⭐ Highlights from this week's AMA with Christie Marchese

Who: Christie Marchese, Founder and CEO at Kinema
What: Kinema is a global film distribution and exhibition platform that leverages the power of community and social interaction to screen and stream films, opening up new opportunities to reach audiences and maximize revenue.

Why did you start building Kinema?

"Kinema was born out of my work at Picture Motion, where we saw the need for a platform that allows independent films to be screened in various venues outside the major cities. We wanted to make these films accessible to everyone and add technology to simplify the process."

How did the pandemic influence your approach to film distribution?

"The pandemic forced us to go online. We built a virtual streaming system to keep the mission alive, adapting to a world where people were stuck at home and later adjusting to the changing industry landscape."

How do you ensure a healthy co-founder relationship?

"Have the hard conversations upfront about vision, handling difficulties, and personal commitments. It's like getting into a marriage; you need to be aligned on crucial matters."

How was your experience fundraising and what were some of the main challenges?

"Fundraising is challenging. Building relationships with investors who understand the industry was key. The competition with AI in the entertainment space is a current challenge, as we navigate how to integrate or compete with these technologies."

For the full AMA and all the insightful questions, click here.

📅 Upcoming AMAs

• July 10 at 1pm PST: Michael Kapps, Founder and CEO at Sanii

  • Mike built Vitalk, a mental health startup that sold to Gympass in 2022.

  • He's now building Sanii, a startup focused on providing longevity for 60+ folks.

• July 18 at 12pm PST: Ahmed Mirza, Investor at Techstars

  • Ahmed leads investments at Techstars LA, Techstars Space, and Techstars Healthcare accelerators.

📺 Past AMAs

Missed any of our previous AMAs? No worries! You can catch up on all the guests here.

• Will Drewery, Founder and CEO at Diagon

• Gaurav Seth, Founder and CEO at PierSight Space

• Tejes Srivalsan, Founder and CEO at Poppin

📬 Contact Us

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