Strategic Exit Reflects Bluestone’s Differentiated Value Creation in Sports, Media & Entertainment
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bluestone Equity Partners (“Bluestone”), a global private equity firm specializing in the Sports, Media & Entertainment industry, today announced the sale of its portfolio company VideoVerse to Minute Media, a leading global technology and sports content company. Bluestone will remain a strategic investor in the combined enterprise.
The transaction marks a significant early exit for Bluestone, following its investment in December 2023, and includes VideoVerse’s flagship product, Magnifi – a market-leading AI SaaS platform that enables content owners and rights holders to identify, package, and distribute key moments from live and archived video, automatically and at scale.
Over the past 20 months, Bluestone partnered closely with VideoVerse’s leadership to accelerate commercial growth, enhance operations, and sharpen strategic positioning in a rapidly evolving market. Bluestone also initiated the relationship between VideoVerse and Minute Media recognizing the industrial and commercial logic of integrating the two platforms. Bluestone will retain an equity interest in Minute Media as part of the transaction, underscoring its conviction in the combined company’s long-term potential.
“This acquisition represents a powerful convergence of vision and innovation,” said Bobby Sharma, Bluestone Founder & Managing Partner. “Since our investment in December 2023, Bluestone Equity Partners has been proud to help drive VideoVerse’s partnerships and growth — and now, to help bring about this landmark acquisition. We look forward to supporting the combined company, as VideoVerse and its flagship product Magnifi join Minute Media, one of the largest media companies in the world, to redefine the future of sports, media, and entertainment.”
“This outcome reflects the power of Bluestone’s strategic focus, active investment approach, and differentiated value-add in Sports, Media & Entertainment private equity,” added Sharma. “It’s a strong early result for our investors – one of the largest outcomes in the history of sports technology, and to ever come out of the Indian tech ecosystem. We’re excited to continue supporting Minute Media’s global growth as a shareholder.”
“The deal aligns with Bluestone’s philosophy of embedding exit planning into its investment process from day one, structuring for alignment while retaining the flexibility to drive accelerated outcomes,” said Bluestone Partner Walker Brumskine. “We founded Bluestone to bring a sharper edge to Sports, Media & Entertainment investing – purpose-built industry expertise, aligned capital, and the ability to deliver liquidity and real value.”
Minute Media reaches more than 200 million monthly users through over 1,500 creators and 400 distribution partners, across 14 global markets in 10 languages. Its portfolio includes iconic properties such as Sports Illustrated and The Players’ Tribune. Adding VideoVerse’s proprietary AI technology will expand Minute Media’s end-to-end content stack – from creation to distribution to monetization – while strengthening its technology IP and recurring revenue base.
“This is a transformative moment for VideoVerse,” said Vinayak Shrivastav, Co-Founder and CEO. “Our mission has always been to help rights holders and publishers unlock the full value of their content. With Minute Media’s global reach, we can now deliver on that mission faster, farther, and more effectively than ever.”
Magnifi’s advanced computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning capabilities enable real-time highlight creation with unmatched speed and precision. The platform’s integrated GenAI tools – including multilingual subtitling, automated metadata tagging, and dynamic rules-based processing – help editorial teams maximize output and efficiency.
The acquisition positions the combined company at the forefront of real-time sports media, delivering unprecedented engagement and operational efficiency across the global content value chain – providing a clear example of Bluestone’s ability to help identify, shape, and execute strategic value creation opportunities in Sports, Media & Entertainment.
About Bluestone Equity
Bluestone Equity Partners is a private equity firm headquartered in New York City, with a core focus on the global Sports, Media & Entertainment industry. Leveraging institutional investment discipline, deep sector expertise, and a global network of industry leaders, Bluestone partners with exceptional businesses and management teams to drive strategic growth and long-term value creation. For more information, visit www.bluestoneequity.com.
About Minute Media
Minute Media is a global technology and content company specializing in sports and culture. Minute Media’s proprietary tech platform enables the creation, distribution, and monetization of digital content experiences. They own and operate leading sports content brands, including The Players’ Tribune, FanSided, and 90min, and serve as the publisher of Sports Illustrated and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit across digital and print platforms. Minute Media has a robust sports highlight rights portfolio through STN Video, providing distribution and monetization for leagues and teams. The company reaches 200M monthly users, powering 1,500+ content creators and 400+ distribution partners across 14 global markets in 10 languages. They also reach a robust print subscriber base through the publication of Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Swim, and Sports Illustrated Kids magazines. Minute Media has offices in New York, London, Tel-Aviv, São Paulo, and Asia. For more information, visit www.minutemedia.com
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