Issa Rae, the Emmy-nominated actress and producer behind the HBO hit “Insecure,” is once again proving that her impact goes far beyond the screen by partnering with a private equity firm to grow her business footprint.
Rae’s company, ColorCreative, has entered into a significant strategic partnership with HarbourView Equity Partners, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
Rae was set to announce the deal during the Cannes Lions Festival on Tuesday, the outlet reported.
While the terms of the deal have not been made public, the partnership is expected to help ColorCreative grow its talent representation and production capabilities. It will also support the creation and ownership of original content, pushing the company into its next phase of global storytelling.
“We built ColorCreative to be a home for visionary talent and distinct, multifaceted stories,” Rae told the Hollywood Reporter. “Partnering with HarbourView allows us to dream even bigger, while staying true to our mission of helming and supporting the kinds of projects that made us fall in love with storytelling.”
ColorCreative is a management and production company with a mission to empower creators to reach their greatest potential by disrupting the creative industries and championing innovative and inclusive entertainment, according to its website.
Co-founded in 2014 by Rae, Deniese Davis, and Talitha Watkins, ColorCreative was established to amplify the voices of underrepresented individuals across television, film, digital, and branded content.
ColorCreative doubled its revenue from 2023 to 2024, underscoring the team’s ability to deliver both commercially viable and culturally resonant work, according to THR.
Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView, echoed the significance of the moment, highlighting how ColorCreative has already proven that culturally grounded content rooted in Black experiences has the power to resonate globally. “Issa, Deniese, and Talitha have created a blueprint for global storytelling success, and we’re excited to partner with them as they scale their next chapter,” Clarke told the outlet.
New projects under the ColorCreative banner are expected to begin production early next year. Watkins, co-founder and president of the company, described the HarbourView partnership as a defining moment.
“We’ve always believed that culturally driven content can also be commercially powerful. With HarbourView’s partnership, we believe we have the resources and reach to take our vision to the global stage without compromising the creative integrity that defines us,” Watkins told the Hollywood Reporter.
Rae’s partnership with HarbourView isn’t the first time she’s used investments in platforms designed to uplift creatives of color. She also helped launch Ensemble, a company aimed at connecting brands with Black and brown creators and closing the creator pay gap, AFROTECH™ reported.
Ensemble already supports 50 creators, including comedian Mark Phillips of the popular social media collective RDCWorld. Major brands such as Pepsi, Chili’s and Popeyes are a part of its portfolio.
Montrel McKay, president of development and production at Rae’s Hoorae Media, explained that Ensemble is not only interested in targeting diversity allocations but also in competing in the general market and shifting mainstream culture. What also sets Ensemble apart is its hands-on approach. The team not only builds strong relationships with its creators but also helps them learn how to package and pitch content to major companies.
For Rae, this isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about building systems that create real opportunities. ColorCreative’s partnership with HarbourView is the next step in that work. With a clear vision, a proven track record, and the backing of a serious investment firm, ColorCreative is poised to shape the future of entertainment in a bold, inclusive, and unapologetically culturally rooted way.
