#350 - Inside Night Ventures: The Fund Behind Internet’s Top 1% Creators (Mr Beast, Kai Cenat, Hasan Piker)

Dec 26, 2024

Ben Matthews, a general partner at Night Ventures, dives into the world of early-stage consumer brands that leverage powerful creators like Mr. Beast and Hasan Piker. He shares insights on the essentials of building talent-driven brands and the importance of audience engagement. The discussion highlights the intricacies of selecting suitable partnerships and the future of creator commerce, particularly in the evolving landscape of TikTok and innovative monetization strategies. Expect valuable lessons for anyone interested in the creator economy!

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ADVICE

Acquisition Hacks

Focus on acquisition hacks, especially through content, to thrive as a consumer brand.
Understand content creation and influencer marketing to win in the evolving consumer landscape.

ANECDOTE

MrBeast Burger's Accidental Success

MrBeast Burger began as a stunt, not a planned business venture, driven by unexpected demand after a MrBeast video.
This accidental success highlighted the power of MrBeast's influence and led to the creation of Feastables.

INSIGHT

The Power of Personal Brands

Few individuals possess the influence to single-handedly build a successful brand solely through their personal promotion.
MrBeast is one of these rare individuals, capable of driving immense consumer demand through his name and content.

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Ben Matthews is a general partner at Night Ventures, an early-stage consumer VC fund, focused on culture, community, and creators. They have partnered with some of the most famous people on the internet including Mr. Beast, Kai Cenat, and Hasan Piker.

In this episode of DTC Pod, Ben and Blaine discuss:

Lessons from incubating and investing in early-stage consumer companies
The key elements of successful talent-driven brands, including audience fit and long-term commitment
Choosing the right business opportunities based on market potential and operational feasibility
Structuring effective partnerships between creators, operators, and investors
The future of TikTok and emerging monetization avenues for content creators

Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.

On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:
1. Business Launch and Growth
2. Talent-Driven Brands
3. Challenges in Creator Partnerships
4. Creator-Audience Relationship
5. Employment Trends and AI Impact
6. Content Commerce Trends
7. TikTok’s Future and Market Impact
8. Elements of Business Success
9. Incentive Structure in Partnerships
10. Importance of Having an Audience
11. Monetization Opportunities for Creators

Timestamps
00:00 Ben Matthew’s background and Night Ventures
06:05 Building business with talent: the case of Mr. Beast
10:54 What works in creator-brand partnerships
15:25 Picking the right talent to represent a brand
19:42 Picking the right business and products
23:01 Incubating early-stage consumer companies
30:07 Investing in early-stage consumer companies
33:03 Future trends in the creator-commerce space
35:19 Future trends in the content creator landscape

Show notes powered by Castmagic

Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.

Additional episodes you might like:

• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth

• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content

• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views

• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands

• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook

• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands

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DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet
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Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content

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Ben Matthews - General Partner at Night Ventures
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Ramon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic