• #TheAlpha Newsletter
  • Posts
  • Get Paid to Engage? The Startup Taking On Social Media's Monetization Problem

Get Paid to Engage? The Startup Taking On Social Media's Monetization Problem

Author

Shira Lazar
March 23, 2025

One of the biggest challenges in the creator economy? Monetization. While major platforms test bonuses, funds, and one-off programs, they’ve yet to crack a consistent model that truly supports creators. That’s why we’re starting to see a wave of startups rethink the system entirely — building solutions that prioritize creator pay from day one.

This week, I learned about  Daisy, a new influencer marketing startup that just snagged $3.9 million from investors like CMT Digital, Volt Capital, and EV3 Ventures. Founded in 2024 by Ray Lee, Vincent Tuscano, Ian Ettinger, and Dylan Huey, the Nashville-based team is flipping the traditional influencer marketing model on its head.

How does it work?

Daisy pays creators directly just to engage with brand content. No stress about constantly posting new stuff; creators earn around $30 per task simply by liking, commenting, or sharing content on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or X. Some top creators are already pocketing around $2,500 a month, which honestly makes me think I need to dive into this platform myself.

What's impressive is how quickly Daisy has grown. With over 1,500 active creators and around $1 million in revenue already, they're clearly onto something. Brands love it too, because Daisy's algorithm easily matches them with verified influencers who fit their target audiences.

But what really has my attention is what Daisy signals for the future of social media monetization. Big platforms like Instagram or YouTube have been slow to offer meaningful payouts, usually sticking to bonuses or limited funds. But startups like Daisy—and even Oracle with their recent interest in buying TikTok—might finally be pushing us toward a world where creators (and even users) get consistently rewarded for their actual engagement.

🔥My Hot Take:The best companies are built to solve real, in-your-face problems — and monetization for creators is one of the biggest. The major platforms — especially public ones — move too slow and aren’t built to reinvent from the ground up. That’s why I think the real innovation will come from startups that are designing sustainable monetization models from day one.

We don’t need more places to post necessarily — we need better tools to monetize the reach, energy, and time we’re already giving these platforms.

And beyond that? Tools that help us monetize and understand the influence we hold — online and offline.

Whoever cracks that? Total game-changer. A true win-win-win.

Shira Lazar

Other headlines to check out:

AI

Creator Economy

Web3

This week, I got to chat with Dr. Chris Mattmann — Chief Data & AI Officer at UCLA and former NASA CTO (no big deal 😏). We got into it about the environmental crisis of AI — what’s really going on, what can be done, and how we move forward. Plus, how universities are trying to stay relevant in the AI era, and the latest in Hollywood’s fight against AI.

I drop new episodes every week where I break down the biggest AI stories with a special guest. Check out the latest one and hit that subscribe button wherever you listen or watch your podcasts!

🎧 Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Gentle Reminder 🙏

“Stay humble. Every career has its ups and downs. Celebrate the wins, appreciate the support, and embrace the spotlight when it comes—because it won’t always be there.”

Advertise with Us

Remember, I'm Bullish on you!

With gratitude,