DramaBox was founded in 2020 by Drama Box Media, a Singapore-based digital entertainment company. The platform launched during a period when short-form video content was experiencing explosive growth globally, driven by the success of TikTok and the broader shift toward mobile-first video consumption. The founders identified micro-drama, a format that had already demonstrated strong commercial viability in China, as an opportunity to build a global streaming platform.
The platform initially focused on distributing existing micro-drama content produced in China and other Asian markets, translating and dubbing it for international audiences. This approach allowed DramaBox to build a content library quickly without the full cost of original production, while testing which genres and story types resonated most strongly with international viewers.
As the platform grew, DramaBox began investing in original content production and co-production partnerships, particularly targeting the U.S. market where the micro-drama format was less established but showed strong growth potential. The company's strategy of adapting the format for Western audiences, including producing content in English with American settings and storylines, differentiated it from competitors that relied more heavily on translated Asian content.
In 2024, DramaBox received recognition for its platform quality, winning Google Play's Best of 2024 award in the Best for Fun category in markets including Hong Kong and Indonesia. The company became the first short drama app to receive the Google Play honor. DramaBox also won the 2024 Sensor Tower Award for Best Short Drama App.
DramaBox received backing from Disney, which provided both capital and strategic credibility for the platform's expansion into the U.S. market. The Disney relationship was formalized when DramaBox was selected for Disney's 2025 Accelerator program, one of only four companies chosen for the program that year. Disney's Accelerator has previously included companies such as voice cloning startup ElevenLabs and Epic Games, indicating the caliber of companies Disney selects for the program.
As of early 2026, DramaBox was reported to be seeking approximately $100 million in new funding at a valuation of approximately $500 million, according to industry reports. The fundraising effort reflected the company's ambition to accelerate content production, expand its U.S. market presence, and compete more aggressively with ReelShort for global micro-drama leadership.
The global micro-drama market was projected to generate approximately $11 billion in revenue in 2025, driven primarily by China and rapidly growing international markets. DramaBox's position as one of the top two global platforms placed it at the center of this emerging entertainment category.