OnlyFans’ profitability proves the creator economic system growth was actual sufficient

Like many sectors, creator-focused startups had a simple time of attracting funding in 2020 and 2021. However enterprise capital funding into this class slowed down considerably beginning within the second half of 2022: going from 42 rounds value $336 million in Q2 2022, to solely 19 rounds value $110.2 million in Q3 2022.

On the time, Nate O’Brien of Roadrunner VC said it best: “The creator bubble is popping.”

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As is commonly the case with hyped sectors, they find yourself deflating when the market isn’t favorable. And it will get worse in the event you’re in a class that depends upon the fickle promoting market, which is strongly uncovered to macroeconomic fluctuations. However extra importantly, the rise of the creator economic system was largely pushed by components that proved to be fairly non permanent.

“The expansion within the creator house was fueled in two elements: by COVID and [by] the growth in e-commerce (the first advertiser within the creator economic system). Individuals have largely returned to their unusual lives, and e-commerce has reverted to its traditional tempo, so the slower progress of the creator house is no surprise,” Coventure companion Brian Harwitt advised TechCrunch+ in a current investor survey.

Certain, it isn’t shocking, however it nonetheless signifies that new startups hoping to resolve issues for creators and assist them generate income are at this time usually struggling to boost cash, and doubtless increase as nicely.

Enterprise rounds and youthful startups kind solely a part of the image, although. There are numerous outliers to be discovered in the event you merely study the set of firms that raised loads of money earlier than the advert market began to chill down, and chief amongst them is OnlyFans. It’s really among the finest firms within the house proper now, interval.

OnlyProfit

It’s usually troublesome to get image of the state of some companies, particularly late-stage startups and huge personal tech firms, as we often solely have incomplete or delayed information to check. With OnlyFans, we now have sturdy and full data; it’s merely dated. Due to information from its British father or mother Fenix Worldwide, we now have OnlyFans’ outcomes for its fiscal 12 months ended November 30, 2022, which is mainly all of calendar 2022. Huzzah!