a16z Podcast

On Monetizing Community with Patreon Cofounder Sam Yam

Apr 8, 2021

Sam Yam, Co-founder of Patreon, and Li Jin, Managing Partner at Atelier Ventures, dive into the booming creator economy. They discuss how creators are monetizing their work more effectively than ever, even with fewer fans. Yam emphasizes the shift from engaging 1,000 true fans to a smaller, more passionate audience, while Jin outlines the evolution of community engagement through subscription models. They highlight how exclusive content fosters deeper connections and explore the future of work in this thriving landscape.

26:14

Creator website

Episode guests

Li Jin

Sam Yam

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

The Rise of the Creator Economy

7min

Redefining Monetization: From Fans to Value

2min

Evolving Community Engagement and Subscription Models

3min

Navigating the Creator Economy

12min

It's clear from the growth of Patreon, Substack, TikTok, Clubhouse and many more that the power of the Creator Economy continues to build. These platforms share one thing in common: They all enable independent creators to monetize their skills and products like never before. It's a trend that’s become increasingly relevant as the demand for virtual work grows.

In this episode, first published a year ago, Patreon cofounder Sam Yam, Atelier Ventures' Li Jin (formerly a16z), and host Lauren Murrow discuss monetizing community, why creators today are effectively making more money off fewer fans, and what all of this means for the future of work.

The discussion is based on The Passion Economy and the Future of Work, a popular essay that first ran on a16z.com in October 2019. Check out that post and more creator content at: a16z.com/creatoreconomy.

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