The creator economy has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years with numerous startups emerging to support and empower content creators in monetizing their passion and building thriving communities. As the landscape continues to evolve, several innovative companies have stood out for their unique approaches to helping creators succeed. From monetization and content creation to community management and beyond, these top creator economy startups are at the forefront of the creator economy revolution.
Best Creator Economy Startups to Follow
Every year, new startups pull to the forefront of their industry through exciting innovation, tech, and industry-disrupting business models. We’ve rounded up the best creator economy startups of 2024 that startup lovers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs should follow.
Disclaimer: With so many exciting startups launching and growing, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.
1. Circle
- Location: New York, New York
- Founders: Andrew Guttormsen, Rudy Santino, Sid Yadav
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Series A, $30.5 Million
- Investors Include: Tiger Global Management, BoxGroup, Notation Capital
Circle empowers content creators by providing tools and services to grow and monetize their online presence. The platform offers features like customizable websites, email newsletters, exclusive content offerings, and membership subscriptions, allowing creators to build and engage their communities while generating recurring revenue. Circle aims to be a comprehensive solution for creators looking to turn their passion into a sustainable business and has seen rapid adoption across various niches.
2. Beacons
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Founders: David Zeng, Jesse Zhang, Neal Jean, Greg Luppescu
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Series A, $29.8 Million
- Investors Include: Andreessen Horowitz, Variant Fund, Atelier Ventures
Beacons is a creator economy startup that offers a platform for content creators to monetize their audience through various tools and services. It provides features like custom landing pages, subscription management, and analytics to help creators grow and engage their communities. Beacons also facilitates direct monetization through membership tiers, allowing creators to offer exclusive content and perks to their most loyal supporters.
3. Captions
- Location: New York, New York
- Founders: Dwight Churchill, Gaurav Misra
- Founded In: 2021
- Funding: Series B, $40 Million
- Investors Include: Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Chapter One
Captions is an all-in-one video content creation tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Available on both mobile and desktop, creators can use the Captions platform to edit videos, create captions, transcribe, remove background noise, and even correct eye contact in videos using AI.
4. Artlist
- Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
- Founders: Assaf Ayalon, Eyal Raz, Ira Belsky, Itzik Elbaz
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series Unknown, $48 Million
- Investors Include: Elephant Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
Artlist is a software startup that operates in the creative industry, providing a platform for filmmakers, video creators, and other content producers to access high-quality, royalty-free music and sound effects. The company offers a subscription-based model, allowing users to download and use an extensive library of curated music tracks and sound effects in their projects without the need for individual licensing.
5. Mozaic
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Founders: Adam Clabaugh, Mangesh Bhamkar, Marcus Cobb, Rachel Knepp
- Founded In: 2015
- Funding: Series A, $51 Million
- Investors Include: Volition Capital, Revolution, InCrowd Capital
Mozaic is a global payment platform designed specifically for co-creators collaborating on projects worldwide. With offices in Chicago and Nashville, Mozaic offers a suite of tools and services to streamline the process of splitting income among creative teams. The platform’s smart contracts automate revenue sharing, ensuring each contributor receives their fair share of the profits.
6. Wishlink
- Location: Gurgaon, India
- Founders: Chandan Yadav, Divyansh Ameta, Shaurya Gupta
- Founded In: 2022
- Funding: Series A, $10 Million
- Investors Include: Elevation Capital, Fundamentum Partnership
Wishlink offers a digital product discovery platform, enabling brands to collaborate and promote their products through a unified storefront. The platform allows social media content creators to monetize their influence by showcasing and recommending products to their followers. By connecting brands with influential content creators, Wishlink facilitates a mutually beneficial ecosystem where brands can increase their visibility and reach while content creators can generate income by leveraging their audience.
7. Domestika
- Location: Berkeley, California
- Founders: Julio Cotorruelo, Tomy Pelluz
- Founded In: 2010
- Funding: Series D, $130 Million
- Investors Include: Zeev Ventures, GSV Ventures
Domestika is an online learning platform that specializes in creative courses taught by industry professionals. It offers a wide range of classes in areas like illustration, design, photography, and crafts. Domestika’s courses are designed to be engaging and accessible with high-quality video content and hands-on projects that allow students to apply their newfound skills.
8. Ceros
- Location: New York, New York
- Founders: Dominic Duffy, Paul Fifield, Simon Berg
- Founded In: 2012
- Funding: Private Equity, $133.5 Million
- Investors Include: Greycroft, Greenspring Associates, Sumeru Equity Partners
Ceros is a cloud-based, AI-powered digital content creation platform that enables marketers and designers to create interactive and engaging content without coding. It offers a drag-and-drop interface and a library of templates and assets to help users quickly develop immersive experiences, such as interactive infographics, presentations, and microsites.
9. Creative Juice
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Founders: Ezra Cooperstein, Sima Gandhi
- Founded In: 2021
- Funding: Series A, $20 Million
- Investors Include: Concrete Rose Capital, Acrew Capital, TQ Ventures
Creative Juice is a startup that offers financial solutions tailored to content creators, helping them manage and grow their businesses. The platform provides cash advances based on creators’ future earnings, allowing them to access funding without giving up equity or creative control. Additionally, Creative Juice offers tools for managing earnings, expenses, and bookkeeping to simplify the financial aspects of running a content creation business.
10. Slate
- Location: New York, New York
- Founders: Eric Stark, Michael Horton, Will Brooke, Yury Shubin
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Seed, $5.5 Million
- Investors Include: Alumni Ventures, Mingspring Capital, Charge Ventures
Slate is built for social media teams and used by sports leagues, networks, and brands, such as the National Football League (NFL), Nickelodeon, and Budweiser, in creating high-quality social media content quickly and efficiently. The platform helps users personalize their content creation process and manage brands, teams, and campaigns all from a dynamic Brand Hub.
11. #Paid
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Founders: Adam Rivietz, Bryan Gold
- Founded In: 2013
- Funding: Series B, $21.4 Million
- Investors Include: Vanedge Capital, Sands Capital Ventures
#Paid is a creator marketing platform that connects brands with influencers and content creators to develop and execute engaging social media campaigns. The startup offers a suite of tools and services designed to streamline the collaboration process — from influencer discovery and campaign management to content creation and performance tracking.