Creator Ventures Doubles Down on Consumer AI with $45M Fund and Big Wins

Creator Ventures, a venture capital fund co-founded by early YouTube star Caspar Lee and investor Sasha Kaletsky, has announced the launch of its second fund, raising $45 million—more than double its initial $20 million fund. The firm focuses on seed and pre-seed investments in consumer internet startups, with a growing emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

The fund’s origins trace back to a remarkable success story involving Wild, an eco-friendly deodorant startup. After a casual LinkedIn pitch to Caspar Lee, and subsequent involvement by Kaletsky, Wild was acquired by Unilever for approximately $286 million in 2025. This exit exemplifies the potential of consumer-focused startups backed by Creator Ventures.

Beyond Wild, Creator Ventures has made strategic investments in high-growth companies such as Eleven Labs, an AI audio startup now valued at over $3.3 billion, and Runna, which was acquired by Strava. The fund also supports innovative platforms like Beehiiv, a newsletter service, and Praktika, an AI-powered language learning app.

Looking ahead, Fund II will maintain its focus on consumer-facing companies but with a sharper lens on AI-driven innovation. Kaletsky highlights the massive market opportunity, noting that trillions of dollars flow through app stores annually, and even a small share captured by AI consumer apps could generate numerous unicorns.

Creator Ventures is also exploring emerging trends such as microdrama streaming apps, which have gained significant traction in Asian markets and are now expanding rapidly in the U.S. Apps like DramaBox and ReelShort have demonstrated explosive revenue growth, fueled by high subscription pricing models that rival traditional streaming services.

In addition to these trends, Creator Ventures backs more experimental projects like Status, a social network where users post updates visible only to AI bots. This novel concept blends social media with AI interaction, attracting over one million users globally since its recent launch.

While not exclusively a creator economy fund, Creator Ventures leverages the synergy between startup founders and content creators. Caspar Lee emphasizes that many consumer internet founders are becoming creators themselves, using social channels as powerful go-to-market strategies.

The new fund is supported by prominent investors including Level, Cendana, Vintage, Isomer Capital, and Sequoia. Notably, some backers had not invested in consumer-dedicated funds for over a decade, signaling renewed confidence in the consumer internet sector amid the AI revolution.

Creator Ventures’ journey from a single LinkedIn pitch to a multi-million dollar fund underscores the transformative potential of consumer AI startups. Their strategic investments and trendspotting offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and investors aiming to capitalize on the evolving digital landscape.