O
Otro
A digital platform that brings football fans closer to the players they love
About Otro
Otro was a London-based digital media company established in 2018, positioned at the intersection of sports and entertainment. The firm operated as a digital fan club, providing exclusive lifestyle content centered around world-renowned football players. Its platform featured original documentaries, films, live chats, and Q&A sessions, aiming to forge a direct connection between elite athletes and their global fanbases.
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The company launched with a high-profile roster of 17 football stars, including Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, and David Beckham, who were signed to create exclusive content. Initially, Otro operated on a subscription-based model, charging users a monthly fee of US$3.99 for access to its premium content. However, just seven months after its December 2018 launch, the company pivoted its strategy, removing the paywall to function as a digital content studio. This shift refocused the business on creating, publishing, and distributing original football-related content rather than managing a subscription service.
Financially, Otro secured significant backing, raising $64.4 million in an early-stage venture round in December 2018, with 23 Capital as a key investor. Despite this initial funding and its ambitious premise, the company faced challenges. In September 2020, Otro Studios was acquired by Element Media Group and subsequently renamed Element Studios UK. This transaction followed a period of evolution where Aser Ventures and Corrum Capital Management had also become strategic partners. Ultimately, the business ceased operations, culminating in a liquidation event in September 2020.
At a glance
- Status
- Acquired
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom
- Employees
- 7,088
- Open positions
- None listed
- Dealroom signal
- 59.8/100
- Industry
- Sports, Media
- Sub-industry
- Social media
- Sector
- Consumer Services, Infrastructure Services, Platform, Sport, Fan Engagement Platform, Sports Content, Fan Experience Out Stadium, uk is8 creative industries
- Technology
- Mobile app
- Client focus
- b2c
Latest news
Press, funding announcements and product moves mentioning Otro.
Funding history
Company financing events and reported valuations.
| Deal type | Date | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACQUISITIONOther financing | Sep 2020 | $0 | — | Element Media Group | — |
| EARLY VCOther financing | Dec 2018 | $64M | $256M | 23 Capital | ↗ |
Growth signals
Latest recorded traffic for Otro is 250 monthly website visits, down 63.8% over the last three months. Otro's team grew 35.5% over the past year.
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Investors
From Dealroom's funding and investor records, grouped by the round each investor first entered.
Series A1 investor entered at this stage
23 Capital
Other known investors1 additional known investor
Element Media Group
Source: Dealroom Talent Intelligence.
Global footprint
team presence
Market sentiment
An AI-synthesised read of the highest-engagement posts about Otro on X, ranked by likes and reposts, corporate channels excluded.
Reading the room on X — pulling top posts and synthesizing themes…
Source: X recent search ranked by engagement (likes + retweets) · Synthesis by Claude · Cached for 1 hour
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