Equitix
Where fans and creators grow together!
Idea in Platforms
Introduction
Equitix is the world's first stock market for creators (specifically YouTubers, Twitch streamers, and TikTokers). Fans can buy shares in creators to invest in them and gain perks such as content, merch, and even voting on what the creator does next! If the creator makes it big and the fan believed in them early everyone profits off of the growth they fostered, and the proceeds can be reinvested into their next video to go bigger.
Problem
Many YouTubers and Twitch streamers struggle to finance their best content and options are limited. Options to finance often involve giving up significant creative freedom (sell out to a VC firm, media corporation, or sponsors), leveraging untrustworthy avenues such as NFTs or cryptocurrencies, or hoping for donations. Additionally, large platforms such as YouTube and Twitch frequently de-monetize content or reduce revenue sharing overall leaving creators at their mercy. This leaves whitespace for a more modern approach that involves crowd-sourced fundraising, thanks to Regulation A+ Crowdfunding laws passed in 2016. The untrustworthiness of NFTs and the donation-based platforms (e.g. no return) such as Patreon also create whitespace to helps the fans involved in the process.
Opportunity
Equitix is about video content creators raising capital from the individuals the content is actually for (fans)! Fans can invest in creators early on by buying shares and creators can use the proceeds to go bigger with their content to grow the channel. Similar to when owning stock in public companies, each share also grants fans voting rights into the direction of the channel (using YouTube polls, a trend of the last 2 years where creators "ask the audience"). Fans can trade shares on the Equitix stock market to profit if the creator grows their viewership, creating a service where fans actually benefit from their investment opposed to pure donation services such as Patreon. From the creators' perspective, this allows them to create a revenue stream that is not dependent on financial policies of YouTube, TikTok, or Twitch yet also doesn't compromise creative freedom that buy-outs, sponsors, or VC avenues bring.