---
type: entity
entity_type: company
name: Watch Club
domain: entertainment
status: active
founded: 2025
headquarters: San Francisco, CA
founders:
  - Henry Soong (ex-Meta product manager)
funding:
  - stage: seed
    lead: GV (Google Ventures)
    investors:
      - Jack Conte (Patreon co-founder)
      - Upside Ventures (The Sidemen)
      - Media veterans from Hulu and HBO Max
      - Former Meta executives
    amount: undisclosed
    date: 2025
products:
  - Watch Club microdrama platform (beta launch Feb 2026)
key_people:
  - Henry Soong (Founder, ex-Meta)
website: https://watchclub.com
tags: [microdrama, community, streaming, creator-economy]
---

# Watch Club

Microdrama platform founded by Henry Soong (ex-Meta product manager) that integrates community features (polls, reaction videos, discussions) directly into the viewing experience. Positioning as the "Facebook moment" for microdramas — betting that community infrastructure, not just engagement optimization, is the next competitive phase.

## Founding Thesis

The microdrama market is in its "MySpace era" — dominated by engagement-optimized platforms like ReelShort but lacking persistent community infrastructure. Watch Club's bet is that quality differentiation (TV-grade production, SAG/WGA talent) combined with integrated community features creates defensible moat.

## Investor Composition

Jack Conte (Patreon co-founder) as investor signals this is the "creator economy fandom monetization" thesis applied to scripted drama. Patreon built on fan-creator relationship monetization; his bet suggests community ownership/participation is the next phase of creator-fan economics.

## First Original: Return Offer

Launched February 2026. Three interns at San Francisco AI startup compete for one full-time position. SAG actors, WGA writers, TV-quality production values. Created by Devon Albert-Stone (ex-development co-head, Michael Showalter's company); directed by Jackie Zhou (Chappell Roan's "Hot to Go" music video). Supplementary content includes in-character social media posts and text messages between episodes.

## Quality Review

Liam Mathews (dadshows.substack.com) described Return Offer as "TV-quality" that would rank among Netflix's better young adult dramas. Specific strengths: professional color correction (rare for small productions), compelling cliffhangers, strong performances, thoughtful costume design, intimate shaky-cam cinematography.

## Metrics

No public user counts, viewer numbers, or engagement statistics disclosed as of March 2026. Company tracking completion rates, comment depth, social follows for cast/writers, return rates.

## Timeline

- **2025** — Founded by Henry Soong (ex-Meta)
- **2025** — Seed round led by GV (Google Ventures), investors include Jack Conte (Patreon), Upside Ventures (The Sidemen), media veterans from Hulu/HBO Max
- **Feb 2026** — Beta launch with first original show "Return Offer"
- **Mar 2026** — Positive quality reviews from Asian Movie Pulse and Dad Shows (Substack)