It’s been another destabilizing year across the board. But the creator economy has surprisingly held strong—despite a looming recession, increasing pressure from lawmakers to ban TikTok in the U.S., and Elon Musk being Elon Musk at Twitter. The creator economy is currently valued at $16.4 billion, a 19% increase from 2021. So will that energy carry over into 2023? To get a better understanding of where the creator economy is heading next year, I interviewed Stephanie Smith, head of talent strategy at UTA IQ; Zehra Naqvi, senior investment associate at Republic; and Madison Long, cofounder and CEO of Clutch.

Alex Elias, CEO of Qloo, discusses how his AI company deciphers taste and cultural correlations through machine learning. He reveals Qloo's API model and its transformative impact on businesses aiming to enhance customer experiences. Later, Zehra Naqvi of Republic dives into her work as an investment associate, detailing her innovative Z-list, which connects startups with investors. The conversation covers generational perspectives on investing, emphasizing inclusivity in the venture capital landscape.