REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 15, 2025 — Mercurius Media Capital (MMC), the first U.S.-based media-for-equity venture fund, announced a strategic investment in Mode Mobile, the fast-growing platform transforming how consumers monetize their time and attention. MMC has committed an initial $1 million, with an option for an additional $2 million, in targeted media inventory to accelerate Mode’s visibility and adoption across the U.S. market. Mode Mobile operates at the intersection of fintech, media, and rewards, offering a disruptive platform where consumers earn value from their time and attention.
In a landscape often focused on superficial engagement, Mode Mobile pioneers a model of value creation for underserved audiences. “At Mode, we’re pioneering a new way to utilize an everyday asset—turning smartphones into EarnPhones™,” said Dan Novaes, CEO and Co-founder of Mode Mobile. “Our passionate team is eager to partner with MMC and tap into their media expertise to accelerate our growth and connect with entirely new audiences.”
MMC’s investment will fuel Mode’s expansion through a broad media campaign, leveraging MMC’s partnerships with leading media platforms such as Sinclair Broadcast Group, TelevisaUnivision, Atmosphere TV, and others. Mode Mobile joins a growing portfolio of culturally relevant companies accessing high-impact advertising in exchange for equity.
“This isn’t just a growth story it’s a new framework for engagement,” said Piyush Puri, Founding Partner of MMC “Mode is building a model that aligns incentives at scale, fundamentally reshaping user interaction with devices, data, and dollars,” This partnership highlights the power of media-for-equity investing in unlocking growth for startups often overlooked by traditional funding models.
MMC bridges the gap for DTC and mid-sized brands by educating them on TV economics and the long-term value of brand-building MMC’s media offer premium inventory as a strategic asset, with a vested interest in each company’s success, creating impactful and targeted campaigns.
About Mercurius Media Capital Mercurius Media Capital launched in December 2023, is the first U.S.-based media-for-equity venture fund with ~$90 million in committed capital. Co-founded by Satyan Gajwani and Piyush Puri, MMC builds on over 15 years of experience driving media capital transactions at The Times of India Group, facilitating over $3 billion in media-based investments. MMC has partnered with leading media platforms, including Sinclair Broadcast Group, Televisa Univision, Atmosphere TV and others, to offer high-growth startups and enterprises access to distinct, large-scale advertising inventory in exchange for equity. This fund has backed several companies, including Airtasker, Deskera, Edly, Captain Experiences, reAlpha, RYSE and more.
This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Investments in MMC are available only to verified accredited investors. Forward–looking statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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SOURCE Mercurius Media Capital
