On the heels as his guest Shark appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, entertainer and entrepreneur Kevin Hart’s global media company Hartbeat has closed its deal with Black Sands Entertainment, the comics publisher focused on ancient Black history and developing strong Black characters.
Founded by husband and wife Manuel and Geiszel Godoy, the multiplatform publishing company is known for popular graphic novels based on African history across the diaspora, including Black Sands, the Seven Kingdoms, and developing animated shorts.
As part of the partnership, Hartbeat will offer strategic advisory services to help accelerate Black Sands’ storytelling efforts, especially in the area of film and TV. Hartbeat and Black Sands are currently in development on an animated feature and a series around the publisher’s flagship franchise, Black Sands.
“The moment that Manuel, Geiszel and the Black Sands Entertainment team walked into the Tank, I knew that this was a company that I wanted to bring into my ecosystem,” says Hart. “The Black Sands team was looking for a partner that has resources to grow their distribution, expand on their production, find new creative talent and promote their current and future portfolio of content — these are all areas of Hartbeat’S core business. I’m very excited that our team will be able to help Black Sands grow and continue to share their unique stories with audiences all over the world.”
Manuel Godoy, CEO of Black Sands Entertainment, commented on the collaboration, “I knew that when I saw Kevin Hart on stage, it was time to change the world. He understands the world of independent business and IP ownership. His expertise will help propel our brand into a household name and empower a new generation of young Black creators for years to come. Black Sands will be a top 10 anime in the world one day.”
The deal follows Black Sands Entertainment’s successful launch of a Kickstarter campaign that reached its goal of $10,000 in one minute and garnered $100,000 in one day. In addition to the success of the current Kickstarter campaign and the investment secured on Shark Tank from Hart through Hartbeat and Mark Cuban, Black Sands Entertainment has also sold 200,000 print copies of its comic books, resulting in $2 million in sales since its inception.
Hartbeat plans to continue investing in companies and creative talent that speak to diverse cultural experiences and advance representation in entertainment.
Black Sands Ent. recently launched a new promo video for its Black Sands anime series, which it is actively pitching to multiple outlets.
Multi-platform comedy & culture company Hartbeat comprises three divisions Hartbeat Studios, which finances, develops and produces innovative content; Hartbeat Media, which connects with consumers through events and the company’s distribution network; and the company’s branded entertainment studio. Hartbeat’s flagship consumer brand, the LOL! Network, reaches audiences across its O&O social media, audio and OTT partners.
Creator & President Manuel Godoy and his wife Geiszel founded Black Sands Entertainment in 2016 with the mission to publish content that caters to Black families. Black Sands has produced numerous comics and animated series and has sold more than 200,000 units to date, garnering hundreds of thousands of followers online and $2 million in sales. The company is leveraging its influence to help Black creators reach a large audience with the launch of The Black Sands Publishing App, which will serve as an exclusive platform for Black and Brown creators and continue to bridge readers and creators in these communities.
