SCENIKUS is a global multiplatform marketplace and streaming service aimed at artists, offering them a 360° ecosystem to reach a national and international audience. The multiplatform was created with a global ambition and is available in more than 20 languages. Currently, the brand is registered in 27 countries of the European Union and has access to 446 million users. In addition, it is already applied for in 22 other countries outside the EU, such as the USA, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, etc. Through SCENIKUS, artists can contact international clients directly, thus multiplying the potential for contracting. This way, they can become global artists.
The launch of SCENIKUS, amid the Covid-19 health crisis and with a negative impact on the sector in which it operates, has been remarkably important. “Many artists demanded it from us and in just 40 days we developed the platform from scratch so that they can monetize their performances with ticket sales, dedications, merchandising, etc”, explain the founders of SCENIKUS, Carlos Uceda and Jaume Carreras. These entrepreneurs met in 2003 when Carlos was directing Animatic Producciones. From that moment on they merged their skills and talents to develop 3 successful projects. Carlos, from the business, marketing, and management area and Jaume, from the culture, performing arts and technology area.
Both Carlos and Jaume believe that the path to success is based on creativity and innovation, which can only be achieved through effort, perseverance, and professionalism. That is why they have formed a multidisciplinary team with professionals from the fields of technology, culture, performing arts, communication, and business. At the same time, the background of more than 25 years of these professionals in the world of entertainment, events and artistic experiences, has inspired the creation of Scenikus, which is positioned as the first multiplatform Marketplace and Streaming of shows and artistic experiences in Spain.
Constituted in July 2019, SCENIKUS is named with the essence of the scenic world and the global character of the platform in mind, so it can be understood in any language. SCENIKUS brings together artists from all disciplines, making it easy and safe for both individuals and companies to hire them. It is based on a system that operates through payment systems with an escrow account provided by Banco Sabadell and ensures transactions with the AXA insurance company with which it has a corporate agreement.
According to the founders of the firm, Scenikus “exponentially increases the visibility of the artists at a national and international level, and with Scenikus Streaming new revenue streams are opened with a streaming platform without limit of attendees and being able to monetize with the sale of tickets, sale of merchandising, sale of dedications and mentions”.
In this context, the commitment from the outset focuses on the recognition of the artist. Following the recommendations of the artists, Scenikus has managed to solve each and every one of the concerns raised by artists of all disciplines, of any kind, from the world of magic, dance, music, circus, animation, performance, large and small shows, musicals, theater, dance.
BUSINESS MODEL
Scenikus Marketplace has a model of consolidated platforms such as Airbnb, applied to the artists’ sector receiving a commission for commercial transactions. Artists also have the option of a premium subscription to the multi-platform Marketplace to have, especially, visibility, among other benefits. Along with this, the platform offers other value-added services such as Scenikus Jobs for finding talent, Scenikus Events for publishing events, Scenikus Open Press for reaching the media and Scenikus Store for selling merchandising.
On Scenikus Streaming, it goes one step further, since they not only get the revenue from the sale of advance tickets, but also from the sale of tickets in real time, merchandising from the artists, mentions or dedications from the artists, sponsoring of artist brands or concerts and a premium subscription to the Streaming channel with video on demand content similar to Netflix.
Currently, the multiplatform is operational and based in Barcelona and Madrid. On the other hand, Felix Lopez oversees the international expansion and for that, he has delegates in 10 countries. Thus, Scenikus Streaming has users in more than 100 countries.
INVESTMENTS
To date, the launch of the multiplatform has been carried out with the share capital, the full-time dedication of the two founding partners and up to 302,000 of capital raised, coming from Friends and Family.
Currently, the firm has closed three investment rounds. The founders explain that, “all the investment has gone into technology and human resources, something that is key to having a solid platform that supports thousands of users from all over the world”. At the same time, “we have invested in creating a 24-person customer support, operations, technology and communication team. We have also invested in online marketing SEO and SEM,” they add.
The roadmap of SCENIKUS’ founders focuses on accentuating contact with Venture Capital, with a view to the next round that the firm will launch after the summer season, and on consolidating the company in the domestic market. All this, with the target center established in the streaming format and with the expansion of the multiplatform marketplace.