Gushcloud, a global creator and IP management and licensing company, has joined a consortium of companies and business personalities in the UAE in an aim to shake up the talent and creator economy industry in the Middle Eastern nation.
Gushcloud has partnered with entertainment veteran Michel Chahda, the CEO and Co-founder of Talent Plus, to scout and sign talent, celebrities, and creators in the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and South Asia, and bring them opportunities in other parts of Asia and Hollywood, and vice versa.
This investment has the backing of ADM Holdings, which is part of the companies owned by Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum; and J&F Holdings, a private firm owned by serial entrepreneur and investor Faisal Belhoul who is also the Vice Chairman of the Dubai Chambers and a judge on Shark Tank Dubai.
Talent Plus is now able to tap into Gushcloud’s expansive network around Australia, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the US for MENA- and South Asia-based talents to sign cross-border deals and star in international campaigns.
In turn, Gushcloud also aims to expose more of its American and Asian talents to the MENA and South Asian regions with Chahda’s leadership and network.
“True to our vision of bridging the East with the West, we are now partners with Talent Plus, ADM Holdings, and J&F Holdings to strengthen our network and capabilities in these regions with untapped potential and abundant capital and resources,” said Althea Lim, Gushcloud CEO and Co-Founder.
“We couldn’t have chosen a better partner in Michel as he is an entertainment veteran in this part of the world.
His leadership, our network, and our new corporate partners here will only make Gushcloud bigger, better, and more capable of meeting the demands of the ever growing creator economy. This is another step for Gushcloud toward becoming a truly global creator economy company,” Lim said.
Chahda has two decades of experience in the media and entertainment industry. He has worked with multinational brands in healthcare, technology, retail and beauty sectors, and various government entities in the Middle East. Lastly, he also worked in the football industry and has claims to have direct access to global football clubs and star athletes.
“I am proud and excited to enter this new venture with Gushcloud on behalf of my company Talent Plus. Joining forces to combine our local knowledge of the markets and talent with Gushcloud’s global network is a formidable combination,” Chahda said.
“I’m thankful to have the support of ADM Holdings and J&F Holdings so we can start on a strong footing in MENA, South Asia, and beyond,” he said.
According to Goldman Sachs, the creator economy is presently valued at $250 billion and is projected to reach half a trillion dollars by 2027. Plus, over 50 million individuals worldwide now identify themselves as content creators.
The Middle East is a conducive market for creators and talents, as Strategy& reported that digital content is expected to account for 46 per cent of the projected $22 billion in media spending by 2024 in the region.
