Which startups have raised the most funding in the creator economy?

Last updated: 7 September 2026

Download our beautiful pitch about the creator economy

market research pitch 2026 statistics creator economy

In our creator economy deck, you will find everything you need to understand the market

The creator economy has become a large funding market, with billions of dollars invested across creator tools, generative AI platforms, commerce infrastructure, music, video, communities and monetization software.

Our ranking tracks the most funded creator economy startups based on cumulative capital raised, giving investors a simple way to see which companies have attracted the most financial backing.

We update this list every month so that new funding rounds, acquisitions, IPOs and changes in company status can be reflected as quickly as possible.

And if you want to better understand this new industry, you can download our pitch covering the creator economy.

A quick summary table

Metric Value
Most funded creator economy startup Runway, $860M
Second most funded creator economy startup ElevenLabs, $781M
Largest creator economy funding round ElevenLabs, $500M Series D
Median creator economy startup funding About $43M
Share of creator economy funding captured by the top 10 About 59%
Median time since last funding round About 3 years
Creator economy startups funded in the last 12 months At least 18
Creator economy startups with $100M+ raised 20
Share of creator economy funding linked to major generative AI tools About 43%
Share of higher-reliability creator economy startups still active About 84%
Chart showing annual VC funding in creator economy startups

This chart, included in our creator economy deck, shows annual VC funding in creator economy startups

Top startups in the creator economy ranked by total funding raised

Here is an updated table that ranks the top startups in the creator economy based on the total amount of funding they have raised to date.

The table also includes the total number of funding rounds, the date and size of the latest round, the financing type (e.g. Series A, equity financing), key investors, the startup’s current status (active, IPO, acquired, or shut down), and a confidence score based on the data collected (we excluded startups with very low data confidence, to make sure everything is reliable).

If you're interested in knowing how much these startups are worth, you can check our list of the top startups in the creator economy ranked by valuation.

# Startup What They Do Total Raised ($) Total Rounds Last Round Date Last Round Amount ($) Last Round Type Key Investors Current Stage Confidence
1 Runway Generative AI video creation platform $860M 7 February 2026 $315M Series E General Atlantic, NVIDIA, Fidelity Active Full
2 ElevenLabs AI voice and audio generation $781M 5 February 2026 $500M Series D Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, ICONIQ Growth Active Full
3 Suno AI music generation platform $775M 5 June 2026 $400M Series D Bond Capital, IVP, Forerunner Ventures Active Partial
4 PixVerse AI video generation platform $557M+ 8 July 2026 $439M Series C Extension Alibaba, Mirae Asset, iGlobe Partners Active Partial
5 Higgsfield AI video and image creation $538M 4 August 2026 $400M Series B DST Global, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Tribe Capital Active Full
6 Synthesia Enterprise AI avatar video platform $537M+ 8 January 2026 $200M Series E GV, Evantic, Hedosophia Active Strong
7 MasterClass Celebrity-led online learning platform $461M+ 8 April 2022 Undisclosed Corporate Minority Dominari Holdings Active Strong
8 LTK Creator-powered social shopping platform $315M 2 November 2021 $300M Growth / Venture SoftBank Vision Fund 2 Active Full
9 Lightricks Mobile creative photo video tools $305M 4 September 2021 $100M Series D Insight Partners, Hanaco Ventures, Goldman Sachs Active Full
10 Firework Shoppable video commerce infrastructure $269M 6 May 2022 $150M Series B SoftBank Vision Fund 2 Active Partial
11 Podimo Podcast and audiobook subscription platform $257M 8 May 2025 $2M Series B Extension 83North, Headline, Heartcore Capital Active Strong
12 Flip Social video shopping marketplace $236M 4 April 2024 $144M Series C Streamlined Ventures, AppLovin, Mubadala Capital Shutdown Full
13 Triller Short-form creator video platform $188M 5 January 2025 $50M PIPE / Private Placement KCP Holdings, institutional investors IPO Partial
14 UnitedMasters Independent artist distribution and services $170M 3 October 2021 $50M Series C Andreessen Horowitz, Alphabet Active Full
15 ShopMy Creator affiliate commerce platform $166M 3 October 2025 $70M Series C Avenir, Bain Capital Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners Active Full
16 Manychat Social messaging marketing automation $163M 5 April 2025 $140M Series B Summit Partners Active Full
17 Splice Music samples and creation platform $160M 6 February 2021 $55M Series D Goldman Sachs, MUSIC/LionTree Active Strong
18 Classplus Creator and educator commerce platform $159M 8 March 2022 $70M Series D Alpha Wave Global, Tiger Global, RTP Global Active Partial
19 Moonvalley Generative AI video creation models $154M 2 July 2025 $84M Series A / Venture General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, Comcast Ventures Acquired Full
20 Pika Generative AI video creation $135M 4 June 2024 $80M Series B Spark Capital, Lightspeed, Greycroft Active Strong
21 PIP Labs Programmable IP blockchain infrastructure $134M 3 August 2024 $80M Series B a16z crypto, Polychain Capital, Adrian Cheng Active Full
22 Kuku FM Audio and mobile storytelling platform $123M+ 7 March 2026 Undisclosed Angel MS Dhoni Active Strong
23 Animaj AI-powered kids media franchises $114M 4 March 2026 $1M Strategic / Unattributed Google AI Futures Fund Active Partial
24 StreamElements Livestream creator tools and monetization $111M+ 3 September 2021 $100M Series B SoftBank Vision Fund, PayPal Ventures, Pitango First Acquired Strong
25 Descript AI audio and video editor $104M 4 November 2022 $54M Series C OpenAI Startup Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Redpoint Ventures Active Strong
26 Captions AI-powered video creation studio $100M 4 July 2024 $60M Series C Index Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital Active Strong
27 SamCart Creator ecommerce checkout and monetization $95M 3 April 2022 $82M Series B Eldridge, TTV Capital, Fin Capital Active Full
28 BandLab Social music creation platform $90M 3 May 2023 $25M Series B1 Cercano Management, Prosus Ventures Active Full
29 Krea Unified generative creative AI tools $83M 3 April 2025 $47M Series B Bain Capital Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Abstract Ventures Active Full
30 CreatorIQ Enterprise creator marketing software $81M 5 September 2021 $40M Series D Kayne Anderson, TVC Capital, Silver Lake Waterman Active Full
31 Riverside Remote podcast and video recording $77M 4 December 2024 $30M Series C Zeev Ventures, Seven Seven Six, Sam Lessin Active Full
32 Ready Player Me Cross-game avatar creation platform $72M 7 August 2022 $56M Series B Andreessen Horowitz, Plural, Konvoy Ventures Acquired Strong
33 Karat Financial Financial services for digital creators $71M 3 July 2023 $40M Series B SignalFire, CRV, Union Square Ventures Active Full
34 Mighty Networks Community and membership creation platform $64M 5 April 2021 $50M Series B Owl Ventures, LionTree, Ziff Capital Partners Active Partial
35 Fixated Creator management and content studio $63M 2 December 2025 $50M Strategic / Follow-on Eldridge Industries Active Strong
36 NTWRK Livestream culture shopping marketplace $60M+ 3 September 2021 $50M Growth Equity Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Kering, LionTree Partners Active Partial
37 Agentio Creator advertising marketplace $56M 4 November 2025 $40M Series B Forerunner Ventures, Benchmark, Craft Ventures Active Full
38 Restream Multiplatform live-video streaming software $55M 4 August 2020 $50M Series A Sapphire Ventures, Insight Partners, Silverton Partners Active Partial
39 Loco Gaming livestreaming and creator platform $51M 2 March 2022 $42M Series A Hashed, Makers Fund, Krafton Acquired Full
40 beehiiv Newsletter publishing and monetization platform $50M 4 April 2024 $33M Series B NEA, Sapphire Sport, Lightspeed Venture Partners Active Full
41 OpusClip AI short-form video repurposing $50M 3 March 2025 $20M Follow-on / Series B-equivalent SoftBank Vision Fund 2, DCM Ventures, Millennium New Horizons Active Partial
42 Kittl AI-powered graphic design platform $50M 3 June 2026 $36M Series B IVP Active Strong
43 Dub Creator-led copy trading marketplace $47M 2 May 2025 $30M Series A Notable Capital, Neo, Sandberg Bernthal Active Full
44 Mavely Creator affiliate marketing platform $43M 3 2023 $23M Series B Capital One Ventures, GGV Capital Acquired Strong
45 Levanta Creator commerce affiliate platform $43M 4 August 2026 $22M Series B Volition Capital, Long Run Capital Active Strong
46 Hedra AI character video generation $42M 2 May 2025 $32M Series A Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Abstract Ventures Active Strong
47 Passes Creator subscription monetization platform $40M 1 February 2024 $40M Series A Bond Capital, Abstract Ventures, Crossbeam Ventures Active Full
48 Music AI AI-powered music and audio tools $40M 3 January 2025 $30M Series A Connect Ventures, monashees, Kickstart Active Strong
49 Koji Creator link-in-bio commerce platform $38M 5 January 2022 $20M Series B Jump Capital, HBSE Ventures Acquired Strong
50 Pietra Commerce infrastructure for creator brands $36M 3 May 2023 $16M Series A Extension M13, Founders Fund, TQ Ventures Active Strong
51 VEED Browser-based video editing platform $35M 1 February 2022 $35M Series A Sequoia Capital Active Full
52 Workweek Creator-led B2B media network $35M 4 August 2026 $17M Series B Next Coast Ventures, Aperiam Ventures Active Partial
53 Pearpop Creator collaboration marketplace $34M 3 November 2022 $18M Series A Extension Sound Ventures, Seven Seven Six, Blockchange Ventures Active Full
54 Metafy Coaching marketplace for competitive gamers $34M 3 February 2022 $25M Series A Tiger Global, Seven Seven Six, Forerunner Ventures Active Strong
55 Rembrand AI virtual product placement platform $31M 2 January 2025 $23M Series A super{set}, The Trade Desk, Naver D2SF Active Full
56 Circle Online community platform for creators $30M 3 December 2021 $25M Series A Tiger Global, BoxGroup, Notation Capital Active Strong
57 Beacons All-in-one creator business platform $29M 3 November 2023 $23M Series A Undisclosed Active Strong
58 Later Social media management platform $29M 5 2020 $7M Venture Various investors Acquired Full
59 Wishlink Creator-led product discovery commerce $28M 3 February 2026 $18M Series B Vertex Ventures SEA & India, Fundamentum, Elevation Capital Active Strong
60 Aspire Influencer marketing platform $27M 3 November 2017 $24M Series A Pear VC, Cota Capital, Hummer Winblad Active Strong
61 Maven Marketplace for expert-led cohort courses $25M 3 May 2021 $20M Series A Andreessen Horowitz Active Full
62 Popshop Live Livestream social shopping marketplace $25M 3 July 2021 $20M Series A Benchmark, TQ Ventures, Mantis VC Acquired Strong
63 TipTip Southeast Asian creator monetization platform $23M 2 November 2022 $13M Series A East Ventures, Vertex Ventures, SMDV Active Full
64 Creatify AI video advertising creation platform $23M+ 3 September 2025 Undisclosed Series A Extension / Strategic Comcast Ventures Active Strong
65 Geneva Group chat and community app $22M 3 December 2020 $12M Series A Coatue, Jack Conte, BoxGroup Acquired Low
66 Podcastle AI podcast creation and editing $22M 3 February 2024 $14M Series A Mosaic Ventures, RTP Global, Point Nine Capital Active Full
67 Playback Social livestreaming for sports fans $22M 2 September 2024 $18M Series A Seven Seven Six, Khosla Ventures, NBA Investments Active Full
68 Stir Financial tools for online creators $21M 2 February 2021 $17M Series A Andreessen Horowitz, Homebrew, Ludlow Ventures Active Strong
69 Capsule AI enterprise video editing $19M 3 April 2025 $12M Series A Innovation Endeavors, HubSpot Ventures, Swift Ventures Active Full
70 Dorian Creator platform for interactive stories $19M 3 March 2022 $14M Series A The Raine Group, March Gaming, VGames Active Full
71 Delphi Creates interactive AI digital minds $19M 2 June 2025 $16M Series A Sequoia Capital, Menlo Ventures, Lux Capital Active Full
72 Fourthwall Creator websites, commerce and memberships $17M 1 November 2021 $17M Venture Round Lightspeed Venture Partners, Initialized Capital, Seven Seven Six Active Full
73 GRIN Creator management software platform $17M 2 2019 $10M Series A Imaginary Ventures Active Strong
74 Humanz Influencer marketing automation platform $17M 3 2025 $6M Growth Round Undisclosed Active Partial
75 TalkShopLive Embeddable livestream shopping network $16M 3 October 2023 $7M Seed Extension Progress Partners, Spero Ventures, Omidyar Network Active Strong
76 Modash Influencer discovery SaaS $14M 3 October 2024 $12M Series A henQ Active Full
77 KOMI Creator fan engagement platform $12M 1 2022 $12M Seed / Early Stage Fuel Ventures, Hearst Ventures Active Partial
78 Fanfix Creator subscription monetization platform $11M 1 2021 $11M Seed Slauson & Co., Shrug Capital Acquired Partial
79 Lemonada Media Podcast network and production studio $11M+ 4 December 2023 Undisclosed Venture / Strategic Flourish Ventures Acquired Strong
80 Blue Wire Sports podcast network and monetization $10M 4 February 2021 $4M Corporate Equity Wynn Resorts Active Partial
81 Kyra Global creator agency platform $7M+ 2 June 2022 Undisclosed Growth Round Bonnier Capital, Guardian Media Group Active Partial
82 Loti AI Protects creators from digital impersonation $7M 1 September 2024 $7M Seed FUSE, Bling Capital, Khosla Ventures Active Full
83 Influur Creator-brand marketplace $5M+ 2 2023/2024 Undisclosed Series A Point72 Ventures, H20 Capital Active Strong
84 CreatorDB Creator intelligence platform $5M+ 4 September 2025 $5M Series A Pegatron, Acorn Pacific Ventures, National Development Fund Active Strong
85 STAN Digital storefronts for creators $5M+ 3 September 2025 Undisclosed Strategic / Venture Gary Vaynerchuk Active Partial
86 Whalar Group Global creator economy company group $4M+ 3 May 2025 Undisclosed Strategic / Venture Marc Benioff, Shopify, Neal H. Moritz Active Low
87 Fanhouse Creator subscription content platform $1M 1 2021 $1M Seed Various angel investors Active Partial
88 StreamYard Browser-based livestreaming production platform $0M 0 N/A $0M No external round N/A Acquired Full
Market map chart showing top companies and startups in the creator economy

This market map, featured in our creator economy deck, highlights top companies and startups in the creator economy

Key funding trends in the creator economy

Insights

  • Creator economy funding is highly concentrated. The ten largest companies represent roughly 59% of aggregate capital, even though the market includes dozens of funded startups across creator software, media and commerce.
  • Generative AI has become the largest funding theme in the creator economy. Fifteen major AI and creative-tool companies account for roughly $3.3B, equal to about 43% of aggregate funding.
  • The gap between average and median funding is significant. Average funding is about $111M versus a median of roughly $43M, showing how very large AI and platform financings pull the market upward.
  • Twenty creator economy companies have raised at least $100M, and those businesses account for approximately 77% of total capital. Most startups therefore compete for a relatively small portion of available funding.
  • Recent financing activity is concentrated around established winners. Companies with recent 2025 and 2026 rounds represent a disproportionately large share of cumulative creator economy funding.
  • Creator commerce remains large but more fragmented than generative AI. Affiliate, advertising, commerce and monetization infrastructure attracted roughly $1.1B across about twenty companies, spread across considerably more businesses.
  • Audio, music and podcast startups account for roughly $1.7B across nine prominent companies. Creator economy investment therefore extends well beyond visual content creation and social commerce.
  • Latest rounds frequently represent a large share of lifetime capital. Among companies with disclosed amounts, 49 of 62 received at least half of cumulative funding during their latest financing.
  • A relatively small number of rounds can build a major funding position. Eighteen companies reached their current totals in only one or two rounds, collectively attracting about $909M.
  • Several mature creator economy companies have gone years without raising again. Nineteen still-active companies with no announced round since 2022 collectively hold roughly $2.0B in cumulative funding.
Google Trends chart showing rising interest in becoming an online creator

As this chart shows, and as featured in our creator economy deck, search interest in becoming a creator has grown significantly

A few word about our methodology

As you can see, we built a database that ranks startups in the creator economy based on their total cumulative fundraising. To create this ranking, we reviewed many sources and cross-checked information across multiple places.

Whenever possible, we prioritized official company communications, since they are the most reliable source for funding amounts. When those were not available, we relied on reputable industry sources such as TechCrunch, Crunchbase, Financial Times or Forbes (to name a few).

We excluded random blogs, unverified websites, and any sources that could not be validated.

We also removed duplicate companies when two names represented the same underlying fundraising history, and we excluded businesses when no usable total fundraising amount could be established.

When funding rounds were announced in other currencies such as euros, Swiss francs, Singapore dollars, Australian dollars, or rupees, we converted them into approximate USD equivalents for consistency.

Sometimes different sources report slightly different numbers, or the exact round size is not fully disclosed. In those cases, we flag the uncertainty and assign a confidence label to each startup, visible in the last column.

Here is what they mean.

Full confidence: The company’s equity fundraising history can be reconstructed completely from public sources. The rounds, dates, amounts, and key investors are clearly identified, with no meaningful gaps.

Strong confidence: The fundraising history is largely complete and reliable. There may be a small missing detail, such as incomplete investor information or a minor round with limited data, but the overall record is clear.

Partial confidence: The main fundraising rounds can be identified, but the record is incomplete or somewhat mixed. Some rounds may be missing or certain funding events may be difficult to separate clearly.

Low confidence: Public information is too limited, inconsistent, or ambiguous to reliably reconstruct the company’s equity fundraising history.

When the confidence level is too low, we take a conservative approach and exclude the company from the ranking. We don’t want to include data that cannot be reliably verified.

This reflects how we conduct all our research, including the work behind our report covering the creator economy.

In a world where LLMs hallucinate and unreliable information is everywhere, our goal is simple: provide data you can trust.

If you want the full detail on a specific calculation, feel free to contact us and we will gladly explain.

Finally, know that we update the dataset once per month, so come back here if you need fresh information.

Chart showing beehiiv’s strategy in the creator economy

This chart, included in our creator economy deck, breaks down beehiiv’s strategy in the creator economy

Who is the author of this content?

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