Creator Economy Industry Overview

The creator economy is a game-changing online ecosystem and community where content producers may monetize their skills by curating one-of-a-kind material. It’s an ecosystem created by independent content creators, curators, community builders, social media influencers, bloggers, videographers, and the software and financial tools that allow them to expand and monetize their enterprises.

• The current market size is $104bn with $1.3bn funded across creator economy startups in 2021 alone [ref]
• The 50mn creator pool is expected to reach a massive 404mn by 2024; an increase of 808% [ref1, ref2]
• 46% of creators who have been building an audience for 4+ years earn over $20k annually across their monetized channels. [ref]
• 4 out of 7 platforms listed Engagement Rate as their top measure of success4 out of 7 platforms listed Engagement Rate as their top measure of success [ref]

A creators journey can be broken down into the following four significant segments:

The major categories in the creator economy include platforms across:

1. Content Creation: Creators are leveraging the power of these tech-driven tools to create better and more efficient content. Platforms include PhotoRoom, Mojo, Streamerloot
2. Analytics & Operations: These platforms allow the creators to reduce the operational dependency of managing multiple accounts and links across social channels. Platforms include Qoohoo, Linktree, Stir
3. Courses: The platforms provide an opportunity for the creator to interact or educate their audience closely. Platforms include Maven, Kajabi, Questbook
4. Payments & Finance: These platforms offer the creator to accept/manage their finances. Platforms include Karat, Indifi, Pry
5. Community Management: The creator uses these platforms to have more intimate interactions with their supporters. Platforms include Circle, Beacons, Geneva
6. Merchandising: The creators use these platforms to carry out their supply chain and logistics of their offline merchandise. Platforms include Cala, Printify, Spreadshirt
7. Fan Interactions: The creators use these platforms to host/interact with their fans via events and ticketing. Platforms include Moment House, Buy Me a Coffee, Myfanpark
8. Subscriptions: The creators use these platforms to monetize their audience via running subscriptions. Platforms include Substack, Patreon, Onlyfans
9. Blockchain-based: These offer the creator an opportunity to sell their digital goods online. Platforms include Mirror, Opensea, Rarible

Overall Investment Landscape:

Key highlights :

• The total funding in 2021 has been more than the previous five years combined and is expected to increase in 2022. [ref]
• The top-funded startups include Kajabi, Hopin, Patreon, Cameo

Companies have been funded across stages (Source: Antler):

Top VC’s investing in creator economy include (Source: CBinsights & Influencers.in) :

Notable acquisitions:

One of the startups I am looking forward to in this ecosystem is Qoohoo. It is a one-stop platform for creators in India to grow, engage and monetize their community with actionable insights