment fund, closer to film/TV production financing
- Experienced Operators – Emmy winners, major studio producers, music industry veterans
- Franchise-First Philosophy – Every investment evaluated for long-term IP value
- Animation as Core Asset Class – Proven durability, global scalability, profitability
- Strategic Distribution Focus – Partnerships with major streaming platforms central to model
- Diverse Revenue Streams – Streaming rights, theatrical, games, merchandise, licensing
- Credibility & Network – Emmy wins, major studio relationships, proven successes
- Active Deployment – Multiple properties in concurrent development with distribution partnerships