As the creator economy races toward an estimated $500 billion valuation by the end of the decade, Fanvue is staking a clear claim on where it believes the next phase of growth will come from: AI-first creator businesses. The London-based, AI-powered creator monetization platform has raised a $22 million Series A round, backing its ambition to define what it calls the “Creator AI Economy.”

The funding comes at a pivotal moment for Fanvue. The company says it has already crossed a $100 million annualized revenue run rate, supports more than 250,000 creators, and attracts over 17 million monthly active users. Those numbers put it in rarefied territory for a platform that launched just three years ago—and suggest investors aren’t just buying into a vision, but into real traction.

From creator tools to AI-native businesses

Unlike legacy creator platforms that primarily monetize attention through ads or subscriptions, Fanvue is positioning itself as an AI-native operating system for creators. Its pitch is straightforward: creators shouldn’t have to scale linearly with time, nor should they depend on platform algorithms or advertising economics to earn a living.

According to Fanvue, more than 93% of creators on its platform are already using at least one proprietary AI tool, including AI-driven analytics, voice, and content capabilities. These tools are designed to help creators understand fan behavior, automate and personalize content, and ultimately monetize more efficiently.

This heavy adoption rate is central to Fanvue’s argument that it isn’t reacting to AI trends—it’s being built around them. Rather than bolting AI features onto an existing platform, Fanvue is framing AI as the engine that allows creators to scale their businesses faster and with greater ownership.

Defining a new category, not chasing incumbents

Fanvue’s leadership is careful to avoid positioning the company as a direct competitor to established creator platforms. Instead, it’s defining a new category altogether: the Creator AI Economy. The idea is that the next generation of creators—spanning influencers, athletes, and digital entrepreneurs—will rely on AI to expand earnings, deepen fan relationships, and unlock new revenue streams beyond traditional ads or sponsorships.

That positioning appears to have resonated with investors. The Series A round was led by Inner Circle, a fund backed by more than 50 exited founders, financiers, and cultural figures across sports and entertainment. Inner Circle’s broader portfolio includes high-profile names such as Revolut, Anthropic, and xAI, signaling confidence in Fanvue’s technology-led approach.

Other backers include Moonbug founder René Rechtman, founders of UK unicorn Marshmallow, and general partners from leading European venture firms—an investor lineup that blends consumer, fintech, and deep-tech experience.

“AI is redefining the creator economy,” said James Cox, co-founder of Inner Circle. “Fanvue isn’t reacting to that shift; they are pioneering it. The team is building a category-defining platform that enables creators globally to monetize their audiences at scale.”

Growth metrics that back the narrative

Beyond funding headlines, Fanvue’s growth metrics help explain the momentum. The company reports 450% year-over-year revenue growth and has nearly tripled its workforce in the past 12 months, growing from 42 to 115 employees. Its operations are anchored in London’s Canary Wharf, where the leadership team and core product functions are based.

The platform has also been recognized externally, earning the title of Fastest Growing Company in Europe at the International Business Awards (Stevies). These signals matter in a crowded creator tech landscape, where many platforms struggle to translate hype into sustainable revenue.

AI, athletes, and mainstream visibility

Fanvue is also leaning into cultural relevance as part of its expansion strategy. The company recently announced the signing of Alisha Lehmann, the Swiss professional footballer and one of the world’s most-followed athletes on Instagram, with more than 16 million followers.

For Fanvue, the partnership is more than a celebrity endorsement. It underscores the platform’s belief that athletes and mainstream creators will increasingly seek direct-to-fan monetization models—powered by AI—rather than relying solely on sponsorships or social platforms.

“Announcing two major milestones in the same week—the Series A and Alisha—reinforces our vision that AI will enable the next generation of athletes and creators to build real businesses,” said Will Monange, co-founder and CEO of Fanvue.

Built by creators, for creators

Fanvue’s origin story plays directly into its product philosophy. Co-founder Joel Morris, a former YouTuber, launched the platform in 2022 after experiencing firsthand the limitations of existing creator platforms. Alongside co-founders Will Monange and Harry Fitzgerald, Morris built Fanvue around three core principles: Fan Connection, Creator Freedom, and Business Ownership.

Those values are reflected in the platform’s emphasis on direct monetization, control over content and data, and AI tools that help creators grow without surrendering ownership to platforms or advertisers.

According to COO Harry Fitzgerald, AI fundamentally changes the economics of creator businesses. “Thanks to AI, creators on Fanvue can scale products, content, and connections in ways that weren’t possible before,” he said. “We’re shifting creators away from reliance on advertising and toward direct monetization.”

What the funding unlocks next

Fanvue says the $22 million Series A will be used to accelerate global expansion, hire top-tier talent, and further invest in AI capabilities across the platform. With more than 20,000 new creators joining in the past month alone—and additional high-profile creator announcements expected in early 2026—the company is signaling that growth is far from slowing.

In a creator economy increasingly shaped by AI, regulation, and shifting platform dynamics, Fanvue is betting that creators want more than reach—they want leverage. If its AI-first approach continues to deliver at scale, Fanvue may prove that the future of creator monetization isn’t just social. It’s intelligent, direct, and increasingly automated.

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