Mitú — a Latino-focused production company — announced a $10 million round of funding and the reappointment of Roy Burstin as the company’s CEO. The funds will be invested in scaling the company’s commerce business, improving its technology platforms, and expanding into new content areas.
The investment round follows a rough year for the company, which suffered after short-form video platforms like Verizon’s go90 and Comcast’s Mashable — two companies Mitú regularly sold content to — struggled to gain traction among consumers. As a result, the digital media company laid off about 30 percent of its staff in July, and CEO Herb Scannell resigned from his position.
Mitú has since revised its priorities and shifted focus from growth to profitability. The company is now focusing on its portfolio of media products and commerce, two revenue areas it says it is seeing significant traction: Mitú says it will roll out a set of programmatic advertising products and also expand its brand beyond content, through physical goods. Based on this new focus, the company expects to be profitable by end of 2019.
Burstin — who resigned from his role as CEO in 2017 when Scannell took over — has been brought back to help lead the digital media company and its 65 full-time employees.
Launched in 2012, Mitú has raised $52 million to date in funding. This latest funding round was led by Leap Global Partners and included investors such as Upfront Ventures, marketing agency WPP, and Verizon Ventures.
11 Latino Superheroes Ready for the Movies, From Spider-Man to Miss America (Photos)
While we haven't seen a Latino superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet, there are plenty of comic-book heroes ready to make the move to the big screen. Here are some of the biggest Latino superheroes.
Marvel made waves in 2011 when Miles Morales replaced Peter Parker as Spider-Man in the alternate Ultimate Universe. After moving to Marvel's main universe, Miles teamed up with Peter and became the new protector of New York.
Marvel
White Tiger was the first Puerto Rican superhero and has been played by both men and women. The current White Tiger, Ava Ayala, is played by the sister of the original White Tiger, Hector Ayala.
Marvel
A mutant from Rio de Janeiro, Roberto da Costa was introduced to the X-Men mythos in 1982 in "The New Mutants." He took on the name Sunspot, based off his ability to absorb solar energy and use it to supercharge his body.
Marvel
Anya Corazon arrived in the Marvel Universe as Arana, and has since changed her name to Spider-Girl. She's teamed up with Peter Parker and other incarnations of Spider-Man in the course of the series.
Marvel
In the DC Universe, Catalina Flores, a.k.a. Tarantula, was an antihero in the "Nightwing" series who had an extremely turbulent relationship with Dick Grayson.
DC
Acrata is a Mexican superhero who has the ability to teleport in the shadows. She has teamed up with Superman in DC's comics and has appeared on the TV show "Smallville."
DC
Also in the DC Universe, former Gotham City detective Renee Montoya became The Question in 2006, taking the mantle of the faceless investigator from Vic Sage. She's also a LGBT superhero, and had a relationship with Batwoman.
DC
In 2014, Marvel's Ghost Rider was reimagined as an East L.A. teen named Robbie Reyes, who becomes possessed with a vengeful spirit as he takes on the criminal underworld.
Marvel
The son of a human mother and the android Ultron, Victor Mancha is a cyborg with electromagnetic powers. He's currently fighting alongside the likes of Ant-Man and Vision.
Marvel
Inspired by Batman and Mexican luchadors like El Santo, El Gato Negro is a hero from South Texas who fights villains on the street and in the ring. The current El Gato Negro is the grandson of the original, and spends time as a social worker when not wearing the mask. He stars in Mexico's Azteca Comics.
Azteca Comics
Originally created back in 1941, Miss America was reintroduced to the Marvel universe in 2011 as an LGBT Latina named America Chavez. The new Miss America has been a part of the Young Avengers and Ultimates and has the ability to travel across Marvel's multiverse.
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Latino superheroes include classic heroes and LGBT heroines
While we haven't seen a Latino superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet, there are plenty of comic-book heroes ready to make the move to the big screen. Here are some of the biggest Latino superheroes.