🎙️Creators are becoming investors

📔 Jeff’s Diary (yes I’ll let you read it)

I’m not a great founder, at least not how I measure them, but I do believe I can see the future. We will have an internet for humans and one for AI. We will have massive job loss in the next 2 years because of AI productivity in the only thing we export in this country, knowledge. And there will be a yearning for community. To feel a part of something.

I think community is the most powerful; hard programmed into our genetic code to seek out others like us. And that’s why ownership will be the next great cultural movement. You’re seeing it at the top. It’s not just about returns. It’s about feeling apart of something. Being invested in it not just with dollars; but with pride. With others who are all paddling in the same direction, like in war, mission driven, needing to fight to win and win together.

Don’t be naive and miss the signs right in front of you. Yes influence is today’s most valuable currency, but community is what drives you, and what keeps us together. At home, and at work. As a founder, you must build a community of owners, all invested in the same outcome: the same mission.

That’s why I’m building OWM. Because more owners = stronger community.

And community is a bet I’d make on the future.

– Jeff

📆 WHAT WE WILL HIT ON THIS WEEK:

→ Creators are becoming investors. And the Sidemen represent the crème de la crème

→ Why Corporate Natalie gets paid premium rates while other creators get peanuts

→ Steven Bartlett's $30M bet: How he turned influence into ownership instead of sponsorship checks

→ Live commerce is exploding—creators are building their own QVC empires

The Sidemen just launched their own VC fund with serious money behind it.

Why? Cause they realized they need equity, not just paychecks. And they've got the cash to write checks.

Here's why this move changes everything: They're not just investing money - they're investing their reputation. When the Sidemen back a company, their 20M followers pay attention. That's distribution most startups would kill for.

This isn't celebrity vanity investing. This is strategic. They understand that the creators who actually use and believe in products make better partners than traditional VCs who just write checks.

Plus, they get it. They've built brands from scratch. They know what it takes to go viral, to build communities, to turn attention into revenue. That's exactly what early-stage companies need.

You can ALSO be an investor. Don’t think you need to be at their level, maybe you don’t have $25M BUT you have influence.

Your influence IS your investment capital. Every company needs distribution. Every company needs someone who can actually reach their customers. That someone is you.

Stop thinking you need to be at their level to get in the game. You just need to think differently about what you bring to the table.

Founders are desperate for creators who can actually move the needle. Not just post once and ghost. They want creators who will actually care about the outcome.

That's what we're building at OWM. Invest your influence. Be an owner. The creator equity revolution isn't just for YouTubers with 20M followers. It's for anyone who understands that attention is currency and influence is equity.

Don't wait for permission. The game is changing and there's room for all of us.

📈 Steven Bartlett Goes All-In on Creator Platform

Steven Bartlett just announced his "largest ever investment deal" - becoming co-owner of Stan Store, a 9-figure creator platform generating $30M annually. Instead of just taking a sponsorship check, he's betting his influence on ownership.

Stan Store helps creators launch businesses from one link in their bio, and Bartlett's putting his money where his mouth is with equity instead of just endorsement fees.

💰 Brands Will Spend More with Creators—and Start Acting Like Them

Over 70% of creators cite partnerships as their top revenue stream, and Unilever just announced they're upping creator spend from 30% to 50% of total ad budget.

But here's the shift: brands are becoming content creators themselves. Little Caesars launched a reality show, Red Bull's "F1 vs" series averages 6M+ views per episode. The line between creator and brand is disappearing.

🛒 Creators Are Coming For QVC's Crown (Live Shopping TV)

The live commerce market hit $1.75 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $8.2 billion by 2030. Platforms like Whatnot ($3B valuation) are letting creators run their own shoppable shows - some sellers making $1M+ annually.

One creator made $25K/month selling vintage fashion on TikTok Shop. It's not just content anymore, it's commerce with personality.

🗓️ Check Out the Full Calendar Here

Have an event we should know about? Stop hoarding all the good stuff for yourself! Submit the details here!

Andy's here. Waiting to answer the questions you're afraid to ask in public (and yeah, he's actually NOT a paid spokesperson but our network of badass execs open to answering questions...for free).

Every week, Andy's ready to tackle the real shit that keeps founders up at night. No sugarcoating, no PC answers – just the truth.

Andy's sitting here with his mustache twitching, ready to drop knowledge bombs about creator equity that would cost you thousands with a consultant.

So drop your questions below. About valuations, term sheets, creator contracts, whatever keeps you up at 3am. The more uncomfortable, the better.

He loves this country and wants to bet on what makes it great – ownership and the generational wealth it creates.

He wants you to win, but he wants you to have fun doing it.

Got a question for Andy 😉? Drop it here — nothing is off limits. Trust us, he’ll GET the answer.

Found this valuable? Don't hoard the knowledge.

➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for the unfiltered takes I can't fit in this newsletter.

➡️ Forward this to another founder who's struggling with creator partnerships. Ownership spreads one conversation at a time.

➡️ Need 1:1 guidance? Block time with me any Friday here. No pitches, just real talk.