The 3 creator economy trends that helped startups pull in millions from investors heading into 2026

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Technology
Whatnot cofounders Logan Head and Grant LaFontaine.
Whatnot cofounders Logan Head and Grant LaFontaine.

Whatnot

TikTok Shop crossed $500 million in US sales during the Black Friday Cyber Monday week

Tech Insider : Business
TikTok Shop logo

Illustration by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images

TikTok Shop had a major breakthrough heading into its Black Friday sprint

Tech Insider : Business
Electronics retailer Newegg was an early adopter of TikTok Shop.
Electronics retailer Newegg was an early adopter of TikTok Shop.

Business Wire/AP

Why Pinterest's CEO is betting the company's future on search

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
A magnifying glass with the Pinterest logo in the center of it

Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI

TikTok Shop is one of the fastest-growing brands in the US, as social shopping hits the mainstream

Tech Insider : Business, Crypto, Environment
TikTok Shop logo.

Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

How a $1 billion TikTok challenger unraveled

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Style
A Flip app with a large shadow casting over it

Flip; Tyler Le/BI

TikTok's plan to bring social shopping to the US is really starting to pay off

Tech Insider : Business
A TikTok Shop logo.
TikTok Shop crossed $100 million in US sales on Black Friday.

Dan Whateley/Business Insider.

Influencers and other affiliate marketers drove 20% of Cyber Monday e-commerce revenue

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
A woman scrolls a phone surrounded by holiday decorations.
 

Ekaterina Fedulyeva/Getty Images

TikTok is starting to help creators manufacture their own products

Tech Insider
Shop is a major focus at TikTok as the company looks to compete in social commerce.
Shopping is a major focus at TikTok as the company looks to compete in social commerce.

Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TikTok.

At TikTok's first big e-commerce summit, it doubled down on live shopping and learnings from China

Tech Insider
A woman being filmed on a set with beauty products laid out in front of her on a table. She's holding up a product and talking to the camera.
TikTok has become an important live-selling tool in parts of Asia.

Ezra Acayan/Getty Images.

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