2024 Pitch Company & Judges Bios
- MediaSphere
- Pitch Session
- Pitch Companies & Judges
2024 MediaSphere
MediaSphere by ICVM brought together our international community of storytellers, producers, distributors, and investors for a day filled with learning, innovation, and meaningful connections. Learn more about our highlighted pitch companies and investors who participated in our MediaSphere venture capital pitch session.
Fruit That Lasts Media
FTL Media – To help every grand-parent inspire children with lasting wisdom and values by using superior animation and captivating storytelling.
- The term “grand-parent” refers to grandparents, parents, and other caregivers from older generations with wisdom and values to pass on. These “grand-parents” need help connecting with younger generations, given the fractured and dislocated nature of many family relationships, AND inspiring younger generations with the wisdom and values they know to be true. FTL Media’s winning aspiration is delivering media that meet children where they are in terms of entertainment value. We are committed to producing the “Pom Pom and Franny” animation series with a quality that will compete with mainstream media on the levels of production values and entertainment.
Nena is a co-author of Fruit That Lasts, an illustrated children’s book, along with four followup books in the series. She is also the co-creator of a Fruit That Lasts VBS curriculum, which has been used in churches in South Carolina and orphanages in Kenya. As authors of the original Fruit that Lasts book series, Nena & Kristi are chief brand stewards for Fruit that Lasts, ensuring each brand expression aligns with their original vision. Nena previously had a 20-year leadership career in financial technology and was an Alpha director at churches in Charleston, SC. She also volunteers in children’s ministry at her church, LifePointe Church in Fort Mill, SC.
Nena Jackson
Ben Davis is the CEO and co-founder of MOONDOG Animation Studio with more than 20 years of experience in applying high-level technology to his love for art and storytelling. After studying Fine Arts in the US and in France, he has worked in various animation studios and directed many aspects of the 3D animation process. His expertise includes developing creative concepts that connect with audiences by using constantly evolving technology in animation and interactive experiences. He also holds a certificate in theology from the Geneva Bible Institute.
Ben Davis
Hyperseries
As the first collaborative and gamified streaming platform for independent fiction series, HYPERSERIES revolutionizes the industry through collaboration and gamifying the streaming experience. Using rewards, social interaction, and cutting-edge technologies, HYPERSERIES is data-driven, prioritizes audience Ben is committed to pushing the boundaries of the entertainment industry and delivering unforgettable experiences to audiences worldwide.
Ben (Benoit) Wiener is an entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. As a French C-level executive with an entrepreneurial mindset, Ben has a passion for creating engaging concepts and stories that captivate audiences. His expertise in film and video content production, digital and interactive media, and team management has earned him a reputation as a creative leader in the industry.
Ben’s ability to conceptualize multi-context content and experiences has led to the successful completion of over 50 different products. He has honed his skills in multiple facets of the industry, including theater, opera, cinema, animation, and script writing, while traveling extensively throughout France and England.
In 2011, he raised the third-highest amount in the animation category through crowdfunding to launch an animation studio, demonstrating his ability to innovate and succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.
Ben Wiener
Jim Schubert, VP Content Licensing for Great American Media
Jim has 30 years of marketing, branding and licensing experience. Since joining Pure Flix Entertainment in 2012, Jim led the team in licensing Pure Flix films for outreach ministry initiatives and served on the investor relations team for “God’s Not Dead” and “Do You Believe.”
Jim served on the start-up team that launched the leading Faith and Family Content streaming platform, PureFlix.com in 2015 and continues to serve as VP Content Licensing for Great American Media and PureFlix.com.
Dana Wichterman, Senior Advisor of Impact Foundation
Dana Wichterman is Senior Advisor at Impact Foundation. She has been an active impact investor for over 8 years through Impact Foundation, Praxis Labs, Potomac Angel Capital and Renew Capital. She serves on several boards including Noble Story Co, a startup film company telling “noble stories in a noble way.” She was their lead investor for a WeFunder equity crowdfunding campaign.
Dana and her husband Bill were founding funders of Wedgwood Circle, an angel investment community of entertainers, artists and patrons. She co-founded the Washington DC chapter of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs and Investors with 50 active members. Her calling is “to build community around ideas to the glory of God” and the idea she is most excited about is impact investing that achieves multiple bottom lines (financial, economic/social, environmental, spiritual).
Craig Fryar, Angel Investor / Data-Driven Tech Leader
Craig Fryar is an ops and data specialist. He translates founder’s vision into strategic action. As a Venture Partner, crowdfunding portal COO and Angel, he has reviewed and advised over 3,000 Startups in tech, data, gaming, XR, and biotech. He started as Technology Evangelist at Apple where he launched the consumer and gaming software markets. He’s been pursuing a vision Jesus gave him 40 years ago!
Doug Williamson, Board Member, The Lion's Den DFW
Doug has forty years of experience working in operations and finance, with over ten years in healthcare or healthcare related industries and projects, including eight years as CEO of an ophthalmic medical device company in Dallas engaged in successful FDA studies. Doug also ran the Dallas office of Bank of America Capital Investors (BACI), one of the venture capital groups owned by Bank of America (previously NationsBank) from 1989 to 2002, and directed and managed deployment of over $100 million in twenty different companies with an overall portfolio MOIC of 3.5 x.
Since 2015, Doug has been involved in Christian impact investing as a member of the core team for The Lion’s Den DFW, a board member, and recently Director of Operations. Doug has reviewed and analyzed over two hundred feature films and animations for content, operations, distribution, and potential return, and have done case studies of major studios including the Erwin Brothers, the Kendrick Brothers, and Angel Studios to help determine what creates successful films for Christian investors. Have worked specifically on fund raising programs for major animations including Pilgrims Progress and Mary And Joseph, an animation based on the Broadway hit musical.
Agenda
See our full agenda including keynote speakers, workshops topics, a venture capital pitch session, exhibits, and more.
Register
Join our virtual event to learn & network with storytellers, distributors, and investors. Free for current members.
Sponsor
Sponsorship packages are available as an opportunity to showcase your company before our virtual audience.
Exhibit
Host an Exhibit to share your work to a community of Christian storytellers, distributors, and investors.
Upcoming Events
Crown Awards
February 24-27, 2025
The longest-running faith-based film awards ceremony celebrates its 52nd annual year recognizing and promoting the very best in Christian production. We award 21 categories for every type of production with our awards ceremony held at NRB.
mediaSphere
July 25, 2025
MediaSphere is an online summit by ICVM bringing together our international community of storytellers, producers, distributors, and investors for a day filled with learning, innovation, and meaningful connections.
Storytellers Conference
October 1-4, 2025
Our next 53rd annual Storytellers Conference will take place Fall 2025. The event includes our Christian Film Market, Storyteller Pitch-A-Thon, Investor Pitch Showcase, Crown Awards finalist celebration, and more.