00:00What if I told you one podcast deal just proved that creators aren't the future of media,
00:04they already run it? Social media entrepreneur turned podcaster Stephen Bartlett, the mind
00:10behind Diary of a CEO, just raised a massive eight-figure investment for his company Stephen.com,
00:16Bartlett's creator holding company. Stephen.com reportedly houses media divisions like Flight
00:20Story, collaborating with top creators such as Trevor Noah, while providing tools to grow audiences,
00:26monetize content, and launch new ventures. And according to Afrotech.com, with the newly
00:31secured funding, the company's valuation is now $425 million, making it Europe's largest ever
00:38creator-holding company round. But Bartlett didn't start with millions in funding or a massive media
00:43team. The creator states back in 2017, it all began with a simple $100 microphone and an idea for a
00:50podcast, proving that creators can build media empires from scratch without the backing of
00:54traditional networks. And that initial investment helped Bartlett reportedly launch Diary of a CEO,
01:00which today has over 13 million subscribers, 70 million monthly views, and more than 1 billion
01:06YouTube views altogether. Now, Bartlett is using Stephen.com to give other creators the tools,
01:11funding, and infrastructure to scale their own brands. His mission, quote, is to turn individual
01:17creators into global brands with the same scale and impact as Disney, but in the modern internet era.
01:23Unlike traditional networks, which rely on huge teams, multi-million dollar sets,
01:29and years of build-up just to launch a single show, creators are building digital media empires from
01:34ideas, scaling faster than legacy networks ever could. Take Mr. Beast, for example. He started with
01:40a small YouTube channel and a goal to be the biggest YouTuber. Now, Donaldson runs a media empire,
01:46including brand partnerships, a charity, and food ventures, reportedly worth over $5 billion.
01:52And Emma Chamberlain turned casual vlogs into a multi-platform lifestyle brand with podcasts,
01:58merchandise, and major collaborations. And that's exactly why investors are betting big on creators,
02:04as their loyal, engaged communities and multiple revenue streams make them fully-fledged media
02:09businesses. Plus, according to NetInfluencer, Bartlett's new deal allows him to retain more than 90%
02:15ownership of Stephen.com, proving creators can secure capital without giving up control. But Bartlett's
02:21journey from a $100 microphone to a $425 million valuation is just another creator example that
02:27proves that the rules of media power have changed, and creators are leading that shift. As Bartlett
02:32shared on X, quote, we no longer need permission to create. So do you feel Bartlett's company can help
02:38creators reach Disney-level influence? Share your thoughts and follow us everywhere at What's Trending.
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