What happens when creators stop being the face of their own businesses? In this episode, we dive into the new wave of creator-led companies, how investors think about exits, and why the strongest creators build cults instead of just audiences. Inside: 🏗️ Building creator brands that can outlast the founder’s face 📈 VC vs. cash-flow businesses — what investors really want 🔥 Measuring “cult-like” followings in the creator economy 💡 Why niche and “unsexy” industries are blowing up on social 🎟️ The rise of side events vs. big conferences like VidCon Timestamps: 00:00 – Creator brands vs. personality-driven businesses 08:45 – The new wave: Joyride, Nami, and faceless creator CPG 19:00 – What does a “successful exit” look like in VC? 28:30 – Cult followings & how to measure them 45:00 – Unsexy industries turning into creator niches 53:40 – Events: side meetups vs. VidCon & SXSW 🎙️ Hosted by Grace Ling & Justin Nguyen 📍 How Creators Make Money — the podcast where we unpack the real strategies behind today’s smartest creators.