Want to Get Funded? These Creator Funds Are Changing the Game

Author

Shira Lazar
March 03, 2025

The creator economy is booming. Investments are pouring in, and new funds are emerging to support content creators. In 2024, startups in this space attracted over $900 million, focusing on AI, e-commerce, and influencer marketing.

Venture capitalists are also increasingly interested in the creator economy. The sector's growth offers opportunities for unique financial tools and long-term partnerships. Fintech solutions tailored for creators are emerging, addressing challenges like payment systems and revenue management.

But the real trend that I’m seeing? Not just investments around the industry itself, but in creators who have built real communities. These communities serve as powerful launchpads for scaling, whether through creator IP, channels, or product lines.

Case in point: Emma Chamberlain’s coffee brand, Chamberlain Coffee; MrBeast’s Feastables; and Logan Paul and KSI’s PRIME.

The investment community is finally taking notice. 

Slow Ventures recently launched a $60 million Slow Creator Fund. This fund targets niche creators, such as those in the automotive or gardening sectors. Unlike traditional models, Slow Ventures seeks a 10% stake in creators' holding companies, aiming to build scalable businesses beyond social media revenue.

So why invest in a creator versus a founder with just an idea? Creators come with built-in audiences, brand loyalty, and a proven ability to generate engagement. Unlike a founder starting from scratch, a creator-backed business has an immediate customer base, organic marketing channels, and a tested brand identity. Investors are recognizing that creators aren’t just influencers—they’re entrepreneurs with the potential to build the next big brand.

Creator Funds & VCs Investing in Creators:

Substack provides financial support for writers and journalists launching newsletters on their platform. They offer advances and grants to help creators establish sustainable subscription-based businesses.

Slow Ventures, a VC firm, invests in early-stage startups, including creator-driven businesses and platforms that empower digital creators. They’ve backed companies like Patreon and Cameo.

Spotter provides upfront capital to YouTube creators in exchange for licensing their back catalog of content for a set period. This allows creators to reinvest in new projects without giving up ownership of their channels.

Electrify acquires and invests in digital video businesses, including YouTube channels, to help scale content operations and monetize audiences more effectively.

Meta launched this fund to support developers creating experiences within its VR platform, Horizon Worlds. It provides grants and funding for virtual world-building and interactive content.

Gamefam is a VC-backed studio that funds and supports developers creating games on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. They help scale experiences and monetize through partnerships.

Other Notable Creator-Focused Funds & VCs

Patreon has experimented with funding initiatives to support creators building subscription-based communities. They sometimes offer financial boosts to emerging creators.

Jellysmack invests in YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok creators by helping them repurpose and distribute content across multiple platforms, providing upfront funding based on projected earnings.

Karat offers business credit cards tailored for creators, factoring in their social media revenue. While not a fund, it provides creators with financial resources to scale their businesses.

Collab Capital invests in Black-owned businesses, including creator-led companies, providing funding and mentorship.

Night Media, a talent management and investment firm (known for managing MrBeast), has invested in creator-driven businesses and content monetization ventures.

Index Ventures has backed platforms like Patreon, Discord, and Roblox, showing a strong interest in the passion and creator economy.

A16Z has invested in multiple creator-focused companies, including Clubhouse and Substack. They are highly active in funding businesses that support creators.

YouTube set up a $100M Shorts Fund to incentivize short-form video creators. While it's not an ongoing VC, it provided direct payouts to eligible creators.

TikTok pays creators based on video performance and engagement. While it’s not an investment fund, it distributes financial support to high-performing creators.

A monetization platform similar to Patreon, Fanfix provides a space for creators to build exclusive content subscriptions, and they have received venture capital to expand their offerings.

Lightricks (the company behind apps like Facetune and Videoleap) has a $1M creator fund supporting video creators with grants to scale their content businesses.

🔥My Hot take: While these funds and VCs can be great opportunities, remember—money always comes with terms. Always get a lawyer, read the fine print, and understand what you're giving up. Sometimes, staying small is the smarter move. With venture funding comes added pressure, expectations, and responsibilities. Make sure you're aligned, share values with your investors, and fully understand the risks before signing anything.

Shira Lazar


ICYMI: I’m launching a new weekly audio and video podcast series, The AI Download, all about AI and the future of culture. The trailer is up, and the first episode drops Thursday, March 6th at 6AM ET.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I’ll be at SXSW! Here’s where to find me:

Sunday 2-8pm
East Meets West Creatorpalooza Austin 
With Passionfruit, Teachable, What’s Trending, SAG, Creator Economy NYC and Bay Area Creator Economy

Tuesday, March 11 4-5pm
Creator For Mental Health: Building Wellness in the Digital Age
I’m hosting a panel about this very important topic for SXSW at the Austin Convention Center with creators Kati Morton and Golloria George.  

Other headlines to check out:

AI

Creator Economy

Web3

Gentle Reminder 🙏

My favorite part of watching Oscars red carpet interviews is hearing about the years of effort it took to bring a project to life. It’s a reminder that good things take time and that perseverance pays off. That, to me, is truly inspiring. 

Remember, I'm Bullish on you!

With gratitude,