Number of Portfolio Companies 11
Number of Exits 
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  • Investor Type  Investment Partner, Individual/Angel
  • Investor Stage  Seed
  • Number of Exits 

Strauss Zelnick, a partner in ZelnickMedia since 2001, became Chairman of Take-Two in March 2007 and Chief Executive Officer in January 2011. Mr. Zelnick is currently Chairman of ITN Networks and serves on the boards of directors of Naylor LLC, Alloy, Inc. and Starwood Property Trust, Inc. In August 2013, Mr. Zelnick was elected Vice Chairman of

the Entertainment Software Association, the interactive entertainment industry’s trade association. In 2014, Mr. Zelnick was elected Chairman of the Entertainment Software Association, the interactive entertainment industry’s trade association.

Prior to forming ZelnickMedia, Mr. Zelnick was President and Chief Executive Officer of BMG Entertainment, a $4.7 billion music and entertainment company. Mr. Zelnick's appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of BMG Entertainment followed his tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company's North American business unit from 1994 through 1998. Before joining BMG Entertainment, Mr. Zelnick was President and Chief Executive Officer of Crystal Dynamics, a leading producer and distributor of interactive game software. Prior to that, he spent four years as President and Chief Operating Officer of 20th Century Fox, where he managed all aspects of the worldwide motion picture and distribution business.

Previously, he spent three years at Vestron Inc. as a senior executive, and rose to become President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Zelnick also served as Vice President, International Television for Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Zelnick holds an MBA and a JD from Harvard University and a BA from Wesleyan University. He is an associate member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, has served on the Board of Directors of the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America and is a Trustee Emeritus of Wesleyan University.

Number of Investments 13
Strauss Zelnick has made 13 investments. Their latest investment was Seed Round - Players' Lounge on Mar 28, 2019, when Players' Lounge raised
$3M
.
Announced Date  
Organization Name  
Lead Investor  
Funding Round  
Money Raised  
Mar 28, 2019
Players' Lounge
Seed Round - Players' Lounge
$3M
Jan 5, 2017
Prove
No
Series E - Prove
$23.5M
Apr 30, 2016
Ready
Angel Round - Ready
$575K
Jan 20, 2016
Greatist
No
Seed Round - Greatist
$4.5M
Dec 9, 2015
Players' Lounge
Yes
Angel Round - Players' Lounge
Mar 31, 2015
Slope
Seed Round - Slope
$395K
May 28, 2014
Lua
Series A - Lua
$7.5M
Apr 30, 2014
Electric Objects
No
Seed Round - Electric Objects
$1.7M
Jan 1, 2014
Fundera
Series A - Fundera
$3.4M
Feb 27, 2013
Enigma Technologies
Seed Round - Enigma Technologies
$1.1M
Number of Partner Investments 2
Announced Date  
Organization Name  
Investor Name  
Lead Investor  
Funding Round  
Money Raised  
Mar 28, 2019
Players' Lounge
Strauss Zelnick
Seed Round - Players' Lounge
$3M
Dec 9, 2015
Players' Lounge
Strauss Zelnick
Yes
Angel Round - Players' Lounge
Number of Exits 
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Strauss Zelnick has exits. Their most notable exits are SlopeLua, and Hot Potato.
  • Slope Slope makes it easy for teams to plan, track, and collaborate on creative work.
  • Lua Lua specializes in powering HIPAA compliant messaging for the healthcare industry.
  • Hot Potato Hot Potato is a social media agency that provides event-based services.
  • Greatist Greatist is a next-gen health media company for healthy-minded millennials.
  • Fundera Fundera is a marketplace for small business financial solutions.
  • Electric Objects Electric Objects is a startup that makes picture frame-like computers that can display high-resolution artwork from the internet.
Number of Current Jobs 2
Number of Past Jobs 3
Strauss Zelnick has 2 current jobs as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Take-Two Interactive Software and Partner at ZMC. Additionally, Strauss Zelnick has had 3 past jobs including President and CEO at BMG Music Publishing.
Organization Name  
Title At Company  
Start Date  
End Date  
BMG Music Publishing
President and CEO19952000
Crystal Dynamics
President and Chief Executive Officer
20th Century Studios
President and Chief Operating Officer
Number of Current Board & Advisor Roles 11
Number of Past Board & Advisor Roles 1
Strauss Zelnick holds 11 board and advisor roles including Adviser at Players' Lounge, Advisor at Datami, and Advisor at LIKECHARITY.
Organization Name  
Title At Company  
Start Date  
End Date  
Thrive Capital
Advisor