Zigazoo, a social media platform for kids, and Wheelhouse, a media, talent and entertainment investment company, announced the launch of Zigazoo Studios, a joint venture aimed at developing content, businesses, and long-term brands around emerging creators from the Zigazoo platform.

The partnership builds on an existing relationship, as Wheelhouse was an early investor in Zigazoo and has remained involved in the company’s strategic development since its early days. Zigazoo Studios will combine audience growth, content development, strategic partnerships, and business building under a single structure specifically designed for Gen Alpha creators, giving young talent and their families access to infrastructure typically reserved for established stars.

The venture arrives as regulatory pressure on youth social media use intensifies. The UK and Australia have already restricted social media access for minors, and similar legislation is gaining momentum in the U.S. Zigazoo, built around child safety from its founding, is positioning itself to operate within that shifting regulatory environment rather than be constrained by it.

“The next generation of creators is already here, but the world has barely noticed,” said Zak Ringelstein, co-founder and CEO of Zigazoo. “Zigazoo Studios is designed to give Zigazoo creators and their families something that hasn’t existed until now: a trusted ecosystem that creates a sustainable pathway to build the superstars of the future.”

Brent Montgomery, CEO of Wheelhouse, framed the investment as long-standing. “Wheelhouse has believed in Zigazoo from the very beginning because we saw something incredibly rare: a platform built around positivity, creativity, and safety,” he said. “It’s the only social media platform I allow my own kids to use.”

Zigazoo Studios will roll out original programming, live experiences, and strategic partnerships later this year. The companies will also host an industry event at Wheelhouse’s Los Angeles HQ to mark the launch, bringing together creators, executives, and partners from the entertainment and Creator Economy sectors.

Zigazoo describes itself as the largest social platform for kids and the top iOS app for children, with partners including the NBA, MLB, Amazon, Apple TV+, and Netflix. Wheelhouse’s production credits include Netflix’s “Million Dollar Secret” and Hulu’s “That Thrifting Show with Lara Spencer,” and the company recently acquired production company Anomaly.

The venture also lands amid growing evidence of Gen Alpha’s commercial weight and susceptibility to creator influence. A recent Digital Voices report found that 49% of Gen Alpha children trust influencer recommendations as much as those from family and friends, with the generation’s global economic impact projected to reach $5.46 trillion by 2029.

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