myFanPark has announced its merger with Silicon Valley-based celebrity engagement platform, Starsona Inc. This transaction results in myFanPark entering the United States market - the company's fourth international market expansion this year - making it a leading global celebrity engagement platform, with a footprint across Africa, Europe, North America and the Indian subcontinent.

The amalgamation of the two companies comes on the back of a highly successful period for myFanPark which saw a 492% increase in the number of users on the platform and a 959% surge in total orders, with demand for certain talent increasing by 500%. As a result, the company saw its revenue climb 283%, which stimulated a range of new artists, athletes, entertainers, and influencers to join the platform around the world, and
piqued Starsona Inc.'s interest in the business.

Joy Des Fountain, who will now serve as co-CEO alongside Peter Karpas, co-founder of Starsona Inc., said: "Our goal at myFanPark is to reimagine how people around the world are able to connect, engage, share with, and inspire each other. We can now offer an almost limitless range of ways for fans and celebrities from all over the world to forge authentic, highly personalised, and valuable relationships with each other."

She continues, "Celebrities registered on the new platform will now also have the ability to augment their fan and corporate engagements through a new range of individualised and unforgettable experiences. Going forward, in addition to shoutout videos, fans will be able to enjoy live calls, Q & A sessions, social media engagements, and even direct-message chats."

When asked what prompted the two companies to join forces, Des Fountain explains, "To deliver myFanPark's vision and international expansion plans, Starsona Inc. presented a natural fit, as it delivers best-in-class technology that enables never-before seen forms of engagement. However, more important than the combining of two businesses on paper, was establishing whether there was a natural synergy and cultural alignment between the people from two companies geographically located at different ends of the world, all whilst during a global pandemic and travel ban. From the first day that we met Peter and his team, it became clear that there was a real opportunity for our two businesses to significantly add to each other's strengths if we came together as one."

For Karpas, who brings decades of experience, having served as General Manager for North America Small & Medium Business at PayPal, Chief Marketing Officer at Intuit, and CEO of North America at Xero, "The growing desire for fans to engage more directly with celebrities represents a cultural shift and massive opportunity for our business and the talent registered on the platform. Our goal now is to further entrench ourselves in our regions through key partnerships and commercial opportunities that allow admired talent to create unique and authentic experiences for their fans or corporate clients: think career advice from business leaders, song lyrics from musicians, or coaching tips from world famous sporting heroes - now anything is possible."

As a result of the merger, fans can engage with more than 2,400 stars from around the world - from professional Nigerian footballer, Uchenna Kanu, and award-winning artists, Skales, IcePrince, and Daddy Andre; to South African Springbok, Faf de Klerk, and hip hop artist, Gigi LaMayne; to Indian Premier League superstar, Robin Uthappa; German football legend, Roman Weidenfeller; National Basketball Association MVP Kawhi Leonard, and even Beverly Hills 90210 actress, Tori Spelling.

The new platform won't be limited to individuals. The company is also looking to influential teams and brands to join its growing talent base. "Organisations wishing to promote and strengthen their association with talent registered on the platform will now be able to use myFanPark as a meeting place to boost their exposure to a combined audience of over 250 million authentic fans around the world."

According to Jean de Villiers, a Co-Founder of myFanPark, the company is also expanding its charity efforts. "With the partnership, we are adding to our 'Fans for Good' initiative by increasing our charity and fundraising capabilities. This means that, in addition to donating a portion of the proceeds from each paid-for interaction, the myFanPark platform will now let celebrities profile their own charities and create fundraisers for specific causes or organisations."