All the fundraising deals in the creator economy
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In our creator economy deck, you will find everything you need to understand the market
The creator economy raised over $1.5 billion across 23 publicly announced deals between Q4 2024 and Q4 2025.
AI-powered creator tools dominated the funding landscape, capturing more than 60% of all capital invested during this period.
Major players like Runway, Whatnot, and Synthesia led the charge with rounds exceeding $200 million each.
And if you want to better understand this new industry, you can download our pitch covering the creator economy.
Insights
- AI creator tools raised $910 million across 11 deals, making generative video and content automation the biggest bet in the creator economy funding landscape.
- The top 3 deals in each quarter captured 88% to 98% of total funding, showing that creator economy investment is heavily concentrated in a few category leaders.
- Q1 2025 saw the highest funding with $542 million raised, driven by mega-rounds from Whatnot ($265M) and Synthesia ($180M) in live shopping and AI video.
- Creator monetization platforms are shifting from tips and donations toward commerce and affiliate models, with ShopMy and FanBasis raising a combined $97.5 million.
- Andreessen Horowitz was the most active investor with 4 deals, backing companies across AI tools, live shopping, and publishing platforms.
- Synthesia raised twice during this period (January and October 2025) for a combined $380 million, signaling strong demand for AI-powered video creation tools.
- Agentio grew from a $12 million Series A to a $40 million Series B in just 12 months, reflecting rapid growth in creator-led advertising infrastructure.
- Creator rights and safety became an investable category, with Loti AI raising $16.2 million to help creators defend against deepfakes and likeness misuse.
In our creator economy deck, we will give you useful market maps and grids
Summary table of the funding deals in the creator economy (last 5 quarters)
We define the creator economy as people and small teams who build an online audience and earn money from the content or ideas they produce.
We include video and audio creators, writers, streamers, educators, community builders and other audience-first creators, plus the platforms, tools and services that help them create, grow and monetize.
We exclude traditional media companies, gig workers like drivers or delivery couriers, and small businesses whose main activity is selling products or services rather than making content for an audience.
You can also read our detailed analysis to understand how funding activity in the creator economy has evolved over the last few years.
Also, you should know that we have a dedicated page, updated weekly, with all the latest fundraising deals in the creator economy.
| Name | What they do | Amount ($) | Quarter | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runway | AI video generation and editing tools for creators and filmmakers | $308M | Q2 2025 | TechCrunch |
| Whatnot | Livestream shopping platform where creators sell collectibles to fans | $265M | Q1 2025 | TechCrunch |
| Synthesia | AI avatar video creation for fast, scalable content production | $200M | Q4 2025 | BusinessCloud |
| Synthesia | AI avatar video creation for fast, scalable content production | $180M | Q1 2025 | Tech Funding News |
| Substack | Subscription publishing platform for writers and podcasters | $100M | Q3 2025 | NYT |
| Moonvalley | Licensed AI video tools built for Hollywood and creative professionals | $84M | Q3 2025 | Business Insider |
| ShopMy | Affiliate storefronts and brand partnerships for creator monetization | $77.5M | Q1 2025 | PR Newswire |
| Krea | One-stop generative AI workspace for image and video creation | $47M | Q2 2025 | TechCrunch |
| Agentio | Automated marketplace connecting brands with YouTube creators for ads | $40M | Q4 2025 | Axios |
| Hedra | AI character video generator from text, image, and audio inputs | $32M | Q2 2025 | Reuters |
| Snappr | On-demand photography marketplace for creators and brands | $28M | Q4 2025 | PR Newswire |
| OpusClip | AI tool that turns long videos into viral short-form clips | $20M | Q1 2025 | WebWire |
| FanBasis | All-in-one operating system for creators to run their business | $20M | Q2 2025 | Yahoo Finance |
| Loti AI | Deepfake detection and likeness protection for creators | $16.2M | Q2 2025 | GeekWire |
| Delphi | Lets creators turn their expertise into interactive AI products | $16M | Q2 2025 | Fast Company |
| Humanz | Influencer marketing platform focused on brand partnerships | $15M | Q4 2025 | Times of Israel |
| GammaTime | Short-form video platform for creator-made micro dramas | $14M | Q4 2025 | Business Insider |
| Agentio | Automated marketplace connecting brands with YouTube creators for ads | $12M | Q4 2024 | TechCrunch |
| Influur | Professional network helping influencers find brand deals | $10M | Q4 2024 | PR Newswire |
| STAN | Fan community platform for creators to engage and monetize | $8.5M | Q3 2025 | Business Standard |
| CreatorDB | AI infrastructure for influencer marketing data and analytics | $4.67M | Q3 2025 | Business Wire |
| Clout Kitchen | AI companions for games powered by creator personalities | $4.45M | Q4 2024 | The SaaS News |
| Promeet | Creator monetization platform with live interactions and payments | $3.1M | Q4 2024 | The Defiant |
In our creator economy deck, we cover the latest tech updates shaping the market
How has funding activity in the creator economy changed over time?
Q1 2025 was the most active quarter with $542.5 million raised, driven by two mega-deals from Whatnot ($265M) and Synthesia ($180M) that together accounted for 82% of that quarter's total.
Q4 2024 was the slowest quarter with just $29.55 million across 4 deals, as the creator economy funding cycle was still warming up before the 2025 surge.
Funding in Q4 2025 reached $297 million, up 51% from Q3 2025's $197 million, and up more than 900% compared to Q4 2024's $29.55 million one year earlier.
If you remove the largest deal from each quarter, the remaining funding looks more stable: Q1 2025 drops from $542M to $277M, Q2 2025 drops from $439M to $131M, and Q4 2025 drops from $297M to $97M, showing how dependent each quarter is on one or two blockbuster rounds.
| Quarter | Number of Deals | Total Raised ($) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2024 | 4 | $29.55M | Quiet quarter with early-stage deals from Agentio, Influur, Clout Kitchen, and Promeet. |
| Q1 2025 | 4 | $542.5M | Massive quarter led by Whatnot's $265M and Synthesia's $180M Series D rounds. |
| Q2 2025 | 6 | $439.2M | Runway's $308M dominated, with strong AI tool activity from Krea, Hedra, and Delphi. |
| Q3 2025 | 4 | $197.17M | Substack's $100M and Moonvalley's $84M led a publishing and AI video-focused quarter. |
| Q4 2025 | 5 | $297M | Synthesia raised again ($200M), and Agentio closed a $40M Series B for creator ads. |
| All Quarters | 23 | $1.51B | AI creator tools and monetization platforms dominated this 5-quarter window. |
In our creator economy deck, we show you long-term trends so you can make better decisions
Which startups in the creator economy raised the largest rounds over the last months?
These startups raised the most recently in the creator economy:
- Runway raised $308 million to expand its AI video generation tools, betting that creators and studios will increasingly rely on generative models for content production.
- Whatnot raised $265 million to scale its livestream shopping platform, where creators host live shows to sell collectibles and merchandise to their fans.
- Synthesia raised $200 million in Q4 2025 to maintain its lead in AI avatar video, following a $180M Series D earlier in the year.
- Substack raised $100 million to grow its subscription publishing platform as paid newsletters become a mainstream way for writers to earn a living.
- Moonvalley raised $84 million to build AI video tools trained on licensed content, positioning itself as the ethical choice for Hollywood and creative professionals.
- ShopMy raised $77.5 million to expand its affiliate commerce platform, helping creators earn through product recommendations and brand partnerships.
- Krea raised $47 million to build an all-in-one generative AI workspace for creators who want image and video tools in a single platform.
- Agentio raised $40 million to expand its automated ad marketplace beyond YouTube, helping creators monetize through brand integrations at scale.
- Hedra raised $32 million to develop AI-generated character videos from text and audio, making it easier for creators to produce animated content.
- Snappr raised $28 million to grow its on-demand photography marketplace, helping creators and brands produce professional visual content quickly.
In our creator economy deck, we identify repeatable patterns you can use if you’re building in this market
Is the creator economy shifting toward smaller or bigger deals?
The average deal size in the creator economy over the past five quarters was $65.4 million, though this number is heavily influenced by a few very large AI video and live commerce rounds.
Breaking it down by quarter, the average ranged from $7.4 million in Q4 2024 to $135.6 million in Q1 2025. The wide swing reflects how Q1 2025 had two $100M+ deals while Q4 2024 had mostly early-stage creator platform rounds.
If you exclude the top deal from each quarter, the adjusted averages look smaller and more consistent: most quarters would show typical creator economy deals averaging between $20 million and $45 million.
| Quarter | Number of Deals | Avg Deal Size ($) | Deals Below $2M | Deals Above $50M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2024 | 4 | $7.39M | 0 | 0 |
| Q1 2025 | 4 | $135.62M | 0 | 3 |
| Q2 2025 | 6 | $73.20M | 0 | 1 |
| Q3 2025 | 4 | $49.29M | 0 | 2 |
| Q4 2025 | 5 | $59.40M | 0 | 1 |
| All Quarters | 23 | $65.45M | 0 | 7 |
In our creator economy deck, we focus on making things as clear as possible
How concentrated was funding activity in the creator economy?
Funding in the creator economy is extremely top-heavy, with the single largest deal capturing between 41% and 70% of total quarterly funding. In Q2 2025, Runway's $308 million round alone represented over 70% of all creator economy funding that quarter.
The top 3 deals consistently account for 88% to 98% of each quarter's total, meaning the vast majority of creator economy startups are competing for a small slice of available capital.
| Quarter | Number of Deals | % by Top 1 | % by Top 3 | % by Top 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2024 | 4 | 40.6% | 89.5% | 100% |
| Q1 2025 | 4 | 48.8% | 96.3% | 100% |
| Q2 2025 | 6 | 70.1% | 88.1% | 100% |
| Q3 2025 | 4 | 50.7% | 97.6% | 100% |
| Q4 2025 | 5 | 67.3% | 90.2% | 100% |
| All Quarters | 23 | 20.4% | 51.2% | 82.6% |
In our creator economy deck, we track adoption trends and shifts in consumer behavior
Which categories in the creator economy received the most funding?
AI creator tools raised $910 million across 11 deals, capturing over 60% of all creator economy funding. This includes generative video platforms like Runway and Synthesia, AI editing tools like OpusClip, and emerging categories like Delphi's interactive AI clones.
Creator commerce and monetization platforms raised $367 million across 4 deals, led by Whatnot's $265 million round. This category includes affiliate platforms like ShopMy and business infrastructure like FanBasis that help creators earn from transactions.
Publishing and community platforms raised $122.5 million across 3 deals, with Substack's $100 million Series C making up most of the total. STAN and GammaTime also contributed with fan engagement and short-form storytelling tools.
| Category | Number of Deals | Total Raised ($) | Startups and Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Creator Tools | 11 | $910M | Runway ($308M), Synthesia ($380M), Moonvalley ($84M), Krea ($47M), Hedra ($32M), OpusClip ($20M), Delphi ($16M), Loti AI ($16.2M) |
| Creator Commerce & Monetization | 4 | $367M | Whatnot ($265M), ShopMy ($77.5M), FanBasis ($20M), Clout Kitchen ($4.45M) |
| Publishing & Communities | 3 | $122.5M | Substack ($100M), GammaTime ($14M), STAN ($8.5M) |
In our creator economy deck, we review the challenges and risks you might face later
Who are the biggest investors in the creator economy?
Andreessen Horowitz is the most active investor in the creator economy with 4 deals, backing companies across AI tools (Krea, Hedra), live commerce (Whatnot), publishing (Substack), and short-form video (GammaTime).
AlleyCorp participated in 3 deals, focusing on creator monetization infrastructure through investments in Agentio (both Series A and B) and ShopMy.
Benchmark and Craft Ventures each backed Agentio in both its Series A and Series B rounds, showing conviction in the creator advertising space.
Bain Capital Ventures invested in 2 deals, leading Krea's $47M Series B and participating in ShopMy's $77.5M round for creator commerce.
Bessemer Venture Partners also backed 2 deals, leading STAN's Series A for fan communities and participating in ShopMy's affiliate platform round.
Disclaimer: this investor list may be incomplete; we focus on publicly disclosed lead and prominent recurring investors, so some frequent minority participants may be underrepresented.
| Investor | Number of Deals | Total Funded ($) | Startups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andreessen Horowitz | 4 | $426M | GammaTime, Krea, Substack, Whatnot |
| AlleyCorp | 3 | $129.5M | Agentio (2x), ShopMy |
| Benchmark | 2 | $52M | Agentio (2x) |
| Craft Ventures | 2 | $52M | Agentio (2x) |
| Bain Capital Ventures | 2 | $124.5M | Krea, ShopMy |
| Bessemer Venture Partners | 2 | $86M | STAN, ShopMy |
| Greycroft | 2 | $279M | GammaTime, Whatnot |
| BOND | 2 | $365M | Substack, Whatnot |
| Y Combinator | 2 | $349M | Moonvalley, Whatnot |
In our creator economy deck, we provide the data and the context to understand it
Related blog posts
- What is the latest update in the creator economy?
- What are the latest news in the creator economy?
- What is the real market size of the creator economy?
