Matt Gielen is the Co-Founder & CEO of Electric Monster, a portfolio company of digital content properties in the general entertainment and kids and family space. Matt started his career in production and audience development at Driver Digital, then served as VP of Programming & Audience Development at Frederator. In 2016, he founded Little Monster Media Co., an agency that helps brands and publishers build out their YouTube audience, which was later acquired by his latest venture Electric Monster.

In this episode, Matt and I talk about the growth of creator-driven business and the recent flurry of digital media acquisitions. From consolidation among digital publishers (Vox and Group Nine, Vice and Refinery29) to creator-first media companies (Mythical Entertainment and Smosh, Moonbug and Cocomelon), M&A activity has reached record heights over the last 12 months. Matt offers some insight into Electric Monster’s acquisition of React Media (formerly Fine Bros. Entertainment) and their future ambitions. Finally, we talk about the growth of YouTube Shorts, increasing the level of transparency from social platforms, and why creator funds don’t pay very well.

Host: James Creech

LISTENER SUPPORT

If you’d like to make a small monthly donation  to help support future episodes, please visit https://anchor.fm/allthingsvideopodcast/support

ABOUT THE SHOW

All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading media companies and engage in thought-provoking debates about the issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the fragmentation of video viewership in an always-on world, All Things Video reveals the key trends and insights from the world of digital media.

Follow All Things Video on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for new episodes and updates!

ABOUT THE HOST

James Creech is an entrepreneur focused on technology, online video, and digital media. He currently serves as SVP, Influencer Strategy at Brandwatch, the world’s leading digital consumer intelligence company.

Austin Petersmith is the Founder & CEO of Racket, an app for creating and sharing 99-second audio clips. Austin started his career in journalism before becoming a developer evangelist for early SaaS products. In 2014, he started an email newsletter called ReadThisThing that was acquired by Inside.com, where he ultimately served as President & GM. He then co-founded Capiche, which was acquired by Vendr, before dedicating his time to building Racket. Austin is also a General Partner at Coughdrop Capital, investing in early-stage startups with his brother Stu.

In this episode, Austin and I explore the evolution of digital audio. We discuss a few of podcasting’s inherent problems, the competition among social networks to roll out audio formats, and how much the Clubhouse-inspired hype cycle mirrors reality. We also touch on the “building in public” trend and other transparency movements among early-stage SaaS companies. Finally, Austin shares his approach to startup investing and offers advice to those looking to write their first angel checks.

Host: James Creech

LISTENER SUPPORT

If you’d like to make a small monthly donation  to help support future episodes, please visit https://anchor.fm/allthingsvideopodcast/support

ABOUT THE SHOW

All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading media companies and engage in thought-provoking debates about the issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the fragmentation of video viewership in an always-on world, All Things Video reveals the key trends and insights from the world of digital media.

Follow All Things Video on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for new episodes and updates!

ABOUT THE HOST

James Creech is an entrepreneur focused on technology, online video, and digital media. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Paladin, the essential influencer marketing platform for brand and agencies.

Adam Frank is the Founder & CEO of Wisio, a platform that enables creators to offer their followers individual guidance via personal videos. Adam served 5 years as an Intelligence Officer in the Israeli Air Force before studying computer science and business at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to Wisio, he worked at social news startup Tok Media, where he rose through the ranks from junior developer to CTO.

In this episode, Adam and I discuss his journey from Israeli Air Force officer to Ninja Warrior, Instagram personality, and entrepreneur. We explore several trends that have shaped the creator economy, such as the cultural shift from institutions to individuals, the impact of social media on our online identities, and the evolution of fandom from passive viewer to engaged supporter and now owner-investor. Finally, Adam shares his vision of making anyone accessible to their online audience, facilitating connections between not just digital creators but also politicians, business leaders, and sports icons.

Host: James Creech

LISTENER SUPPORT

If you’d like to make a small monthly donation  to help support future episodes, please visit https://anchor.fm/allthingsvideopodcast/support

ABOUT THE SHOW

All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading media companies and engage in thought-provoking debates about the issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the fragmentation of video viewership in an always-on world, All Things Video reveals the key trends and insights from the world of digital media.

Follow All Things Video on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for new episodes and updates!

ABOUT THE HOST

James Creech is an entrepreneur focused on technology, online video, and digital media. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Paladin, the essential influencer marketing platform for brand and agencies.