The startup Fourthwall has raised $17 million in VC funding and appointed Phil DeFranco as its chief creator officer, as it looks to help creators build self-branded websites that can host a varied array of business ventures.
The company’s first funding round featured participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Initialized Capital, and Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six. In his role, veteran creator DeFranco — who uses Fourthwall — will guide product development.
Fourthwall was founded in 2019 by Will Baumann, and helps creators build self-branded websites that they own — including all back-end data. On these sites, creators can design and vend merch, as well as offer memberships for content access. While providing similar services to platforms like Patreon, Cameo, OnlyFans, and Spring, Fourthwall offers a white-label service that puts creator branding front and center.
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Fourthwall is open to everyone, though interested users must submit an invite request. While free to join, the platform takes a 5% cut of all creator earnings, Techcrunch reports, plus a 2.9% credit card processing fee and 30 cents on each transaction.
This year, Fourthwall says creator usage has catapulted tenfold, with “multiple” users making over $1 million on the platform.
“When I first joined Fourthwall, thanks to their amazing team and next level tech, I immediately increased my merchandise revenue tenfold, and started getting compliments rather than complaints about customer service,” DeFranco said in a statement.
Other creators who use the service include comedy vlogger Brandon Farris, musician Harry Mack, and the meet-up group No More Lonely Friends.
