BalconyTV gets funding from Greycoft, Lerer and Polaris

27 Jul 2012

A video music network started on a balcony above the teaming streets of Dublin has received its first institutional funding from Greycroft Partners, Lerer Ventures and Polaris Ventures. Former MTV CEO Judy McGrath will come on board in an advisory role.

Last year, BalconyTV was one of 10 companies that pitched at the Copenhagen Demo Day of Startup Bootcamp, the European affiliate of TechStars.

The site was started by three Dublin friends – Pauline Freeman, Tom Millett and Stephen O’Regan – initially as a YouTube channel. They began filming daily performances of new and up-and-coming artists form their apartment balcony.

The concept took off and today BalconyTV is produced in more than 30 cities around the world.

More than 7,000 videos have been archived and these have been viewed more than 30m times.

Artists that have performed on BalconyTV include Mumford and Sons, The Script and Jessie J.

Early investment in BalconyTV came from Conor Stanley with follow-on investment support from Startup Bootcamp Copenhagen.

“Being a music fan I love how BalconyTV has grown in such an undergrounds way,” McGrath explained.

“BalconyTV is founded on rock ’n’ roll ideals and I’m excited to see how far they can go.”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com