#creator-economy-startups
#creator-economy-startups

Media industry

Fixated Acquires Studio71 To Build The Creator Economy Stack

fromHubspot

Growth hacking

8 Ways to Elevate Your Brand as a Creator or Entrepreneur (& Close the Pay Gap)

Social media marketing

Vibes over metrics: Why more creators are holding IRL events to own their audience

Growth hacking

Stop Betting On One Platform: The Creator's New Monetization Playbook

Growth hacking

From #Ad To #Owner: The Creator Economy's Next Phase Is About Equity

Marketing

The Great Convergence: Why The Creator Economy's Future Belongs To Those Who Unite Social, Brand, And Talent

Fixated Acquires Studio71 To Build The Creator Economy Stack

The creator economy is shifting from access to ownership, focusing on building enduring media companies rather than just monetizing platforms.

Growth hacking

fromHubspot

8 Ways to Elevate Your Brand as a Creator or Entrepreneur (& Close the Pay Gap)

The global creator economy is projected to reach $1.18 trillion by 2032, significantly impacting minority creators and entrepreneurs.

Vibes over metrics: Why more creators are holding IRL events to own their audience

IRL creator events are essential for creators to engage and build their brands beyond social media.

Growth hacking

Stop Betting On One Platform: The Creator's New Monetization Playbook

Creators should diversify their platforms to build steady income and avoid dependency on a single source.

Growth hacking

From #Ad To #Owner: The Creator Economy's Next Phase Is About Equity

The creator economy is shifting towards ownership stakes rather than traditional sponsored content as brands face rising costs and declining trust.

The Great Convergence: Why The Creator Economy's Future Belongs To Those Who Unite Social, Brand, And Talent

The entertainment industry is shifting power to creators, with traditional advertising losing relevance as the creator economy rapidly expands.

From the stage to the future: Where are Startup Battlefield's alumni now? | TechCrunch

TechCrunch Startup Battlefield serves as a crucial launchpad for tech companies, enabling them to gain visibility and secure significant funding.

2 hours ago

Beehiiv rolls out new creator tools, including webinars and customizable paywalls | TechCrunch

Beehiiv is evolving into an all-in-one platform for creators with new features like webinars, AI analytics, metered paywalls, and paid trials.

The 4 Rules Brands Must Follow to Win in a TikTok-First World

Execution on community, content, creative, and culture is essential for beauty brands to succeed in a fragmented market.

#ai

Artificial intelligence

fromThe Verge

You're about to feel the AI money squeeze

AI companies are shifting to paid models due to investor pressure for profitability, impacting users of tools like OpenClaw.

UX design

fromMedium

The Death of Digital Product Design

AI tools have disrupted product design, enabling anyone to create designs quickly without special skills.

5 days ago

Startup companies

This founder was an AI layoff 9 months ago. Then he built an instantly profitable company with 2 partners and 12 agents | Fortune

Artificial intelligence

fromThe Verge

You're about to feel the AI money squeeze

AI companies are shifting to paid models due to investor pressure for profitability, impacting users of tools like OpenClaw.

UX design

fromMedium

The Death of Digital Product Design

AI tools have disrupted product design, enabling anyone to create designs quickly without special skills.

Startup companies

5 days ago

This founder was an AI layoff 9 months ago. Then he built an instantly profitable company with 2 partners and 12 agents | Fortune

Sam Brown turned a layoff due to AI into an opportunity, co-founding Fathom AI, which achieved significant revenue with minimal investment.

The first StrictlyVC of 2026 kicks off in a week in San Francisco | TechCrunch

StrictlyVC's San Francisco event on April 30 features speakers discussing AI, venture capital, and software development.

I used to be a VC. Now I've found a better way to build a company

Many successful companies raised minimal VC funding, challenging the notion that large investments are necessary for success.

Silicon Valley

57 minutes ago

The first StrictlyVC of 2026 kicks off in a week in San Francisco | TechCrunch

StrictlyVC's San Francisco event on April 30 features speakers discussing AI, venture capital, and software development.

I used to be a VC. Now I've found a better way to build a company

Many successful companies raised minimal VC funding, challenging the notion that large investments are necessary for success.

Life Isn't Easy in the OnlyFans Economy

Margo, a naive college student, turns to OnlyFans for financial survival after dropping out and becoming a single mother.

22 hours ago

The internet isn't just like real life, a top VC says - it is real life. For a16z, that's not philosophy, it's an investment | Fortune

The internet is real life. And navigating life means navigating the internet. News now exists to summarize things that have already happened online. Music is being restructured by TikTok's 15-second clip format, the way radio once defined the verse-chorus arrangement.

Digital life

The AI boom won't last, a top VC warns, as he urges startups to cash out

AI founders should consider selling their companies within the next 12-18 months to maximize value before market conditions change.

Fashion & style

fromTheStreet

Popular clothes rental service makes bold new AI move

Rent the Runway is expanding into a marketplace and advertising platform to enhance growth and adapt to changing consumer preferences.

fromwww.npr.org

5 hours ago

How TikTok is driving American expats to Southeast Asia

"Life in America was pretty unfulfilling and pretty stressed out. Like most folks, just in a rat race."

US news

YouTube is turning audio into an ad product - SiriusXM is selling it

YouTube partners with SiriusXM Media to monetize audio content on the platform, focusing on podcast and background music streams.

Privacy technologies

YouTube expands access to AI likeness detection tools

fromTheankler

16 hours ago

Media industry

Creator Exit Playbook: How MatPat Built - and Sold - a YouTube Empire

fromEMARKETER

Social media marketing

When kids want to watch their favorite creators, they go to YouTube

Podcast

10 hours ago

YouTube is turning audio into an ad product - SiriusXM is selling it

YouTube partners with SiriusXM Media to monetize audio content on the platform, focusing on podcast and background music streams.

Privacy technologies

YouTube expands access to AI likeness detection tools

YouTube expands likeness detection tools to help users identify and remove deepfakes and impersonations.

fromTheankler

16 hours ago

Creator Exit Playbook: How MatPat Built - and Sold - a YouTube Empire

Creators are now building businesses designed for sale, following the Patricks' successful model with Theorist Media.

fromEMARKETER

When kids want to watch their favorite creators, they go to YouTube

YouTube is the leading platform for US children across all demographics.

Visa deepens outreach to content creators with TikTok collaboration

Visa and TikTok launched a debit card for U.K. content creators to manage finances and access funds quickly.

Privacy professionals

Future of TV Briefing: The ambitious and alarming proposal fix to TV and streaming's identity crisis

Identity Infrastructure 2.0 aims to improve identity mechanisms in TV and streaming but raises significant privacy concerns for viewers.

Bootstrapping

fromEntrepreneur

fromApp Developer Magazine

How Startups Can Outmaneuver Big Companies and Carve Their Own Market

Understanding market systems and building partnerships with incumbents can accelerate startup growth and mitigate risks.

Business intelligence

Online Community Development

The App Economy Is Thriving

The app economy significantly contributes to the U.S. economy, generating over $1 trillion annually and supporting 2.6 million jobs.

fromEco-Business

14 years ago

Social Networking 2.0: Coming Together Online For A Cause

Combining technology and social networking can drive innovative solutions to global environmental challenges through initiatives like Green IT.

Deliverability

Former Pinterest team redesigns email with Extra - and it's actually good | TechCrunch

A new email product, Extra, reimagines the inbox by organizing it around personal life rather than traditional methods.

Women

fromThedrum

Influencer's Female Leaders: In Conversation With

The role of women in media has evolved, with significant increases in representation and leadership positions in recent years.

Vue

How To Vibe Code A Viral YouTube Video Machine

Vibe coding a YouTube dashboard streamlines content strategy by utilizing data to inform video creation decisions.

Psychology

fromThe Verge

Silicon Valley has forgotten what normal people want

LLMs are not a groundbreaking discovery; many concepts they embody have been known for a long time.

Startup companies

5 hours ago

Venture capitalist Nabeel Hyatt says training robots will reshape the future of work

Robotics requires diverse, real-world data to train models effectively, as environments and tasks vary significantly across different settings.

fromThedrum

13 hours ago

Why small is the new big

Small businesses represent a significant market opportunity, but brands struggle to connect effectively with them.

#meta

Meta expands access to AI business assistant

Meta expands its AI business assistant to global advertisers, enhancing support and optimizing ad campaigns with tailored recommendations.

Meta expands access to Meta AI business assistant

Meta expands its AI business assistant to global advertisers, enhancing support and optimizing ad campaigns with tailored recommendations.

Meta expands access to AI business assistant

Meta expands its AI business assistant to global advertisers, enhancing support and optimizing ad campaigns with tailored recommendations.

Meta expands access to Meta AI business assistant

Meta expands its AI business assistant to global advertisers, enhancing support and optimizing ad campaigns with tailored recommendations.

more#meta

Artificial intelligence

14 hours ago

Anthropic has surged to a trillion-dollar valuation on secondary markets, overtaking OpenAI

Anthropic's valuation has surged to $1 trillion due to high demand for its secondary shares, surpassing OpenAI's valuation of $880 billion.

Silicon Valley

fromThe Hollywood Reporter

I moved to San Francisco to work in AI. Living here requires sacrifices I gave up normalcy to gain access.

Surrounding oneself with ambitious individuals in San Francisco fuels personal and professional growth in the tech industry.

Television

Microdramas Platform Verza TV Shifts Strategy Just 4 Months After Launch (Exclusive)

Verza TV is evolving to include horizontal videos and user-generated content while maintaining a focus on mobile entertainment.

Digital life

It's not just one thing - it's another thing | TechCrunch

The phrase 'It's not just this - it's that' has dramatically increased in corporate communications, indicating a trend in AI-generated writing.

fromPoynter

3 hours ago

Can journalists really make a living on Substack? - Poynter

Independent journalism on platforms like Substack is increasingly seen as a viable career option for journalists seeking alternatives to traditional media outlets.

10 hours ago

Why brands like The League are making the first move to take advantage of LinkedIn's creator appeal

The League launched a LinkedIn campaign targeting professionals to expand its marketing strategy beyond traditional platforms.

Startup companies

14 minutes ago

A 19-year-old Thiel fellow just raised $7.3 million to build an African 'super app' | Fortune

Aubrey Niederhoffer dropped out of UC Berkeley to launch Swoop, a food delivery app in Nigeria, securing $7.3 million in seed funding.

How Top Creators Build Audiences With Product-Market Fit

Brands must prioritize quality content and audience connection over mere reach to succeed in modern marketing.

fromMarTech

2 hours ago

If your AI content feels generic, this is why | MarTech

AI accelerates content creation but risks losing brand voice and authenticity.

fromwww.alleywatch.com

The 16 Largest Global Startup Funding Rounds of March 2026

March 2026 saw significant startup funding, particularly in AI infrastructure, defense autonomy, and robotics, with top rounds exceeding $3.8B.

#mrbeast

17 hours ago

Media industry

MrBeast reveals his current entertainment obsession in his quest to level up his videos

fromObserver

Facing A.I. Slop and Shifting Algorithms, Brands Bet on Streamers to Stay Real

MrBeast exemplifies success in the creator economy, leveraging YouTube and livestreams while expanding into various media ventures.

17 hours ago

Media industry

MrBeast reveals his current entertainment obsession in his quest to level up his videos

fromObserver

Facing A.I. Slop and Shifting Algorithms, Brands Bet on Streamers to Stay Real

MrBeast exemplifies success in the creator economy, leveraging YouTube and livestreams while expanding into various media ventures.

impact.com Expands YouTube Collaboration with Creator Partnerships API Adoption

impact.com expands collaboration with YouTube to enhance creator marketing campaign management using verified data.

21 hours ago

Threads is adding Live Chats to boost real-time engagement | TechCrunch

Threads is launching Live Chats for real-time conversations during events, starting with the NBA Playoffs.

The Brand Storytelling Trend: Why It's Happening and How to Win at It

In a world where audiences are flooded with content, cutting through the noise requires more than visibility. Organizations increasingly invest in storytelling and narrative strategists to shape everything from brand voice to internal alignment.

Marketing

Netflix's next attempt at growth takes on TikTok and Instagram Reels

Netflix plans to launch a vertical video feed to enhance user engagement and content discovery on mobile devices.

fromYahoo Finance

Netflix's next attempt at growth takes on TikTok and Instagram Reels

Netflix plans to launch a vertical video feed to enhance user engagement and content discovery on mobile devices.

fromwww.benzinga.com

Netflix Eyes TikTok-Style Feed To Capture 'Snackable' Viewing - Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX)

Netflix reported strong first-quarter earnings but anticipates lower second-quarter revenue and earnings, while preparing to launch a vertical video feed for mobile engagement.

fromAol

Netflix's next attempt at growth takes on TikTok and Instagram Reels

Netflix plans to launch a vertical video feed to enhance user engagement and content discovery on mobile devices.

fromYahoo Finance

Netflix's next attempt at growth takes on TikTok and Instagram Reels

Netflix plans to launch a vertical video feed to enhance user engagement and content discovery on mobile devices.

fromwww.benzinga.com

Netflix Eyes TikTok-Style Feed To Capture 'Snackable' Viewing - Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX)

Netflix reported strong first-quarter earnings but anticipates lower second-quarter revenue and earnings, while preparing to launch a vertical video feed for mobile engagement.

Media And Tech Veteran Dawn Ostroff Joins Board Of AI Advertising Firm Moloco

Dawn Ostroff joins Moloco's board, bringing extensive experience in media and advertising to enhance the company's AI-driven advertising platform.

fromwww.cbc.ca

Instagram is testing premium features. Will people pay? | CBC News

Instagram is testing a subscription service that offers enhanced features for a monthly fee.

'Clipping' on social media makes me wonder what's real and what isn't

The internet is filled with undetectable fake content, making it increasingly difficult to identify authenticity.

Why live streaming is a borderless $4 billion global opportunity

The shift to streaming platforms is transforming live event viewing, requiring advanced programmatic advertising solutions for global audiences.

#social-media

fromHer Campus

Social Media is a Democracy, and You're Voting Every Day

Redesigning social media feeds can enhance the quality of news received and foster diverse perspectives on current events.

fromIntelligencer

Zuckerberg Is Trying to Figure Out What You'll Pay Him For

Social media companies are exploring subscription models to monetize users beyond traditional advertising.

Social media marketing

Bond, a new social media platform, wants to use AI to help you kick your doomscrolling habit | TechCrunch

SaySo is a new short-form video app that aims to restore users' trust in news | TechCrunch

SaySo is a new app that curates news from vetted creators to combat misinformation and enhance user trust.

2 weeks ago

5 Social Media-Based Side Hustles To Make Extra Income Online

Social media offers lucrative side hustle opportunities, including management services, live shopping, UGC creation, and paid ads services.

fromHer Campus

Social Media is a Democracy, and You're Voting Every Day

Redesigning social media feeds can enhance the quality of news received and foster diverse perspectives on current events.

fromIntelligencer

Zuckerberg Is Trying to Figure Out What You'll Pay Him For

Social media companies are exploring subscription models to monetize users beyond traditional advertising.

Bond, a new social media platform, wants to use AI to help you kick your doomscrolling habit | TechCrunch

Bond is a new social media platform designed to reduce screen addiction by encouraging real-world experiences through personalized recommendations.

SaySo is a new short-form video app that aims to restore users' trust in news | TechCrunch

SaySo is a new app that curates news from vetted creators to combat misinformation and enhance user trust.

2 weeks ago

5 Social Media-Based Side Hustles To Make Extra Income Online

Social media offers lucrative side hustle opportunities, including management services, live shopping, UGC creation, and paid ads services.

Inside The Chernin Group's Bet on Creator-Led Empires

Community is the most valuable asset in media, driving investment strategies for emerging media companies.

Startups Are Spending Six Figures to Show Up on College Campuses. How They're Winning Over Coeds

Companies are increasingly targeting college campuses for growth marketing, shifting budgets from social media to on-campus events and promotions.

17 hours ago

LinkedIn's CEO is moving on; please hold your tearful video tributes | TechCrunch

Ryan Roslansky stepped down as LinkedIn's CEO after six years, succeeded by COO Dan Shapero, leaving a significantly larger platform and revenue.

Bluesky set out to fix social media. Now it's running into familiar problems

Bluesky experienced rapid growth after Trump's 2024 win but now struggles with user retention and a sustainable business model.

fromPR Daily

Social media updates and new features to know this week - PR Daily

TikTok has received a security certification for its U.S. data protection systems, while also upgrading its ad creation tools with AI features.

fromMarTech

AI + human ingenuity: Where creative and technical teams meet | MarTech

Balancing AI adoption with maintaining a human brand identity is crucial for successful marketing.

X makes it more expensive to post links through its API | TechCrunch

Social network X increased API link posting costs to combat spam, potentially discouraging publications from sharing links.

fromEntrepreneur

This Anonymous Posting Strategy Helped Him Build a Big Following - and Led to Investors and Partners Finding Him First

"I felt like that pseudonym gave me some freedom, like some permission to just be my authentic self."

Social media marketing

fromwww.marketingdive.com

Creator marketing now a core media channel' while search slows: IAB

Digital advertising revenue reached $294.6 billion in 2025, driven by video, creator content, and performance media despite economic challenges.

Why the Most Viral Brand Posts All Have 1 Thing in Common (It's Not the Algorithm)

Creating viral social media content requires understanding audience engagement and incorporating elements like humor and relatability.

fromwww.independent.co.uk

TikTok content creators to benefit from new feature to help grow their businesses

The Independent provides essential journalism on critical issues, while a new Visa debit card enhances financial management for UK TikTok creators.

fromAxios

Silicon Valley is building its own news-industrial complex

Elon Musk's X has transformed news into a product for trading and monetization, leading to new platforms like MTS and Objection.AI.

'No idea what tomorrow will look like': In TikTok's 'unemployment diaries,' workers document life after layoffs

Karlee Rea documents her layoff experience and the challenges of job searching in a series of vlogs amid rising unemployment among Gen Z.

fromLindsey Gamble

4 days ago

TikTok Expands Micro-Drama Push With Issa Rae's HOORAE Partnershi - Lindsey Gamble

Micro-dramas are a rapidly growing market, expected to reach $20 billion by 2030, with significant traction in both China and the US.