Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ian Grant. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Ian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for Greenlit emerged from our personal experiences and frustrations within the entertainment industry. As a producer, actor, and stuntman, and my co founder a documentary producer we witnessed firsthand the challenges filmmakers face in securing financing and navigating the complex landscape of film production. The traditional methods were outdated and cumbersome, and with tech disrupting all other industries, I asked my self why has this not happened in entertainment.
Working at another startup on the ground floor provided me with invaluable insights into scaling a business. Concurrently, I entered the entertainment industry as an actor to supplement my income, avoiding the need to rely on gig work like Uber Eats. This blend of experiences in both tech and entertainment allowed me to look at the industry objectively and realizing the inefficiencies in the film financing process.
My journey as a producer began naturally, driven by my passion for storytelling and a background in sales and business. I started a production company, produced several projects, and learned every aspect of the industry, from holding a boom mic to managing production budgets. These experiences made me aware of the pain points in the industry.
Bhargav, my co-founder’s journey added another layer to our understanding of these challenges. He initially aspired to be a stop-motion animator, participating in small, short competitions. However, he pursued engineering, which, while creative, didn’t fully satisfy his artistic inclinations. During COVID, Bhargav found an opportunity to help produce a documentary about an ancient river in India. This experience introduced him to the many challenges in film production, many of which were already solved in the technology and venture space. Bhargav realized that the same principles applied to funding startups could be mirrored in the film industry.
The realization that there had to be a better way to streamline the film financing process led us to create Greenlit. The logic was clear: if other industries could evolve and adapt with technology, so could entertainment. By integrating a holistic approach to film financing, Greenlit provides filmmakers and investors with a central platform to manage projects, communicate, and build momentum.
What excited us most about Greenlit was its potential to democratize film financing and support filmmakers in realizing their visions. By offering an integrated system for both investors and filmmakers, Greenlit addresses a problem that no one else was solving in such a comprehensive manner. Our platform simplifies the entire process, from initial development and organization to investor readiness and a source of truth for all investors to track, manage and invest in films on one platform, making the film industry more accessible and inclusive.
Seeing the potential to make a positive impact on the industry and empower filmmakers to bring their projects to life confirmed that this was a worthwhile endeavor. Together, Bhargav and I combined our diverse backgrounds and experiences to create a solution that truly meets the needs of the entertainment community.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Ian Grant, co-founder and CEO of Greenlit, a film financing platform designed for entertainment professionals. My journey into the entertainment industry began as an actor and stuntman, driven by a deep passion for storytelling and performance. Growing up in martial arts provided me with the skills needed for stunt work, which naturally transitioned into acting roles. While working in front of the camera, I developed a keen interest in the business side of entertainment, particularly the challenges involved in producing and financing films.
My early career experiences were quite diverse. I started at another startup on the ground floor, gaining insights into scaling a business from the very beginning. To supplement my income and avoid gig work like Uber Eats, I entered the entertainment industry. This dual exposure to tech and entertainment highlighted numerous inefficiencies in the film financing process, inspiring me to seek a better solution.
Greenlit was born from shared frustrations and insights both my co-founder & I experienced. We recognized that the traditional methods of securing financing were outdated and cumbersome, leading to our mission to streamline and democratize the process. Greenlit is more than just a business; it’s a comprehensive solution designed to simplify film financing for everyone involved. Our platform provides filmmakers with the tools they need to bring their projects to life, from initial development and organization to investor readiness and talent attachment. By integrating a holistic approach, we offer a central location for all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
What sets Greenlit apart is our commitment to addressing the pain points filmmakers face. We solve problems such as disorganized documentation, inefficient investor waterfall management, and the catch-22 of needing talent attached to secure funding. Our integrated system not only streamlines these processes but also fosters a collaborative environment where filmmakers and investors can thrive.
I am most proud of our platform’s potential to democratize film financing and make the industry more accessible and inclusive. Greenlit empowers filmmakers by providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed. Our mission is to remove the barriers that prevent talented individuals from bringing their creative visions to life.
The main things I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about Greenlit are our dedication to innovation, inclusivity, and support. We are here to revolutionize the film financing process, making it more efficient and transparent for everyone involved. Our platform is built by filmmakers for filmmakers, ensuring that we address the unique challenges of the entertainment industry.
By leveraging technology and our diverse experiences, My Co-founder and I have created a platform that truly meets the needs of the entertainment community.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Bhargav and I met at an entrepreneurial co-working space in the city. At the time, he was working at another startup, while I was developing an early version of Greenlit. We quickly connected over our shared interest in the entertainment, and filmmaking space. Our mutual passion for these areas led us to attend Comic Con together, where we bonded over the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the event. We stayed friends and kept in contact, continuously sharing ideas and insights. Eventually, it became clear that our combined skills and experiences could truly complement each other, and we decided to work together to bring this current version of Greenlit to life.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
In a way, yes, it did. I initially entered the industry as an actor to supplement my income, hoping to move away from delivering food for Uber Eats on rollerblades. What began as part-time background acting eventually evolved into a means to pay my bills through more substantial acting roles. This journey into acting opened doors to producing, which led me to start my own production company. My combined background in tech and entertainment, honed through years of diverse experiences, ultimately inspired me to create Greenlit.
Key milestones included transitioning from background roles to lead acting positions, founding my production company, and leveraging my tech expertise to address the inefficiencies I observed in film financing. The journey isn’t always linear, but it paved a path to where I am today. As the late great Steve Jobs said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://getgreenlit.xyz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealianq/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Greenlit/61553635898307/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianqgrant/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealianq
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Getgreenlit
- Other: https://linktr.ee/getgreenlit
