Top 10 companies powering the creator economy
January 4, 2026
The creator economy isn't just a buzzword anymore. It's a multi-billion-dollar shift in how people work, earn, and connect with audiences. It's artists skipping the label, writers skipping the publisher, fitness coaches skipping the middleman. It's individuals building businesses around their craft and their voice.
And the tech fueling this revolution? Pretty damn exciting.
We pulled together some of our favorite companies shaping the space, the ones helping creators monetize smarter, grow bigger, and keep more control over their work.
Patreon
- Fundraising: Series E
- Size: 201-500
- Founded: 2013
The OG of creator monetization. Patreon gives artists, podcasters, writers, and more the ability to build recurring income directly from their fans. No ads. No algorithms. Just direct support and deeper community.
They are hiring!
Beehiiv
- Fundraising: Series A
- Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2021
Built by ex-Morning Brew talent, Beehiiv makes growing and monetizing a newsletter stupidly simple. Native referrals, detailed analytics, and flexible design mean more creators scaling faster.
They are hiring!
Pearpop
- Fundraising: Series A
- Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2020
Pearpop helps creators and brands connect through paid collaborations that actually feel authentic. Their “Challenges” format gives brands massive reach without losing cultural relevance — and creators get paid fairly for the engagement they generate.
They are hiring!
Jellysmack
- Fundraising: Series C
- Size: 1,001-5,000
- Founded: 2016
Jellysmack takes your existing content, optimizes it with AI, and blasts it across platforms so you earn more without making more. Think of it as a growth and revenue multiplier for established creators.
They are hiring!
Nebula
- Fundraising: Bootstrapped / Creator-owned
- Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2019
Streaming built by creators, for creators. Nebula offers ad-free viewing, original projects, and actual ownership stakes for the talent. It's become a home for thoughtful, algorithm-proof content.
They are hiring!
Kajabi
- Fundraising: Private Equity-backed
- Size: 501-1,000
- Founded: 2010
Kajabi is the backbone for knowledge entrepreneurs. Courses, memberships, coaching — all in one platform. Over 60,000 creators have used it to turn expertise into scalable businesses.
They are hiring!
Descript
- Fundraising: Series C
- Size: 201-500
- Founded: 2017
Video and podcast editing, reimagined. Descript lets you edit media by editing text, making pro-quality production accessible to beginners while speeding up workflows for pros.
They are hiring!
Substack
- Fundraising: Series C
- Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2017
Newsletters, but make them a business. Substack lets writers own their audience, charge subscriptions, and bypass traditional publishing. From politics to poetry, it's where niche voices thrive.
They are hiring!
Bonus Mentions
Kale
- Fundraising: Seed
- Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2020
Kale is all about turning social value into real economic value. They're building tools that let people monetize influence in authentic, sustainable ways — no shady engagement farming required.
They are hiring!
Mighty Networks
- Fundraising: Series B
- Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2011
A home for “creators with a purpose.” Mighty Networks gives you the tools to build thriving, paid communities outside the noise of traditional social media.
They are hiring!
Playbook
- Fundraising: Series A
- Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2019
The #1 platform for fitness, wellness, and sports creators. Playbook helps trainers and athletes launch their own apps, monetize workouts, and build loyal audiences.
💡 The takeaway?
The creator economy is diversifying fast. Whether you're building a newsletter, teaching an online course, streaming long-form content, or just dropping fire TikToks, there's a growing stack of tools to help you own your audience and your income.