CreatorPad

This might be one of my favorite campaigns launched in our beta so far. Nine local businesses in one neighborhood teamed up to launch a group BYOB (Bring Your Own Budget) campaign on CreatorPad. Why exactly? Because their neighborhood is a little tucked away, not the busiest street, and often overlooked—but it’s full of amazing spots that deserve more love. Here’s how they’re doing it: ?? They pooled their budgets to hire one creator ?? The creator will shoot content to highlight the area and each business ?? On top of being paid for their work, the creator gets a $100 gift card to spend however they want across all nine businesses It’s such a creative way to put their neighborhood on the map. And what’s even cooler is how these businesses are coming together to support each other. It’s not just about marketing—it’s about fostering a sense of community and showing how collaboration can amplify their voices. And now, a few of these businesses are already thinking about running their own individual campaigns after seeing how easy it is to get started on our platform. There is no other platform that would make something like this possible for these small local businesses. And it’s inspiring to see them using CreatorPad in ways we hadn’t even imagined.

Something I didn’t expect to learn from our beta this week: small local businesses aren’t the only ones interested in local influencer marketing… This week threw us a curveball because: ?? A larger chain/franchise reached out, interested in using CreatorPad for campaigns nationwide. ???? A tech startup (completely outside our beta city) signed up and launched a local campaign to promote their product. Both were awesome surprises—and they reminded me of something important: The need for local influencer marketing goes way beyond coffee shops and boutiques. Chains, franchises, and even startups are starting to see how valuable local, creator-driven campaigns can be. It’s moments like these that make building CreatorPad super exciting to me! We’re learning every week that the space for what we’re building is way bigger than we imagined. — P.S. It’s snowing in Paris today, which is another curveball this week. So I shared a photo, not because it’s relevant to the post, but because posts with photos perform better on LinkedIn?

A local creator helped a small Brooklyn restaurant go viral. One TikTok video with 2.3 million views led to customers from Singapore, California, and London flocking to try their food. But this story isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about the power of storytelling, connection, and community. Nicolas Nuvan, a content creator in Brooklyn, captured Irie Jerk Chicken in a single video. But he didn’t just showcase the food. He told the story behind it: the passion of chef Niki, the cultural roots of the cuisine, and the love that goes into every plate. The result? More than just viral views. The video brought a flood of new customers to Niki’s restaurant, reconnected a family from Trinidad after 15 years, and turned a small local business into a neighborhood icon. This is the real power of local creators. They don’t just create content—they amplify voices, tell meaningful stories, and bring communities closer together. In a world filled with ads that often feel impersonal, I believe it’s these human stories that cut through the noise. They remind us that the most impactful marketing isn’t just about reach—it’s about resonance.

A local lagerhouse partnered with a local creator for just $125. Forty-eight hours later, that creator’s posts had over 150,000 views. One creator. One local campaign. And an entire community paying attention. On top of that, the campaign generated: ?? 3,000+ Likes ?? 800+ Shares ?? 800+ Saves And these aren’t just fluke numbers—they’re why we built CreatorPad. Local businesses deserve marketing that’s as impactful as it is cost-effective, without the endless hoops of traditional ad campaigns. And it’s not just about numbers on a screen. It’s about giving local businesses the power to connect directly with the communities they serve in a way that’s fresh, authentic, and deeply meaningful. That’s where real growth happens, and we’re dedicated to making it easy. Here’s to the local businesses that make our neighborhoods vibrant and unique. And here’s to making sure every marketing dollar they spend creates connections that actually matter ??

Honored to be mentioned alongside these incredible companies building for the future of the creator space! We have some massive updates on the horizon, so keep your eyes peeled and be sure to follow along, we can't wait to show you what we've been working on ?? Thank you so much for the shout out, Janis! The entire CreatorPad team appreciates you so much - this just put all the wind in our sails!!! ??

Luke Himmelsbach, Patryk Jeziorowski, and Dylan Wilczkowiak are traveling to SF! Got any recs for creator/founder events, or wanna grab a coffee? Feel free to reach out to them!