Funny Or Die, the slapstick video hub cofounded by former Saturday Night Live cast member, Will Ferrell, announced that it raised $15 million from Sequoia and several other unnamed investors. Funny or Die is especially known for its viral video The Landlord in which a baby verbally abuses Will to pay the rent.
Sequoia has backed Funny or Die since it started around April 2007. Gary Sanchez Productions and Adam McKay are also heavily involved with Funny or Die. Adam McKay co-wrote Anchorman: The Legend of Run Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with Will Ferrell. Adam McKay’s daughter Pearl played the landlord in The Landlord viral video.
Funny or Die plans to use the funds to hire engineering and creative talent. Currently, there are 30 staff members working with Funny or Die and the company is developing a model to compensate users that submit viral content.
