In a good sign for consumer internet startups, Creator Ventures raises $45M

Caspar Lee, an early YouTube star, and his cousin Sasha Kaletsky, a former Bridgepoint investor, co-founded Creator Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on consumer internet companies. After successfully investing in startups like Wild, which sold to Unilever for £233 million, and Eleven Labs, now valued at over $3.3 billion, Creator Ventures is launching its second fund with $45 million, more than double its previous fund. The firm is particularly interested in AI and emerging trends like microdrama streaming apps, which have gained popularity in the U.S. with significant revenue growth.

Creator Ventures is also exploring speculative investments, such as Status, a social network app where users interact with AI bots. Despite skepticism, Status has attracted over 1 million global users. The fund is supported by partners like Level, Cendana, Vintage, Isomer Capital, and Sequoia, with some backers returning to consumer-dedicated funds after a decade. The entrepreneurial parallels between startup founders and content creators are central to Creator Ventures' vision, with Lee emphasizing the importance of social go-to-market strategies.

Key takeaways:

Creator Ventures, founded by Caspar Lee and Sasha Kaletsky, is launching its second fund with $45 million, more than double its previous $20 million fund.
The firm has successfully invested in companies like Eleven Labs, Runna, and Beehiiv, and is focusing on consumer-facing companies with a closer eye on AI.
Microdrama streaming apps like DramaBox and ReelShort are gaining traction in the U.S., with significant year-over-year growth in revenue from in-app purchases.
Creator Ventures is also investing in speculative apps like Status, a social network-like app where users post updates to AI bots, which has gained over 1 million global users.

In a good sign for consumer internet startups, Creator Ventures raises $45M | TechCrunch

Key takeaways:

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