DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Eventbrite is letting go of about 100 employees, or 11% of its workforce, the company said Thursday. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe ticketing-and-events platform Eventbrite said on Thursday that it's letting go of around 100 employees — roughly 11% of its staff. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Eventbrite Organizations: Service, —, Business

Business Insider is recognizing influential TikTok talent managers and agents in 2024. These industry players help creators turn TikTok fame into an entertainment career. Social media has undergone many changes recently, and these agents help their talent navigate them. Talent managers and agents can help creators take advantage of sudden fame, identify which brands to work with, find the right time to launch their own products, and explore new ways to break into entertainment. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Talent, Business

☆ Meta's new AI chatbots are already getting weird — and horny
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewI've spent one day interacting with chatbots made with Meta's new AI Studio, and I already have six new boyfriends and four new girlfriends. Character AI also has its own share of AI boyfriends and girlfriends to talk to. When prompted to engage in NSFW content, the Meta AI bots I interacted with generally shut it down (often, politely). Meta's AI studio has a parody "MrBeast" chatbot and its popular characters include a "Gay Bestie" and "Relationship Coach." Unlike Meta's character AIs, creators can see the messages you send to their inbox, even if their automated AI responds.

Persons: —, I've, chatbots, I'm, Meta, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, Mark Zuckerberg, Sydney Bradley, Ash, Andreessen Horowitz, it's, OpenAI's, Eric, George Organizations: Service, Meta, Business, AIs, Sydney, Olin Business School, GPTs Locations: MrBeast, Minnesota, DMs

☆ TikTok is hiring an AI team to beef up its e-commerce tech, including exploring virtual try-ons
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Dan Whateley | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The company is hiring to potentially build tools for virtual try-ons and other solutions. TikTok is leaning into e-commerce, with a third of US job openings focused on the business. AdvertisementTikTok is staffing up to improve its e-commerce tech. It wants to hire a handful of workers in the US to enhance its shopping experience with features like virtual try-ons and generative-AI shopping tools, per its jobs portal. The company has several job openings in Seattle and San Jose for algorithm engineers focused on e-commerce and generative AI.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Seattle, San Jose

☆ TikTok is betting its future on e-commerce. Should it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Dan Whateley | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

From conversations with e-commerce analysts, TikTok Shop partners, sellers, and creators, it's clear that Shop is growing steadily in the US and driving meaningful sales for some brands. TikTok Shop is also showing strong momentum in regions outside the US that have embraced social shopping more, like Southeast Asia. Order-tracking platform Route saw global order volume on TikTok Shop grow a modest 35% between January and June. AdvertisementWhat's working for TikTok ShopWell-timed promotional campaigns and live selling have bolstered TikTok Shop's growth this year, agency sources told BI. TikTok Live has become an e-commerce hub for all types of sellers, including pre-owned luxury retailer What Goes Around Comes Around, which has a streaming studio in its store.

Persons: —, influencers, TikTok, it's, It's, Nicole Rechtszaid, Steele, Pena, Rechtszaid, Dan Whateley, Julian Reis, SuperOrdinary, Reis, we've, Michael Yamartino Organizations: Service, Business, TikTok Shop, TikTok, Ghost Agency, Amazon's, livestreams Locations: Southeast Asia, Paris, Maybelline New York, Asia, China

☆ Events startup Posh just raised $22 million as the IRL space heats up. Read the 12-page pitch deck it used.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewLike many tech startups, Posh, an events marketplace platform, was born in a college dorm room. "We pivoted from an event company into a software company," as a result, CEO Price told Business Insider. Last month, the app had over 5,000 events listed on the app, Price said. Advertisement"A big thesis of ours is actually that we can create a new revenue stream for creators by congregating their top 1% of fans IRL," Price added. AdvertisementRead the 12-page pitch deck Posh used to raise its $22 million Series A:Note: The company updated and redacted some figures in the deck.

Persons: —, Eli Taylor, Avante Price, Posh, Price, Sam Altman, " Altman, Logan Bartlett, Ariana Nathani Organizations: Service, New York University, Business, Goodwater Locations: Miami, New York

☆ Queer community platform Lex lays off staff as it charts an uncertain path forward
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewLex, a social network that helps people find and build queer communities in their cities, has laid off most of its staff. "We're committed to building Lex to be a thriving social app for LGBTQ+ community," Lewis said in a written statement. AdvertisementLike many other newer social-media platforms, Lex has been experimenting with ways to monetize its product. In June, Lex announced its "Team Gay Agenda" campaign to raise funds from its users via recurring monthly pledges and told users that the "Lex community is at risk." "With the well documented demise of queer spaces, our number one priority will always be making sure our community has space to thrive on Lex," Lewis added.

Persons: —, Kel Rakowski, Jennifer Rhiannon Lewis, Lewis, Rakowski, We're, Lex, Gen Z Organizations: Service, Business, Gen

Brands are "shifting from one-time, short-term partnerships to long-term, recurring partnerships," said Olivia McNaughten, senior director of product marketing and partnerships at the influencer firm Grin. Influencer marketing remains a bright spot in the creator industry, whereas companies in other categories have struggled to grow. Influencer marketing, by contrast, is humming along, with billions of dollars expected to pour into the category this year. Influencer marketing may also be outperforming other creator-economy businesses because it taps into an existing market rather than inventing something new. Goldman Sachs analysts forecasted in April 2023 that influencer marketing and creator advertising would help grow the creator economy to a $480 billion industry by 2027.

Persons: —, Olivia McNaughten, Grin, Fohr, Dollar Boy, it's, Lindsey Lugrin, Grace Murray Vazquez, Petit, they've, Ansley Williams, influencer, influencers, Williams, Lugrin, Goldman Sachs, Ed East, It's Organizations: Service, Business, Dollar, Voices, Cannes Lions, Southwest, Ogilvy North, YouTube Locations: London, Emarketer, South, Ogilvy North America

☆ New social-media apps are surging as people look for alternatives to Instagram and TikTok. But can they last?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Many new social-media apps struggle to sustain user growth after going viral. Sensor Tower data shows major incumbents like Instagram and TikTok are still dominating. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA new app hits the top of the app store, everyone is talking about it, and millions download it. According to recent data from marketing intelligence firm Sensor Tower, it is much tougher for new social-media platforms to grow and retain users compared to major incumbents like Instagram or TikTok.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Mark Zuckerberg wishes America a happy birthday while surfing in a suit with beer and flag in hand
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Meta CEO posted a video to Facebook and Instagram with the caption: "Happy birthday, America!" download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAh, yes, our favorite 4th of July tradition: Mark Zuckerberg's America-loving post. This year, he's back surfing while waving the American Flag, sipping a can of beer, and wearing a tux — oh, and don't forget the latest Zuck staple, a chain necklace. It looks like is also wearing a pair of Meta Ray-Bans, one of the company's wearable tech products it's been pushing heavily.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, —, Mark Zuckerberg's, Meta Ray Organizations: Facebook, Service Locations: Mark Zuckerberg's America

☆ Why this VC is betting on social commerce as a driving force in the creator economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewBuzz around the creator economy has been waning — but the end of a hype cycle isn't always bad news. AdvertisementHis continued interest in the creator economy stems in part from his approach to defining the broad space. Related storiesFrom gaming to social networks to commerce to enterprise, the creator economy engulfs many areas of interest. Where Daybreak Ventures sees potentialWhere the creator economy overlaps with commerce is especially interesting to Woodbury right now.

Persons: —, Rex Woodbury, that's, Woodbury, haven't Organizations: Service, Daybreak Ventures, Business, Ventures, Creative, Flagship, Industrial Locations: Woodbury

☆ Noplace is the hottest new app on the charts. Its founder spills on how it went viral and plans to skirt becoming a 'fad.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The social media app is the brainchild of 27-year-old serial founder and investor Tiffany "TZ" Zhong, whose tech career took off in her late-teens. Instead of stressing over carefully curated posts, the app encourages users to share their stream-of-consciousness thoughts directly to the feed. According to its App Store description, it aims to harken back to the social media era before "algos and ads" took over. She particularly follows the behavior of Noplace's "power users," some of whom even spend between eight and 10 hours on the app, Zhong said. And at a time when social media platforms are prioritizing entertainment over social interactions, Noplace feels timely.

Persons: —, Tiffany, Zhong, you've, It's, Noplace, Nospace, …, Alexis Ohanian, it's, There's Organizations: Service, Twitter, Apple, Business, Noplace's, Big Locations: Noplace, Reddit

☆ Influencer talent firm Night is shutting down its studio that aimed to turn creators into TV and movie stars
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Amanda Perelli | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Talent management firm Night is shutting down its in-house production arm, Night Studios. The company has parted ways with Alex Piper, who served as the head of Night Studios, and Jared Jacobs, who was the vice president of development. Related storiesPiper joined Night Studios in 2022 after serving as YouTube's head of unscripted originals, and Jacobs came on in 2023 from Mark Wahlberg's Unrealistic Ideas. AdvertisementPiper posted to LinkedIn on Wednesday confirming his exit from the company, writing that Night Studios "got shut down." "Most top creators no longer view premium distribution as the ultimate goal," Duchscher wrote in his statement.

Persons: Alex Piper, Jared Jacobs, Reed Duchscher, Piper, Jacobs, Mark Wahlberg's, Duchscher, Jessica, Kai, YouTuber Ryan Trahan, Jimmy Donaldson, Donaldson Organizations: Service, Talent, Studios, Night Studios, Netflix, Amazon

☆ Instagram really wants everyone to start using its shiny new AI tools. Will you?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewHey, everyone: Instagram really wants you to start using its AI tools. Related storiesThe AI Studio product will let creators make their own AI-powered characters in the app. Meanwhile, on the ground in Anaheim, CA, Instagram is showcasing its AI features at the creator economy's biggest event. Many of Instagram's AI tools are accessible within the DM feature, such as stickers in chat and the creator chatbots. "If you look at Instagram, DMs is one of the fastest growing parts of the system," Zuckerberg said on the "Blueprint" podcast.

Persons: —, Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg's, Zuckerberg, YouTuber Kane Sutter, chatbots Organizations: Service, Business, Instagram, DMs Locations: Anaheim , CA

☆ 11 VC firms funding the next phase of the creator economy, from AI-powered tools to e-commerce startups
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

And things are beginning to look up again for creator startups. It touches the creator economy as startups develop ways to augment and potentially replace humans in accomplishing some creative tasks. He added that Inspired talks closely with brands and creators to hear what products and startups are exciting, which helps guide the firm's investments. Business Insider is highlighting 11 VC firms and their partners who are focused on finding the next wave of promising creator-economy startups. We looked at each firm's investments in the past year to understand how they funded new ideas in the creator industry.

Persons: —, Goldman Sachs, upstarts, Rex Woodbury, Woodbury, that's, Chad Hurley, Chamberlain, Chamberlain Coffee, Capital's Kamran Ali, ShopMy's Organizations: Service, BEN Labs, Business, Daybreak Ventures, YouTube, Blazar, United Talent Agency, BI Locations: Woodbury, VCs

☆ Instagram and TikTok are chasing after 'close friends' as the social web goes private
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThere's a new app that promises to connect you with your closest friends — only this time, it's coming from TikTok. The app, dubbed Whee, pitches itself as a platform to "keep you connected with your close friends through life's spontaneous moments." Whee's arrival on the charts — it's 27th among social-networking apps in Apple's App Store, outranking Skype and Signal — comes as Instagram is also leaning into features for close friends. After spending years leaning into influencer content, to the chagrin of some users, the big social platforms are betting big on close friends. But as the platforms prioritized creator-made content, like on Instagram reels, everyday users' content seemed to take a back seat.

Persons: —, Snapchat, They're, Mervana Parekh, Nathan Sharp, influencers, Adam Mosseri, YouTubers Colin, Samir, Mosseri Organizations: Service, Android Police, Business, Skype, Acrew, Retro Locations: TikTok

☆ Instagram's notes feature is growing at a 'wild pace' and part of its plan to make messaging central to the app's future
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewInstagram really wants you to try out "notes" — its status feature that harkens back to the instant messaging days of the internet. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, posted about the feature this month with the prompt: "What are notes about?" Meanwhile, creator Walé Oyerinde loves using the notes feature because it's one of the '"lowest effort high impact" ways to boost regular engagement on the app. AdvertisementInstagram launched the "notes" feature in 2022. She wants the notes feature to be visible to everyone who follows her so she can continue building her personal brand and cultivating a more engaged online community.

Persons: —, Adam Mosseri, Mosseri, Instagram, Ashley Yuki Alexander, Celine Mili, It's, Jyoti Chand, Walé Oyerinde, I've, Milli, Khamyra, Avalon Zborovsky, Fenter, she's Organizations: Service, AIM, Business, Facebook, Meta Locations: Instagram's

☆ TikTok is the top social-media app Americans trust for news, according to new data
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Dan Whateley | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewCongress is terrified that TikTok could be deployed as a disinformation tool to shape Americans' views of current events in China's favor. Respondents who said they consumed news also tended to be less concerned about the accuracy of the news information they found on TikTok compared to other social apps. According to Pew's survey, 25% of X users said that getting news was a "major" reason they used the platform, and 15% of TikTok users also reported that getting news was a "major" reason for why they're on TikTok. Meanwhile, TikTok is also leaving users feeling the least "worn out" by the amount of news they see on the platform compared to the other apps. The news content that reaches TikTok users is often not from accounts run by traditional news organizations like The New York Times or the Washington Post.

Persons: —, It's, TikTok, Instagram, Joe Biden, ByteDance, Donald Trump, it's, influencers, Kelsey Russell Organizations: Service, Pew Research Center, Business, Facebook, The New York Times, Washington Post Locations: China, Israel, TikTok

☆ Seeking nominations for the top VCs backing the creator economy in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Business Insider is compiling its fifth annual list of VCs funding startups in the creator economy. We want to hear from you about who the standout VCs are in 2024. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Like traditional media companies, creator startups often rely on Big Tech platforms like Google and Facebook to make money — a volatile position to hold. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Big Tech, Facebook, Business

☆ Read the 23-page pitch deck that ShopMy used to raise $18.5 million to shake up affiliate and influencer marketing
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

ShopMy, founded in 2020, lets creators earn commissions through shoppable landing pages. The startup recently raised an additional $18.5 million for its Series A, closing at $26.5 million. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The startup, cofounded by Harry Rein, Tiffany Lopinsky, and Chris Tinsley in 2020, lets creators build shoppable landing pages and earn commission from products they link. In March, ShopMy announced it had raised an additional $18.5 million for its Series A after raising $8 million in 2022, bringing the total round to $26.5 million.

Persons: ShopMy, —, Harry Rein, Tiffany Lopinsky, Chris Tinsley Organizations: Service, Business

☆ We went behind the scenes of a viral TikTok series in New York City that's part of a new wave of MTV-style social shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Dan Whateley | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"New media is having a moment here in New York City," Valentino told BI. Related stories"We have a development team pumping out pilots, new concepts, working new concepts," Fallen Media CEO Sol Betesh told BI. Fallen Media's production team optimizes audio and video on a noisy New York City block. Sydney Bradley/Business InsiderNew York City is a main characterFallen Media is a true New York City operation. Villalpando was recently on an episode of Fallen Media's "Bite Me," and Novi was on a recent segment of "Subway Oracle."

Persons: —, Michael Valentino, Tiffany Baira, Baira, Valentino, Sol Betesh, Sydney, Davis, Jason Derulo, Michael Bublé, Brian Baumgartner, Taco Bell, they're, Betesh, We'll, Maia Novi, Fabrizio Villalpando, Villalpando, Davis Burleson Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube, Media, MTV, Sydney Bradley, New, Washington, Fallen Media Locations: New York, New York City, influencer, TikTok, Instagram, Novi

☆ 2 former Instagram staffers left their jobs to create a new social-media app that's grabbed the tech world's attention
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Advertisement"We always have loved this idea of a super simple product that's really just for you and your friends," Sharp told BI. "There's not any real public discovery surface inside of Retro," Sharp said. Advertisement"What's most important to us is that we build a sustainable business, whether that's venture scale or not," Sharp said. "You can complete your feed in Retro," Olson said. Courtesy of Retro"There are a few places where we've chosen comfort over — or perhaps to the detriment of — the growth of the product or the business," Olson said.

Persons: —, Nathan Sharp, Sharp, Ryan Olson, Olson, that's, Mike Krieger, Kevin Systrom, Sam Lessin, A16z's Andrew Chen, Adam Mosseri, Retro's, It's, Olson didn't, you'd, Marissa Mayer's Organizations: Service, Retro, Business, Lone Palm Labs, Retro's, Facebook, Meta, Instagram Labs Locations: Silicon

☆ 14 music-tech startups helping to shape the business as it's shaken up by AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Dan Whateley | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Industry professionals (and their lawyers) are scrutinizing how AI models are trained and evaluating new ways to pay creators for derivative work. Entertainment lawyers are busy crafting ways to protect against AI companies exploiting their clients' intellectual property. Still, the music industry is benefiting from the tech revolution in many ways, collecting billions in revenue from streaming apps and other platforms. For our third annual list of impactful music-tech startups, BI looked for companies that are changing the ways music is created, distributed, and consumed in 2024.

Persons: —, We've, Jordan Bradley, Sam Hamad, Gregg Lehrman Organizations: Service, Business, Industry, Entertainment

☆ 3 tricks legacy media companies can learn from social-video platforms, per a new Accenture report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewTraditional media and entertainment companies must undergo "radical levels of reinvention," John Peters, Accenture's lead for media and entertainment clients, told Business Insider. Traditional media companies, like live broadcasting or linear channels, are "seeing viewership migrate away from their platforms," Peters said. Advertisement"They're increasingly moving to social media and social video platforms and video games," Peters said. Here are three things that traditional media companies can learn from social media giants, per the Accenture report. AdvertisementPeters also pointed to events like the annual Academy Awards or live sports as opportunities for media companies to use UGC.

Persons: —, John Peters, Accenture's, Peters, Goldman Sachs, Nikki Mendonca, Mendonca, Elon Organizations: Service, Accenture, Business, Media Industry, Netflix, Hulu, WARC Media, Meta, Media, UGC, Apple, Google, Spotify, Disney Locations: North America, Europe, Asia, America

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewCreator-economy startup Jellysmack has sold its catalog-licensing business, JellyFi, a company spokesperson told Business Insider. "Jellysmack's team has been extremely professional, and we hope to continue collaborating with them on many other opportunities," Copyright Capital's CEO Jack Ojalvo told BI in a statement. AdvertisementThe company entered the catalog-licensing business in early 2022, saying it would set aside $500 million for the effort. The company chose to deprioritize JellyFi in favor of more profitable core initiatives.

Persons: —, Frederic Porcherot, Jack Ojalvo, Jellysmack, Sean Atkins, deprioritize, X, it's Organizations: Service, Copyright, BI, Business, Keli Network, YouTube, Facebook, Creative, Jellysmack, Productions, Network Media LLC, Crime Network Locations: SoftBank

Search resuls for: "Sydney Bradley"

25 mentions found