Last week, the team at early-stage VC firm Slow Ventures launched a $60 million fund solely focused on investing in creators, with the goal of helping creators launch their businesses. The idea is that the same entrepreneurial spirit and niche expertise that has helped creators build their communities is what makes them great founders.
According to Megan Lightcap, partner at Slow Ventures, it comes down to trust and audience attachment.
“What’s really interesting for creators is that they often start[with YouTube]right? Because that’s the most obvious starting point,” Lightcap explains. “But the difference between the creator-led opportunity and the potential that exists for established brands is that the audience is attached to the creator as a person, so the surface area and permission for what they can build is much greater than if a single product actually came out.”
Today on Equity, Rebecca Bellan speaks with Lightcap and dives into the unique way Slow Ventures built the Creator Fund, why YouTube remains the dominant platform for serious creators, how the trust of niche communities translates into scalable businesses, and what this new fund means for the creator economy.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about what’s next.
How this “new asset class” is likely to expand. The company’s previous success stories include Marina Mogilko’s baby snack company and other ventures. Similarities between sponsored creators and traditional seed stage founders. “Keyman risk” and how investors can overcome this issue.
Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo and posted every Wednesday and Friday.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and all casts. You can also follow stocks × and threads (@EquityPod). For a transcript of the entire episode, if you prefer reading to listening, check out the full episode archive here.
