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Stephen Colbert expands scriptwriting software venture with seed funding round

Stephen Colbert secured seed investment to expand scriptwriting platform Scripto, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Updated Sep 8, 2026 · 17:47 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Stephen Colbert co-founded the scriptwriting software platform Scripto with Rob Dubbin after facing production workflow issues on The Colbert Report.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The startup raised five million dollars in seed capital backed by Todd Steifel, J.J. Abrams, Marc Cuban, and Colbert alongside his wife Evelyn McGee Colbert.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Josh Kline was brought on as chief executive after Colbert opted against selling the enterprise during the 2023 writers' strike.[The Hollywood Reporter]

Key facts

  • Stephen Colbert and Rob Dubbin established the script software company Scripto after encountering writing workflow issues on The Colbert Report.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Scripto secured $5 million in seed funding led by Todd Steifel, with additional support from J.J. Abrams, Marc Cuban, and Stephen and Evelyn McGee Colbert.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Josh Kline was hired as chief executive officer after Colbert decided against selling the company during the 2023 writers' strike.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The platform has been used by productions such as Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, and Last Week Tonight.[The Hollywood Reporter]

What remains uncertain

  • The extent to which Scripto can successfully penetrate traditional narrative film and television markets against incumbent software suites remains unmeasured.[The Hollywood Reporter]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.