Cristina Pimentel, a leader in the media startup industry, and Caitlin Glazebrook, a VC and startup ecosystem-building veteran, today launched Duets Network, Inc. to help startups in sports, entertainment and the creator economy find the people, support and funding they need to grow.

At its core, Duets is a one-stop shop for founders, bringing investor connections, expert guidance and business resources together on a single online platform. Its intelligence layer provides critical business feedback and tech stack recommendations. Duets connects pre-seed and seed-stage startups with thesis-aligned investors and offers discounted perks and tools to help founders scale. Pimentel and Glazebrook also offer tailored, hands-on advice through Duets’ consulting business.

Founders and investors can register now at www.duets.network, where experts and talent can sign up for upcoming opportunities. Duets reviews each startup to connect founders with resources and help them prepare for investor introductions. It also vets experts and service providers before they join the network.

A limited free trial lets founders explore the platform, with startup-friendly pricing for additional resources and connections. Duets also offers universities and nonprofits a free Ideator tier to help aspiring entrepreneurs explore ideas and plan how to build a business. Startups join without giving up equity or committing to a fixed accelerator program.

For investors, a paid subscription provides introductions to vetted startups and detailed company information. Both sides stay anonymous until investors choose to engage. The service helps angels, micro funds and emerging funds find early-stage companies that match their investment criteria.

Duets is developing an expert network where founders can browse and book sessions for strategic guidance and hands-on support, from the early stages through launch and early traction. Subject-matter and industry experts can register now, including those who also participate as founders or investors.

Duets is also developing a talent network to help startups find skilled team members, who can register now for future opportunities.

Following events at LA and SF Tech Weeks, Duets is expanding its in-person programming to bring the tech, sports and entertainment communities together. Plans include member-only events around NBA All-Star Weekend and the Super Bowl, plus a regular curated dinner series. Dates and locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Pimentel, co-founder and chief executive officer of Duets, said, “At Universal Music Group, I kept meeting founders with promising businesses who didn’t know where to turn for help. Finding someone who understands your industry and the problem you’re trying to solve, early on, can make a real difference. Caitlin and I are building Duets with this community to make those connections easier than ever.”

Glazebrook, co-founder and chief business officer of Duets, said, “When I was at Andreessen Horowitz, I spent a lot of time fielding pitches from startups that weren’t right for our fund. Angels and emerging fund managers face the same challenge with far less bandwidth. We’re building Duets as an extension of their teams, helping them source and vet startups that fit their investment criteria. Investors have useful information in hand before the first conversation and decide when to connect, so both sides can focus on meetings that are the right fit.”

Pimentel brings more than a decade of experience connecting startups, investors and industry leaders. As a founding member of Universal Music Group’s Digital Innovation team and UMG’s first dedicated innovation hire, she helped develop UMG’s early music tech frameworks and strategies, global startup ecosystem and Accelerator Network. She developed its proprietary startup database, contributed to early licensing frameworks and created UMG Connect, its first internal incubation program. She led programs for UMG’s Digital Strategy and Digital Innovation teams that connected executives, founders and industry leaders internally and at industry conferences. She also designed Music Biz’s Women in Music program and startup programming and helped shape music entrepreneurship curricula for Berklee College of Music and the Roc Nation School.

Glazebrook brings more than a decade of experience connecting startups, investors and global innovation communities. Most recently, she spent three years as a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, working with early-stage companies at the intersection of technology and culture, including sports, music, media, gaming and entertainment. Previously, she was a senior leader at 500 Global, formerly 500 Startups, where she led international startup initiatives and partnerships, managed a global team and co-created a proprietary framework for building and scaling entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Through Duets’ consulting business, Pimentel and Glazebrook work as an extension of clients’ teams, helping founders build their businesses and relationships. They are already helping athletes and entertainers explore business and investment opportunities, and working with nonprofits and universities to engage with the startup community.

Duets’ consulting clients include WEIR AI, which helps high-profile individuals such as athletes, entertainers and influencers find and manage the use of their face and likeness online. Co-founder and chief executive officer Gary McCoy held privacy and AI roles at Meta, Microsoft and Snowflake, while co-founder and chief technology officer Dr. Tal Hassner previously led the development of facial recognition services at Amazon and Meta. Duets also works with Kintra, which uses hormone and other biomarker data to inform athlete recovery and performance. The company’s advisors and shareholders include UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane and Tristar Gym head coach Firas Zahabi.

For questions about advising startups or partnering with Duets, contact team@duets.network. For consulting services or information about WEIR AI or Kintra, contact whiteglove@duets.network.

For Editors: Background material and visual assets for coverage can be found HERE.

About Duets

Duets Network, Inc. is an ecosystem builder founded by media startup leader Cristina Pimentel and VC and startup ecosystem-building veteran Caitlin Glazebrook. Through its online platform, Duets connects founders with investors, expert guidance and business resources across sports and entertainment, including music, gaming and the creator economy. Its founders also provide hands-on consulting services. Learn more at www.duets.network.

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