Animated YouTube channel Simple History gets 7-figure investment from Electrify Video Partners

Electrify Video Partners, which recently raised $85 million to invest in and acquire YouTube channels, is putting that money to work.

It’s made what it calls a “landmark investment” in Simple History, a channel that’s been producing educational animated videos about historical events since 2014. Simple History has nearly 5 million subscribers and has been pulling in around 20 million views per month on average over the past year.

As part of the seven-figure deal, Electrify will take an undisclosed ownership stake in Simple History.

“With a growing subscriber base and a track record of producing high-quality historical content, Simple History has earned acclaim for its unique approach to exploring the past and bringing history to life in a compelling and accessible manner,” Electrify says.

The channel is run by creator Daniel Turner, who says the money and support from Electrify “will empower us to take our channel to the next level, enabling us to produce even more compelling content and reach a wider audience of history enthusiasts around the globe.”

He has plans to take Simple History to new platforms and “grow the brand beyond content in a way I couldn’t do on my own,” he adds.

In a statement, Ian Shepherd, co-founder and co-CEO of Electrify, said, “We are thrilled to announce our investment in Simple History and to partner with such a talented team of content creators, led by Daniel. At Electrify Video Partners, we are passionate about supporting digital content that informs and inspires audiences. Simple History exemplifies these qualities with its unique style and rich library of historical content. We look forward to collaborating closely with Daniel and his team to unlock new opportunities for growth and success.”

Simple History is the sixth channel (but first animated channel) in which Electrify has invested. It’s also taken stakes in Veritasium, Astrum, SpitBrix, Fizzy, and Improvement Pill, which together have over 30 million subscribers and 10 billion views.

The funds Electrify is sowing with creators come from its own fundraising: It raised a $50 million round in February 2023 from MEP Capital, with participation from a number of private investors, and raised the aforementioned $85 million from private equity fund Capital D in September 2023.