2021 Creator Economy List

30 STARTUPS · 22 INVESTORS · $1B RAISED RECENTLY

A new economy is emerging on the Internet. Creative people from all over the world are turning their hobbies and passions into professional endeavors by making videos, art, music, and courses for loyal fans millions of miles away. Startups are powering this creative revolution by making it easy for creators to find an audience, manage their income, sell products, and engage with their communities. Below are the most exciting startups building for the Creator Economy right now. Like all companies on Startup Search Lists, these Creator Economy startups are backed by great venture firms, growing fast, and hiring now. Thank you to all of our judges who helped select the companies for this year's list.

Below are some of the most exciting startups building for the Creator Economy right now. Like all companies on Startup Search Lists, these Creator Economy startups are backed by great venture firms, growing fast, and hiring now.

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JUDGES

Josh Constine

Josh Constine is an investor and Head of Content at venture capital fund SignalFire. Previously, he was Editor-At-Large for TechCrunch. He also runs PressClub, one of Clubhouse's top shows.

Josh Constine is an investor and Head of Content at venture capital fund SignalFire.

Tiffany Zhong

Tiffany Zhong is the one of the most sought-after youth trends and marketing experts. She’s the founder and CEO of Islands, and has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 and many others.

Tiffany Zhong is the Gen Z Whisperer and is the founder and CEO of Islands.

Li Jin

Li Jin is the founder of Atelier, an early-stage firm investing in the passion economy. She's the co-host of the Means of Creation podcast, and a co-founder of Side Hustle Stack. Prior to Atelier, Li was a consumer investing partner at Andreessen Horowitz.

Li Jin is the founder of Atelier, an early-stage firm investing in the passion economy.

Rex Woodbury

Rex Woodbury is an investor at Index Ventures, and is particularly interested in how people connect and create online. He writes one of the most popular creative economy newsletters, Digital Native.

Rex Woodbury is an investor at Index Ventures, and is interested in how people connect and create online.

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LOGO
COMPANY
DESCRIPTION
Figma
Helps teams create, test, and ship better designs from start to finish.
500
employees,
$
133
m
Series D
from
Index
Figma
Helps teams create, test, and ship better designs from start to finish.
500
employees · 
$
133
m
Series D
· Backed by
Index
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OpenSea
The largest NFT marketplace.
24
employees,
$
23
m
Series A
from
a16z
OpenSea
The largest NFT marketplace.
24
employees · 
$
23
m
Series A
· Backed by
a16z
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Discord
Voice, video, and text communication platform for communities of gamers.
737
employees,
$
100
m
Series H
from
Spark
Discord
Voice, video, and text communication platform for communities of gamers.
737
employees · 
$
100
m
Series H
· Backed by
Spark
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Stir
Where creators run their business.
5
employees,
$
4
m
Seed
from
Homebrew
Stir
Where creators run their business.
5
employees · 
$
4
m
Seed
· Backed by
Homebrew
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CTA
Test
employees,
$
m
from
CTA
Test
employees · 
$
m
· Backed by
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Monthly
Monthly creates hands-on, one-month classes with the world’s best creators.
23
employees,
$
m
Seed
from
Floodgate
Monthly
Monthly creates hands-on, one-month classes with the world’s best creators.
23
employees · 
$
m
Seed
· Backed by
Floodgate
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Creative Juice
The financial network for creators.
employees,
$
2
m
Seed
from
Index
Creative Juice
The financial network for creators.
employees · 
$
2
m
Seed
· Backed by
Index
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Islands
Platform to help creators monetize across content, community, and commerce
employees,
$
m
Unannounced
from
Unannounced
Islands
Platform to help creators monetize across content, community, and commerce
employees · 
$
m
Unannounced
· Backed by
Unannounced
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Karat
The first corporate card for creators.
7
employees,
$
5
m
Seed
from
USV
Karat
The first corporate card for creators.
7
employees · 
$
5
m
Seed
· Backed by
USV
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Substack
Making it easier for writers to start and monetize email newsletters.
57
employees,
$
15
m
Series A
from
a16z
Substack
Making it easier for writers to start and monetize email newsletters.
57
employees · 
$
15
m
Series A
· Backed by
a16z
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100 Thieves
Operating top e-sports teams and lifestyle brands.
87
employees,
$
35
m
Series B
from
Sequoia
100 Thieves
Operating top e-sports teams and lifestyle brands.
87
employees · 
$
35
m
Series B
· Backed by
Sequoia
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Foundation.app
Blockchain-based art marketplace intended for creators, curators, and tastemakers.
6
employees,
$
2
m
Seed
from
Designer Fund
Foundation.app
Blockchain-based art marketplace intended for creators, curators, and tastemakers.
6
employees · 
$
2
m
Seed
· Backed by
Designer Fund
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Collective
First, online back-office platform designed for self-employed people.
18
employees,
$
9
m
Seed
from
General Catalyst
Collective
First, online back-office platform designed for self-employed people.
18
employees · 
$
9
m
Seed
· Backed by
General Catalyst
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Rarible
Create, sell, and collect digital items.
employees,
$
m
Unannounced
from
Unannounced
Rarible
Create, sell, and collect digital items.
employees · 
$
m
Unannounced
· Backed by
Unannounced
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Descript
Allowing audio and producers to collaborate, edit, mix, and master their content more effectively.
41
employees,
$
50
m
Series B
from
a16z
Descript
Allowing audio and producers to collaborate, edit, mix, and master their content more effectively.
41
employees · 
$
50
m
Series B
· Backed by
a16z
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Cameo
Personalized videos feauring your favorite stars
247
employees,
$
165
m
Series C
from
KP
Cameo
Personalized videos feauring your favorite stars
247
employees · 
$
165
m
Series C
· Backed by
KP
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Linktree
Providing a link in bio platform that makes users' online content more discoverable & easy to manage.
64
employees,
$
45
m
Series B
from
Index
Linktree
Providing a link in bio platform that makes users' online content more discoverable & easy to manage.
64
employees · 
$
45
m
Series B
· Backed by
Index
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Beacons
A link-in-bio platform for creators to build their businesses.
4
employees,
$
m
Pre-seed
from
YC
Beacons
A link-in-bio platform for creators to build their businesses.
4
employees · 
$
m
Pre-seed
· Backed by
YC
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Luma
Event hosting platform designed to host virtual classes.
2
employees,
$
3
m
Seed
from
Atelier
Luma
Event hosting platform designed to host virtual classes.
2
employees · 
$
3
m
Seed
· Backed by
Atelier
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Patreon
Allowing creators to get paid directly by their fans through content subscriptions.
523
employees,
$
257
m
Series E
from
Index
Patreon
Allowing creators to get paid directly by their fans through content subscriptions.
523
employees · 
$
257
m
Series E
· Backed by
Index
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Streamloots
Connecting viewers and streamers inside a thematic and interactive experience.
41
employees,
$
6
m
Series A
from
Bessemer
Streamloots
Connecting viewers and streamers inside a thematic and interactive experience.
41
employees · 
$
6
m
Series A
· Backed by
Bessemer
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Curated
Collaborative shopping platform designed to bring the personal touch of an in-store specialty shopping experience to customers.
158
employees,
$
22
m
Series A
from
Forerunner
Curated
Collaborative shopping platform designed to bring the personal touch of an in-store specialty shopping experience to customers.
158
employees · 
$
22
m
Series A
· Backed by
Forerunner
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Zora
Giving creators and artists the power to launch community crypto tokens and sell their work.
12
employees,
$
2
m
Seed
from
Coinbase Ventures
Zora
Giving creators and artists the power to launch community crypto tokens and sell their work.
12
employees · 
$
2
m
Seed
· Backed by
Coinbase Ventures
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Pico
Audience relationship management platform with email signup, payment, and membership widgets for websites.
employees,
$
6
m
Seed
from
Village Global
Pico
Audience relationship management platform with email signup, payment, and membership widgets for websites.
employees · 
$
6
m
Seed
· Backed by
Village Global
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Fourthwall
Helping creators launch fully-branded websites where fans can support them by shopping and donating.
35
employees,
$
17
m
Series A
from
Initialized
Fourthwall
Helping creators launch fully-branded websites where fans can support them by shopping and donating.
35
employees · 
$
17
m
Series A
· Backed by
Initialized
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Kapwing
Empowering people to create videos from any device.
30
employees,
$
13
m
Series A
from
KP
Kapwing
Empowering people to create videos from any device.
30
employees · 
$
13
m
Series A
· Backed by
KP
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Pearpop
Content creation platform designed for brands and consumers without the hassle of wires, negotiations and legal agreements.
7
employees,
$
m
Seed
from
Rocket One Capital
Pearpop
Content creation platform designed for brands and consumers without the hassle of wires, negotiations and legal agreements.
7
employees · 
$
m
Seed
· Backed by
Rocket One Capital
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Spline
Building a tool to create and publish 3D web experiences.
8
employees,
$
m
Seed
from
Chapter One
Spline
Building a tool to create and publish 3D web experiences.
8
employees · 
$
m
Seed
· Backed by
Chapter One
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Landr
Offering recording artists a suite of tools across production, mixing, mastering, and distribution.
149
employees,
$
35
m
Series B
from
Warner Music Group
Landr
Offering recording artists a suite of tools across production, mixing, mastering, and distribution.
149
employees · 
$
35
m
Series B
· Backed by
Warner Music Group
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Splice
Streamlining the process of music creation and sharing.
213
employees,
$
58
m
Series C
from
USV
Splice
Streamlining the process of music creation and sharing.
213
employees · 
$
58
m
Series C
· Backed by
USV
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Grin
Managing relationships between influencers and brands.
96
employees,
$
10
m
Series A
from
Bullpen
Grin
Managing relationships between influencers and brands.
96
employees · 
$
10
m
Series A
· Backed by
Bullpen
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LOGO
COMPANY
DESCRIPTION
Selection Criteria
We look for companies that are:
1

Growing quickly. These companies are scaling fast, giving you lots of room to grow and excel.

2

Backed by top investors. Smart money helps startups move quickly, hire effective teams, and build great products.

3

Hiring now for great roles. We look for unique opportunities in engineering, design, product, and growth.

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