Index Creator Summit: Why is everyone talking about creators? Danny Rimer w/ CEOs of Figma & Patreon

GUESTS:

Jack Conte, co-founder and CEO of Patreon
Dylan Field, co-founder and CEO of Figma
Danny Rimer, partner, Index Ventures

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From podcasters to writers, YouTubers to rap artists, the forces of self-expression are in the midst of a generational seachange – with 75% of people in Gen Z saying they want to be creators, not just consumers. But what makes this creative class unique in the arc of human history, and how can startups support the coming digital renaissance? Hear two of the founders of today’s creator economy discuss its past, present and future: Jack Conte, co-founder and CEO of Patreon, and Dylan Field, co-founder and CEO of Figma.

Moderated by Index partner Danny Rimer, an early investor in both companies, Conte and Field begin by debating the core attributes of creators. They move to the importance of community and monetization, and the possibilities of NFTs – non-fungible tokens based on cryptocurrency blockchains, which creators are now using to sell digital artworks such as memes, videos, image files and songs. They discuss the nascent and as-yet-unimagined business models that will support media and arts in the 21st century, allowing creatives and their fans to capture more value than advertisers and intermediaries such as record companies and social media networks. Finally they turn to the size and influence of global ‘niches’, the consequences of democratising the creator mindset, and the future of global celebrity.