October 2025: VCs Bet on Creator Communities, Agency Collapse Leaves Creators Unpaid & Instagram's Repost Gamble

In this Q4 episode, hosts Ceci Carloni and Nii Ahene tackle three stories that expose both the maturation and vulnerabilities of the creator economy:

💰 Slow Ventures' Creator Thesis: VCs are evolving how they invest in creators, with firms like Slow Ventures treating creators themselves as the asset—not just their businesses. The thesis? Brand equity lives with the creator and their community, not on a balance sheet. We explore what signals smart investors look for and why this approach represents a fundamental shift in how institutional capital views creator power.

⚠️ The Corner Agency Collapses: A UK talent agency shuts down, leaving creators unpaid and exposed. This isn't just one bad case—it highlights how vulnerable creators remain despite running legitimate businesses. We debate whether the industry needs blockchain-based payment protections, collective action from top talent, or if this is just the risk of working in an unorganized space.

📱 Instagram's Repost Feature: The platform introduces a Twitter-style repost button for Reels and feed posts, promising more discovery for creators. But is this a real unlock for visibility or just another borrowed feature that won't stick? Nii drops a hot take: this feature won't survive past 2027.

From sophisticated VC investment strategies to the harsh realities of creator payment vulnerabilities to Instagram's latest platform experiment—this episode shows both how far the creator economy has come and how much basic infrastructure it still needs.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.