17 creator-economy startups to watch in 2026, according to VCs

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Style
Tiffany Lopinsky of ShopMy, Misbah Uraizee of Nectar Social, and Suno cofounder Mikey Shulman.
Creator economy startup founders Tiffany Lopinsky (ShopMy), Misbah Uraizee (Nectar Social), and Mikey Shulman (Suno).

Courtesy of ShopMy; Courtesy of Nectar Social; Jimmy Fontaine.

Influencer app LTK takes a big step into AI shopping with a new chatbot

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
LTK AI search
LTK is launching an AI chatbot tool to search for content and products from creators.

LTK

Creator-economy unicorn LTK lays off staff as it doubles down on its new marketing tech for brands

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Amber Venz Box
Amber Venz Box is the CEO of affiliate marketing company LTK.

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Jameson; Business Wire/AP

Creator economy M&A is 'back, baby.' Here's where an advisor thinks the deal heat will be in 2026.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Sports
James Creech is the founder of Quartermast Advisors, an M&A advisory firm.
James Creech is the founder of Quartermast Advisors, an M&A advisory firm.

Madison Ellis

The unraveling of FaZe Clan spotlights the creator economy's biggest risk

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Lil Uzi Vert performed at a party celebrating FaZe Clan's listing on the Nasdaq.
Lil Uzi Vert performed at a party celebrating FaZe Clan's listing on the Nasdaq.

Andrew Toth/Getty Images for FaZe Clan

These 13 creator economy startups pulled in about $2 billion in funding this year

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
ShopMy founders Harry Rein, Tiffany Lopinsky, and Chris Tinsley
ShopMy founders Harry Rein, Tiffany Lopinsky, and Chris Tinsley.

Courtesy of ShopMy

How Unilever's huge bet on influencers led to a creator economy gold rush

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
influencer

Deagreez/Getty Images

This influencer marketing company raised $15 million to fuel an M&A spree. Read its pitch deck.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Ubiquitous & Humanz employees in NYC on rooftop
Humanz recently acquired influencer marketing companies Bambassadors and Ubiquitous.

Ohad Kab

6 brands that influencers got you to buy in 2025

Tech Insider : Business, Style
delaney rowe j crew
J. Crew was the most-shopped brand on ShopMy this year. The retailer has embraced influencers like Delaney Rowe, pictured, as part of its holiday campaign.

Courtesy of J. Crew

Why one founder personally onboarded every influencer in the early days to build his $2.1 billion AI startup

Tech Insider : Business
Grant Lee
Gamma's cofounder, Grant Lee, said he onboarded every early influencer, a hands-on strategy he says helped grow his $2.1 billion AI startup.

Alex Broadway/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images

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