Jungle Creations

In 2014, Jamie Bolding founded Viral Thread at his mother's house in Surrey, England. Initially, the site's focus was on collating already existent content,{{cite news | last=Chapman| first=Ben| title =Jungle Creations: The unknown company behind the internet's biggest viral videos | newspaper =The Independent| date =13 July 2017 | url =https://www.independent.co.uk/Business/indyventure/jungle-creations-biggest-viral-videos-jamie-bolding-viral-thread-media-twisted-nailed-it-a7839616.html| access-date =26 November 2017}} however, Bolding soon started writing original content aimed at university students. The first piece of content produced was a listicle entitled "Twenty people you will meet at fresher's week."

In February 2015 the company's Facebook page reached one million likes.{{cite news | last=Finley| first=Sarah| title =Food for thought: The man who makes cooking videos go viral | publisher =BBC| date =28 November 2016 | url =https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38103409| access-date =26 November 2017}}

In 2016, the VT channel posted a video featuring the Hövding airbag bicycle helmet which became the most-watched video in the company's history with over 150 million views.{{cite news|url=http://nordic.businessinsider.com/the-swedish-air-bag-for-cyclists-just-unexpectedly-went-viral-2016-9/|title=The Swedish airbag for cyclists unexpectedly went completely viral|last=Carlström|first=Vilhelm|date=21 September 2016|access-date=26 November 2017|publisher=Business Insider|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922133907/http://nordic.businessinsider.com/the-swedish-air-bag-for-cyclists-just-unexpectedly-went-viral-2016-9/|archive-date=22 September 2016}}

In June 2017, the company opened an office in New York City.{{cite news | last=Southern| first=Lucinda| title =With viral out of style, Viral Thread is rebranding as VT | publisher =Digiday| date =3 August 2017 | url =https://digiday.com/media/viral-thread-rebrand-grows-up/| access-date =26 November 2017}} The following month, it named Nat Poulter its chief operating officer and Sefton Monk its chief technology officer.{{cite news | last=Cleeton| first=Jenny| title =People on the move featuring ITV, Dentsu Aegis Network, Jungle Creations, GiveMeSport and Vice | publisher =The Drum| date =19 July 2017 | url =http://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/07/19/people-the-move-featuring-itv-dentsu-aegis-network-jungle-creations-givemesport-and| access-date =26 November 2017}} In August 2017, the company officially changed the name of Viral Thread to VT.

Today VT is Jungle Creations’ global news and entertainment channel, with a following of over 47 million people. The brand has redefined social-first entertainment, producing creator-led content that blends viral storytelling with cultural commentary. VT works with in-house personalities and external talent to create the internet’s biggest trends, with a particular focus on entertainment, current affairs, and feel-good storytelling.

As of 2025, VT reaches 23.9 million people globally each month, boasts 47.6 million followers, and has generated 18.4 million views on TikTok in the UK alone over a 60-day period.

Jungle Creations launched the Twisted brand in March 2016. Initially, the brand posted food-related content on Facebook and Instagram but later added an option to order through Deliveroo or Uber Eats.{{Cite web |last=Bartholomew |first=Emma |date=13 December 2017 |title=Start-up-of-the-week: Hackney entrepreneur launches delivery-only restaurant through Facebook video recipe page |url=https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/start-up-of-the-week-hackney-entrepreneur-launches-delivery-only-restaurant-through-facebook-video-recipe-page-1-5319200 |access-date=2020-01-27 |website=Hackney Gazette |language=en}}

The media brand opened new TV studios at London's Market Hall West End in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/restaurants/market-hall-west-end-traders-street-food-restaurants-a4286586.html|title=Everything you need to know about Market Hall West End|date=2019-11-13|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=2020-01-27}}

In September 2016, the company's food-related channel, Twisted, partnered with Oreo to announce new Oreo flavours.{{cite news | last=Beltrone| first=Gabriel| title =Oreo Is Now Making Tasty-Style Recipe Videos for Some of Its Stranger Flavors | work =Adweek| date =26 September 2016 | url =http://www.adweek.com/creativity/oreo-now-making-tasty-style-recipe-videos-its-special-edition-flavors-173715/| access-date =26 November 2017}}{{cite news | last=Velasco| first=Haley| title =Oreo debuts new cookie flavors with social channel Twisted | publisher =The Drum| date =21 September 2016 | url =http://www.thedrum.com/news/2016/09/21/oreo-debuts-new-cookie-flavors-with-social-channel-twisted| access-date =26 November 2017}}

Twisted is now one of the UK's largest food and drink brand on social media, with a global community of over 40 million followers. Known for its tongue-in-cheek approach to food and cooking, the brand has expanded beyond digital into real world experiences. This includes Twisted-branded restaurants across the UK, a bestselling product range with Iceland, the Twisted IPA, and the publication of Twisted: A Cookbook. As of 2025, the brand reaches 5.6 million people monthly in the UK and 65.5 million globally.

Four Nine is Jungle Creations women’s lifestyle publisher, designed to empower a new generation through culture-led storytelling. Covering topics ranging from women’s health to fashion, beauty and identity, Four Nine produces content that is refreshing, relatable and socially impactful. The brand has cultivated a global community of over 23 million followers, with a monthly global reach of 18.6 million.

Known for its commitment to representation and inclusion, Four Nine has launched campaigns such as New Year Revolution and It’s A Trans World. The brand has established a safe and engaging space for diverse voices, with a focus on uplifting stories and passionate conversations around issues that matter.

In 2024, Four Nine expanded its platform with the launch of Tea at Four, a podcast series that explores identity, confidence and connection through candid conversations with creators, activists and thought leaders. The show continues Four Nine’s mission to help people embrace who they are and shape their own futures.

Four Nine's sister brand, Four Nine Looks, focuses on making beauty accessible and expressive for all audiences.

In 2018, the company raised £3million in series A funding, from Edge Investments and former BBC Chief Executive John Smith. At the time, their plan was to explore commerce-based income streams such as pop-up restaurants, cookbooks and eCommerce, whilst expanding their services to include long-form content such as documentaries and TV mini series.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/12/03/viral-video-maker-jungle-creations-eyes-offline-expansion-netting/|title=Viral video maker Jungle Creations eyes offline expansion after netting £3m investment|last=Torrance|first=Jack|date=2018-12-03|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2020-01-27|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.finsmes.com/2018/12/jungle-creations-raises-3m-in-series-a-funding.html|title=Jungle Creations Raises £3M in Series A Funding|last=FinSMEs|date=2018-12-03|website=FinSMEs|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-27}}

In February 2017, Jungle Creations attracted some controversy when it posted and began licensing a viral video featuring a female bicyclist being catcalled by men in a van. The video ended with the woman ripping the side mirror off the van and cycling away.{{cite news | last=Cresci| first=Elena| title =Why a viral video of a cyclist's revenge on catcallers may not be all it seems | newspaper =The Guardian| date =22 February 2017 | url =https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/22/why-a-viral-video-of-a-cyclists-revenge-on-catcallers-may-not-be-all-it-seems| access-date =26 November 2017}}{{cite news | last=Eleftheriou-Smith| first=Loulla-Mae| title =Female cyclist catcalled by man in van chases him down and exacts her revenge | newspaper =The Independent| date =22 February 2017 | url =https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/female-cyclist-catcalled-video-man-van-chase-down-revenge-wing-mirror-sexism-a7593186.html| access-date =26 November 2017}}{{cite news | last=Matyszczyk| first=Chris| title =Catcaller revenge video goes viral (but is it real?) | publisher =CNET| date =22 February 2017 | url =https://www.cnet.com/news/viral-video-woman-revenge-on-catcaller-real-ruse-staged/| access-date =26 November 2017}}

Forbes Magazine placed the company's founder, Jamie Bolding at 13 on their 2017 30 under 30 list.{{Cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/5a61ef73a7ea431690113481/jamie-balding-26/#6d03c3081db8 | title=Jamie Balding, 26| website=Forbes}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30-europe/2018/media-marketing/#6eeadcd41793|title = 30 Under 30 Europe 2018: Media & Marketing|website = Forbes}}

The organisation reached fourth place on The Sunday Times Tech Track 100 league table,{{Cite web | url=https://www.fasttrack.co.uk/league-tables/tech-track-100/league-table/ | title=Fast Track | access-date=27 January 2020 | archive-date=27 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127084314/https://www.fasttrack.co.uk/league-tables/tech-track-100/league-table/ | url-status=dead }} and reached 14th place on The Financial Times 1000 fastest growing companies in Europe.{{Cite news | url=https://www.ft.com/content/238174d2-3139-11e9-8744-e7016697f225 | title=The FT 1000: Third annual list of Europe's fastest-growing companies| newspaper=Financial Times| date=March 2019| last1=Smith| first1=Ian}}

Company CEO Melissa Chapman has been honoured by several prestigious industry bodies, including being featured in Ad Age’s Women to Watch, Management Today’s 35 Under 35 – Women in Business, The Drum’s 50 Under 30, and Talking Influence’s Influencer 50. She was also named Publishing Executive of the Year at the Digiday Media Awards Europe, and in 2024 recognised for Media Leader of the Year at the Campaign Media Awards.

Chapman joined Jungle Creations in 2015 as one of the company’s first employees and has played a key role in its evolution from a content publisher into a multi-vertical, social-first agency. She was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2022, following senior roles including Chief Content Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

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• [https://www.junglecreations.com/ Official website]

Category:Mass media companies established in 2014

Category:Digital media organizations

Category:Mass media companies based in London

Category:Mass media companies based in New York City