Content Startups

Colin and Samir are YouTubers who create content for other creators, operating in the rapidly-growing creator economy. Over their 10-year business journey, they've built a presence in a multi-billion dollar industry that barely existed a decade ago.

HOORAE Media is Issa Rae's production company that emerged from her success creating viral YouTube content ('The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl') and the critically acclaimed HBO series 'Insecure'. The company now produces multiple TV and film projects, including the HBO show 'Rap Sh!t', representing her evolution from content creator to media executive.

Brian Lam founded The Wirecutter in 2011 as a product review blog focused on quality, meticulous research, and user trust rather than clickbait. Despite early skepticism from business partners about brief posts and infrequent publishing, the site's targeted approach resonated with users, leading to growing traffic and revenue. The New York Times acquired Wirecutter for $30 million in 2016 and rebranded it under the Wirecutter name.

Cassey Ho built Blogilates into a billion-view YouTube fitness content empire, defying cultural expectations around career fulfillment. She leveraged her creator platform to expand into multiple revenue streams including the POPFLEX apparel brand, Target product lines, and Pilates certification programs, creating a multi-million dollar portfolio in the creator economy.

MKBHD is a YouTube-based content creation business founded by Marques Brownlee in 2009, starting with product reviews for tech products. The channel has grown to over 16 million subscribers and 3 billion total views, expanding beyond reviews to include interviews with notable figures like Kobe Bryant, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk. Brownlee transformed his passion for technology and desire to educate consumers into a lucrative and sustainable business.

Babish Culinary Universe is a YouTube cooking channel founded by Andrew Rea, a former special effects production professional who pivoted to content creation after struggling with mental health and creative burnout. The channel has grown to nearly 10 million subscribers by creating cooking videos inspired by popular TV shows and movies, blending Rea's passion for film and food.

The Sorry Girls is a media company co-founded by YouTubers Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright, who met as film students in 2010. Starting with DIY videos created for fun, they grew to over 2 million YouTube subscribers. The company navigates the creator economy through brand deals while maintaining their values.

The Financial Diet is a multimedia personal finance business founded by Chelsea Fagan in 2014, starting as a simple blog to track her own spending habits after maxing out a credit card in high school. Chelsea transformed her personal finance journey into a content-driven business that prioritizes employee satisfaction and maintains a judicious approach to brand partnerships over aggressive growth.

Hank and John Green started Vlogbrothers in 2007 as a way to stay connected via daily video blogs on YouTube, which became an early viral hit. The success led to the creation of Complexly, a production studio that creates educational content across multiple platforms. The brothers' philosophy of pursuing what's exciting and stressful has driven continuous expansion into books, media, and educational entertainment.

Nick DiGiovanni is a creator and entrepreneur who has built a massive following of over 15 million across YouTube and TikTok through viral food content featuring record-breaking culinary creations. Beyond his creator platform, he has launched analog business ventures including a DTC salt and seasoning company and a cookbook titled Knife Drop. His growth demonstrates the power of social media virality and content-driven audience building.

The Ringer is a media company founded by Bill Simmons that creates sports and pop culture content across multiple formats including podcasts, documentaries, and blogs. The company has grown to host over 50 sports and pop culture podcasts, establishing itself as a major player in the media landscape.

Axios is a digital news website co-founded by Jim VandeHei in 2017, distinguished by its bullet-point format designed specifically for internet consumption. The company gained a strong following for its concise, accessible approach to news and was acquired by Cox Enterprises for over $500 million, validating its product-market fit and growth trajectory.

Nuseir Yassin founded Nas Daily in 2016 by committing to post a one-minute video every day for 1,000 days, building a global following by sharing positive stories from around the world. He later founded Nas Company, which has raised $23 million to build content creation services and software platforms that bring people together.

Lily Hevesh built a massive YouTube presence (nearly 4 million subscribers) by posting domino trick videos starting at age 10, accumulating over a billion total views. She has expanded beyond digital content creation into launching her own domino product line and starting an agency to handle large-scale domino projects, while maintaining a commitment to prioritizing her craft over pure business growth.

ARRAY is a production and distribution company founded by Ava DuVernay, a filmmaker who transitioned from running a film publicity agency to directing her own work. Starting with self-funded and self-distributed projects rooted in personal experiences, DuVernay won the Sundance Film Festival award for best directing in 2012 and went on to create acclaimed films like Selma, 13th, and When They See Us. Through ARRAY, she built a movement focused on changing how movies are made and expanding access to filmmaking for underrepresented creators.

Whole30 started as Melissa Urban's personal 30-day dietary experiment to address health issues, which became so successful she shared it through a blog, seminars, and a best-selling book. The brand evolved into a wellness phenomenon that has helped millions of people identify the best diet for their bodies. By licensing the "Whole30 Approved" logo to major brands like La Croix and Chipotle, Whole30 built a wide-ranging wellness brand despite a significant business restructuring in 2015 when Urban split from co-founder Dallas Hartwig.

Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal built Mythical, one of the most successful YouTube entertainment platforms, starting from their college days creating silly videos and songs for Christian events. The company has grown to over 75 million subscribers and 25 billion lifetime views by consistently creating engaging content including videos about hot peppers, songs, and creative experiments. Their long-term commitment to YouTube content creation before it became mainstream helped establish their dominant position in online entertainment.

Mark Rober, a former NASA engineer, built a massively successful YouTube channel celebrating science through joyful, elaborate video content. His channel has accumulated 5.5 billion views and 48 million subscribers with fewer than 150 videos, demonstrating exceptional content quality. He monetized this audience through online science classes and subscription boxes for kids.

Danielle Walker built Against All Grain, a content-driven platform centered around healthy eating and recipes, after developing a dietary approach to manage her own severe abdominal pain. What started as a self-taught chef's personal blog evolved into a multifaceted business including bestselling cookbooks, product lines, and cooking courses.

Dhar Mann Studios is a content creation powerhouse that produces bite-sized, live-action morality tales. Despite initial criticism and slow adoption, the channel has grown to 60 billion views across YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms, with a full production studio in Burbank and dozens of employees.