Stan, the all-in-one creator store designed to help creators easily monetize their audience, has announced a “significant investment” from entrepreneur, speaker, and host of one of the world’s biggest podcasts, The Diary Of A CEO, Steven Bartlett.
The partnership marks a powerful coming together of two influential figures in the creator economy, as Bartlett becomes co-owner of Stan alongside founder & CEO John Hu in a deal he described as “worth tens of millions.”
Having both come from humble backgrounds and worked their way to success, the partnership is rooted in a shared mission to create a positive impact in the creator and entrepreneurship community. The investment goes beyond capital, as Bartlett’s personal involvement will be multifaceted. Steven will be playing an active role in scaling the company globally and has already taken on an active role in Stan’s growth team.
The investment will be used to further enhance the Stan experience, making the platform even better and more helpful in assisting aspiring entrepreneurs to reach success. Everything is in service of Stan’s core mission – empowering anyone to work for themselves.
John Hu built Stan to solve a problem he encountered as a creator himself. Creating content on TikTok and Youtube under the alias @jayhoovy, he realised the need for a simple, yet affordable platform supporting the process of monetizing content. Stan is the simplest, all-in-one, highest-value platform; creating a culture that inspires hard work; adopting a “give, give, give” motto; leading with a creator-first mentality.
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Stan has shown significant growth since its launch in 2021. The platform has grown from 0 to 70,000 users in just three years. Creators on Stan have generated more than $250M in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) on the platform. The platform offers creators the most streamlined, accessible, and cost-effective solution for launching an online business. For a monthly fee of just $29, creators gain comprehensive access to monetization tools, including website hosting, course management, community subscription services, digital product distribution, coaching appointment scheduling, and other functionalities.
Bartlett said: “Amid rising living costs and the growing visibility of public success stories, 60% of young people now aim to be their own boss by age 30. In the US, 24% of 18-24 year-olds are already starting or running a business. We’re in the middle of a shift toward creator-led entrepreneurship – a shift that AI will only accelerate.
“I believe Stan is the easiest and most affordable way to begin that journey. By becoming a co-owner of Stan, my goal is to help more Stan creator-entrepreneurs succeed. This partnership is about empowering anyone who wants to work for themselves and raising the bar for what’s possible in the creator economy.”
Hu added: “Stan was built on the belief that anyone should have the opportunity to make a living working for themselves. Steven and I connected over our shared backgrounds and values. We’re committed to paying that success forward by creating real opportunities for others, especially those who, like us, began their creator journey without industry connections. That’s why we’ve brought Steven on as an investor and co-owner — because the people who understand this business best are the ones actually living it.”
Stan is committed to partnering with individuals who share values and live out their mission every day, radically elevating entrepreneurial success rates. Stan is already home to numerous successful creators who are building substantial businesses such as Justin Welsh, Dan Koe, Lara Acosta, Monty Lans, Abigail Peugh, and more.
