Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Takes Equity Stake in Black Sands Entertainment
Building on Kevin Hart’s Guest Shark Appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, Hart’s Global Media Company will Develop Projects, Provide Resources and Expertise to the Black-Owned Comic Publishing House
Following entertainer and entrepreneur Kevin Hart’s appearance as a guest Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank, Hart’s global media company Hartbeat announced it has closed its deal with Black Sands Entertainment, the comic publishing house focused on ancient Black history and developing strong Black characters. Founded by husband and wife Manuel and Geiszel Godoy, the multiplatform publishing company is known for popular graphic novels based on African history across the diaspora, including Black Sands, the Seven Kingdoms, and developing animated shorts.
As part of the partnership, Hartbeat will offer strategic advisory services to help accelerate Black Sands’ storytelling efforts, especially in the area of film and TV. Hartbeat and Black Sands are currently in development on an animated feature and a series around the Black Sands flagship franchise, “Black Sands.”
Courtesy of ABC/Shark Tank
“The moment that Manuel, Geiszel, and the Black Sands Entertainment team walked into the Tank I knew that this was a company that I wanted to bring into my eco-system”, says Kevin Hart. “The Black Sands team was looking for a partner that has resources to grow their distribution, expand on their production, find new creative talent, and promote their current and future portfolio of content – these are all areas of Hartbeat’S core business. I’m very excited that our team will be able to help Black Sands grow and continue to share their unique stories with audiences all over the world.”
Manuel and Geiszel Godoy
“I knew that when I saw Kevin Hart on stage, it was time to change the world. He understands the world of independent business and IP ownership. His expertise will help propel our brand into a household name and empower a new generation of young Black creators for years to come. Black Sands will be a top 10 anime in the world one day,” says Manuel Godoy, Chief Executive Officer, Black Sands Entertainment.
The deal follows Black Sands Entertainment’s successful launch of a Kickstarter Campaign that reached its goal of $10,000 in one minute and garnered $100,000 in one day. In addition to the success of the current Kickstarter campaign and the investment secured on Shark Tank from Kevin Hart through Hartbeat and Mark Cuban, Black Sands Entertainment has also sold 200,000 print copies of its comic books, resulting in $2 million in sales since its inception.
As the dominant player in comedic entertainment and one of the most sought-after creative engines for platforms, streamers, and brands, Hartbeat plans to continue investing in companies and creative talent that speak to diverse cultural experiences and advance representation in entertainment.
About Hartbeat
Founded by Kevin Hart, Hartbeat is the global, multi-platform media company creating entertainment at the intersection of comedy and culture with a mission to keep the world laughing together. Hartbeat delivers comedy through its three divisions: Hartbeat Studios, which finances, develops, and produces innovative content; Hartbeat Media, which connects with consumers around the world through events and the company’s expansive distribution network; and the company’s branded entertainment studio that serves as a creative and cultural consultancy to brand. Hartbeat’s flagship consumer brand, the LOL! Network reaches audiences across its O&O social media, audio, and OTT partners.
Led by an award-winning team, Hartbeat is a valuable partner to the biggest entertainment companies, platforms, and brands in the world, driving cultural currency and generating sales, subscriptions, buzz, and conversation with some of the most coveted audiences.
About Black Sands
Black Sands Entertainment serves as the most trusted Black-owned brand in the nation. Established in 2016, Creator and President Manuel Godoy and his wife Geiszel, founded Black Sands Entertainment with the mission to publish content that caters to Black families. Black Sands has produced numerous comics and animated series and has sold more than 200,000 units to date, garnering hundreds of thousands of followers online, and 2 million dollars in sales. With such popularity, Black Sands has decided to use its influence to help black creators reach a massive audience with the launch of The Black Sands Publishing App. The Black Sands Publishing App will serve as an exclusive platform for Black and Brown creators and continue to bridge together readers and creators in the Black and Brown community.
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Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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