Episode description

How can brands better connect with digital creators (at scale) to elevate their storytelling? Enter Cult Creative, a Malaysian creator-first platform that connects brands with a dynamic network of content creators. Founded in 2020 by Shermaine Wong, Cult Creative began as a simple matchmaking tool and has evolved into an ecosystem that streamlines brand collaborations and empowers creators with campaign management and analytics.

After securing RM500,000 from The Hive Southeast Asia and receiving grant support from Cradle Fund, Cult Creative is continuing its expansion drive, aiming to 3X revenue in 2025. In this episode, Shermaine shares insights on the platform’s evolution and teases the upcoming launch of new features, including the Creator Academy and enhanced Creator Platform, along with strategies for driving sustained growth in a competitive market.

Shermaine won the Founder to Watch award at Cradle Fund’s PLUGIN 2024 conference in December.

Here are some AI-generated key highlights from the conversation:

Creator Economy Transformation: Cult Creative connects brands with nano and micro-influencers to power marketing campaigns and drive high-quality creator-generated content.

Streamlined Platform: The newly launched creator platform simplifies administrative tasks by handling agreements, invoicing, and ensuring 30-day payment cycles for creators.

Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with agencies expand access to larger brands, allowing agencies to focus on client management while Cult Creative taps into broader markets.

Market Trends & Growth: Leveraging trends like TikTok’s dominance and the rise of UGC, the platform offers a unique value proposition with its Creator Academy, empowering creators to scale their skills and careers.

Financial Performance & Future Plans: After achieving 4.2x revenue growth in 2024 (RM1.52M) and paying out nearly RM700K to creators, Cult Creative is targeting 3x growth in 2025 (RM5M) through initiatives like a new brand and agency dashboard, regional expansion into Singapore and Hong Kong, and integrating AI for enhanced productivity and efficiency.

Financial Performance & Future Plans: After achieving 4.2x revenue growth in 2024 (RM1.52M) and paying out nearly RM700K to creators, Cult Creative is targeting 3x growth in 2025 (RM5M) through initiatives like a new brand and agency dashboard, regional expansion into Singapore and Hong Kong, and integrating AI for enhanced productivity and efficiency.

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