
River Studios LLC was founded in April 2015 by Mike Rothenberg. River Studios is most known for creating and producing ''Hymn for the Weekend'' in collaboration with Coldplay and Beyonce, as well as providing technical consulting and expertise for the world's first and most successful accelerator program for early-stage startups, the River Accelerator. Prior to creating River Studios, in 2012 Mike founded Rothenberg Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco and the leading VC for Frontier Technology startups. In January 2015, identifying the huge potential in VR, Rothenberg decided to build the world's first startup accelerator program focused on VR companies, and named it The River Accelerator Program, run by Rothenberg Ventures at the time. After the River Accelerator 2015 Spring program, Mike founded River Studios to create, build and promote frontier technology including VR, AR, and AI and to advise and partner with clients like Rothenberg Ventures. River Studios' team of experienced cinematographers helped the River Accelerator identify and cultivate startups to produce better technology and VR content, which started to draw the attention of artists and brands, that in turn asked to work with River Studios to help them understand, build, and create VR & AR content. In 2015, a client project that combined production with development work inspired the studio to partner closely with Twisted Oak Studios, one of the most talented Unity 3D development studios in the world, which unofficially became known as ''River Studios Canada''. Since 2015, River Studios has collaborated with artists and creators across the globe including Coldplay, Beyonce, Bjork, and BEP. River Studios' producer Mike Rothenberg pitched, created and produced ''Hymn For the Weekend'', launched in 2016 and now approaching 900 million YouTube views. River Studios has continued its collaborated with Rothenberg Ventures as a joint venture for the River Accelerator 2015 Fall, River Accelerator 2016 program, and River Accelerator 2017 programs.

River Studios LLC was founded in April 2015 by Mike Rothenberg. River Studios is most known for creating and producing ''Hymn for the Weekend'' in collaboration with Coldplay and Beyonce, as well as providing technical consulting and expertise for the world's first and most successful accelerator program for early-stage startups, the River Accelerator. Prior to creating River Studios, in 2012 Mike founded Rothenberg Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco and the leading VC for Frontier Technology startups. In January 2015, identifying the huge potential in VR, Rothenberg decided to build the world's first startup accelerator program focused on VR companies, and named it The River Accelerator Program, run by Rothenberg Ventures at the time. After the River Accelerator 2015 Spring program, Mike founded River Studios to create, build and promote frontier technology including VR, AR, and AI and to advise and partner with clients like Rothenberg Ventures. River Studios' team of experienced cinematographers helped the River Accelerator identify and cultivate startups to produce better technology and VR content, which started to draw the attention of artists and brands, that in turn asked to work with River Studios to help them understand, build, and create VR & AR content. In 2015, a client project that combined production with development work inspired the studio to partner closely with Twisted Oak Studios, one of the most talented Unity 3D development studios in the world, which unofficially became known as ''River Studios Canada''. Since 2015, River Studios has collaborated with artists and creators across the globe including Coldplay, Beyonce, Bjork, and BEP. River Studios' producer Mike Rothenberg pitched, created and produced ''Hymn For the Weekend'', launched in 2016 and now approaching 900 million YouTube views. River Studios has continued its collaborated with Rothenberg Ventures as a joint venture for the River Accelerator 2015 Fall, River Accelerator 2016 program, and River Accelerator 2017 programs.
Founded: April 2015
Founder: Mike Rothenberg
Focus: VR/AR/AI production and immersive content
Notable work: Produced 'Hymn For the Weekend' (Coldplay & Beyoncé)
Reported financing: $2,000,000 convertible promissory note from Transcend VR (reported)
Creating immersive/interactive media and advancing VR/AR production workflows and storytelling.
2015
Virtual reality / Immersive media production
2,000,000 USD
Reported investment into Bend Reality LLC (identified as River Studios) via a $2M convertible promissory note; litigation reporting also alleges an additional ~$5M was diverted into River Studios over prior years (allegation).
“Received a $2M convertible note from Transcend VR and has ties to Rothenberg Ventures.”