Backstage Acquires StarNow and The Mandy Network; TA Associates Makes Strategic Investment

Cast & Crew Acquires Backstage Holdings

February 1, 2022

Media & Entertainment

Cast & Crew has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Backstage Holdings, the subscription-based talent marketplace and content-creation platform. The acquisition (financed with cash and stock) brings Backstage's marketplaces and creative tools into Cast & Crew's end-to-end production platform, expanding capabilities across talent, payroll, HR, finance and creative workflow; Backstage will continue to operate as a distinct brand under existing leadership.

Backstage Acquires FilmFreeway, Coverfly and Voice123

September 14, 2021

Media & Entertainment

Backstage, the freelancer marketplace and application suite for creators, announced the acquisitions of FilmFreeway, Coverfly and Voice123 — transactions supported by investor TA Associates. The deals expand Backstage’s creator tools and talent marketplaces by adding a film festival submissions platform (FilmFreeway), a writers’ discovery and data platform (Coverfly), and a global voiceover marketplace (Voice123).

Backstage Acquires ShareGrid, a Peer-to-Peer Marketplace for Production Equipment

January 12, 2022

E-Commerce

Backstage has acquired ShareGrid, a peer-to-peer marketplace for film and photography equipment rentals, expanding Backstage's suite of content-creation tools and entering the U.S. production rentals market. The deal was supported by TA Associates, which provides strategic investment guidance to Backstage.

Talent Systems Acquires Spotlight

January 21, 2021

Media & Entertainment

Talent Systems, a Caltius Equity Partners portfolio company headquartered in Los Angeles, has acquired Spotlight, the leading UK online casting platform founded in 1927. The acquisition is Talent Systems' fourth strategic buy since 2017 and is intended to strengthen its market position and product offerings for casting directors, agents and performers worldwide.

TA Associates Makes $130M Growth Investment in Stackline

June 8, 2021

Cloud & SaaS

Stackline, a Seattle-based ecommerce SaaS platform, received a $130 million strategic growth investment from TA Associates to accelerate product innovation and expand its global footprint. The capital will support continued product development and international expansion; Stackline was previously backed by a $50 million investment from Goldman Sachs Asset Management in 2020.

Cast & Crew Acquires The TEAM Companies

November 18, 2021

Media & Entertainment

Cast & Crew, an EQT-backed provider of software and services to the entertainment industry, signed a definitive agreement to acquire The TEAM Companies, a payroll and production management solutions provider serving advertising, music and live events. The TEAM Companies was a portfolio company of TorQuest Partners; terms were not disclosed. TEAM will continue to operate as a distinct brand and its leadership will report into Cast & Crew.