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Lion Forge Entertainment, the Oscar-winning animation and family entertainment studio founded by David Steward II, son of African-American billionaire David Steward, has secured a $30 million minority investment led by HarbourView Equity Partners.
The funding will support Lion Forge’s expansion of its intellectual property portfolio and franchise pipeline. The Steward family and Polarity, the media holding company also founded by Steward II, will retain majority control.
Lion Forge to scale global franchises
The studio has built global recognition through projects such as Hair Love, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2020, and Iyanu, a Yoruba-inspired fantasy series airing on Cartoon Network and HBO Max, now renewed for a second season and feature films.
“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 optimize opportunities at the nexus of entertainment, culture, and content,” Steward II said.
HarbourView founder Sherrese Clarke echoed the alignment: “It synchronizes with our vision of how the next generation of media companies can grow — with authentic and socially relevant content.”
HarbourView builds diversified media portfolio
Lion Forge also maintains a first-look deal with Nickelodeon, developing projects such as Marley & The Family Band, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and Iron Dragon. In addition, it is collaborating with partners including Penguin Young Readers, George R.R. Martin, and Rebel Girls to expand its creative footprint.
For HarbourView, the investment builds on recent moves in the content sector, including an $85 million stake 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.
Steward family legacy in business and culture
Since its founding in 2021 HarbourView has amassed $2.67 billion in regulatory assets under management and acquired more than 70 music catalogs comprising 35,000 songs. The rise of Lion Forge shows how the Steward family is becoming more important in the entertainment industry.
David Steward II launched Polarity in 2018 as a media platform to leverage comics and original stories across film and television. His father, David Steward, is the founder of World Wide Technology, a $17 billion IT services giant, and ranks among the wealthiest African-American billionaires.
By combining HarbourView’s capital with its own creative pipeline, Lion Forge aims to scale into a franchise-driven studio capable of competing in the global animation and kids’ content market while maintaining its identity as a Black-owned, culturally focused entertainment company.
