Today's technology-enabled world offers many ways to capitalize on creativity: creators are now earning individually, monetizing their unique skills. People are turning their passion, the things they love to do, into their earning source.Whether it's podcasting or video content creation, teaching or writing, individuals are changing the definition of a 'job'.

Enterprization of The Consumer

Money & Investments

<ul><li>On-demand marketplaces established, in the last 10 years, new ways for people to make money - workers could easily monetize their time in specific, narrow services (food delivery, parking, or transportation). </li><li>These marketplaces automated the matching of supply and demand, as well as pricing and used platforms that were convenient for both the user and the provider.</li><li>Specific platforms provided a path to self-employment for millions of people and they also homogenized the variety between service workers, prioritizing consistency and efficiency. </li></ul>

Evolution of The Passion Economy

New digital platforms are enabling the 'passion economy', where individuals with certain creative skill sets can earn a livelihood while doing the very thing they are good at.

These platforms provide:<ul><li>Greater ability to build customer relations. </li><li>Increased support for expanding their business. </li><li>Better tools for standing apart from the competition.</li></ul>

The Passion Economy

The Passion Economy platforms differ from the ones from the last decade in many ways.<ul><li>The revenue streams are not one-time, but ongoing, based on building/growing an audience.</li><li>They offer a wide variety of creative products and services.</li><li>The services provided are more scalable.</li><li>They respect the individuality and freedom or the creator. </li></ul>

The New Platforms

<div>The Passion Economy encourages everyone to become an entrepreneur.With enough scalability options, individuals can help other individuals using these platforms.There is little or no initial investment required, and if the business grows, they earn revenue along with their customers.</div>

Everyone Can Be An Entrepreneur

The new entrepreneurs working for the passion economy have one thing in common: They mostly work for digital products and services.Knowledge influencers like teachers and trainers, along with writers and audio/video content providers have the scalability advantage available courtesy the digitally-focused passion economy.

The Focus is Digital

The new digital business models enable completely original and organically created forms of work, branching out of the existing networks.Eventually, human capital starts to give rise to new industries.

Human Capital

<div>
The top-earning writer on the paid newsletter platform Substack earns more than $500,000 a year from reader subscriptions. The top content creator on Podia, a platform for video courses and digital memberships, makes more than $100,000 a month. And teachers across the US are bringing in thousands of dollars a month teaching live, virtual classes on Outschool and Juni Learning. 
These stories are indicative of a larger trend: call it the "creator stack" or the <a href="https://twitter.com/ljin18/status/1169753411639640064">"enterprization of consumer." </a> Whereas previously, the biggest online labor marketplaces flattened the individuality of workers, new platforms allow anyone to monetize unique skills. Gig work isn't going anywhere-but there are now more ways to capitalize on creativity. Users can now build audiences at scale and turn their passions into livelihoods, whether that's playing video games or producing video content. This has huge implications for entrepreneurship and what we'll think of as a "job" in the future . 
<h2>The Evolution of The Passion Economy</h2>
In the past decade, on-demand marketplaces in the <a href="https://a16z.com/2018/11/27/services-marketplaces-service-economy-evolution-whats-next/">"Uber for X" era </a> established turnkey ways for people to make money. Workers could easily monetize their time in specific, narrow services like food delivery, parking, or transportation. These marketplaces automated the matching of supply and demand, as well as pricing, to enhance liquidity. The platforms were convenient for both the user and the provider: since they took care of traditional business hurdles like customer acquisition and pricing, they allowed the worker to focus solely on the service rendered. 
But though these platforms provided a path to self-employment for millions of people, they also homogenized the variety between service workers, prioritizing consistency and efficiency. While the promise was "Be your own boss," the work was often one-dimensional. 
<h2>Monetizing Individuality</h2>
New digital platforms enable people to earn a livelihood in a way that highlights their individuality. These platforms give providers greater ability to build customer relationships, increased support in growing their businesses, and better tools for differentiating themselves from the competition. In the process, they're fueling a new model of internet-powered entrepreneurship. 
It's akin to the dynamic between Amazon-the standardized, mass-produced monolith-and the indie-focused Shopify, which allows users to form direct relationships with customers. That shift is already evident in marketplaces for physical products; it's now extending into services. 
These new platforms share a few commonalities: 

<ol>
	<li>They're accessible to everyone, not only existing businesses and professionals </li>
	<li>They view individuality as a feature, not a bug </li>
	<li>They focus on digital products and virtual services </li>
	<li>They provide holistic tools to grow and operate a business </li>
	<li>They open doors to new forms of work </li>
</ol>

<a href="https://a16z.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/190434-AH-Economy-Charts-FINAL-ART-Economy.jpg"><img src="https://a16z.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/190434-AH-Economy-Charts-FINAL-ART-Economy.jpg?w=881"></a> 
<ol> They're accessible to everyone, not only existing businesses and professionals</ol>

New consumer products are making it easy for anyone to become an entrepreneur. In the mid-2010s, the rise of the influencer industry allowed top-tier creators to monetize through advertising. These platforms expanded to support a broader range of money-making activities, from manufacturing physical products (e.g. Vybes, Hipdot, Genflow) to creating personalized videos (Cameo, VIPVR, Celeb VM). 
Now the ability to make a living off creative skills has trickled down to individuals at scale, helping everyday people to launch and grow businesses. Previously, only established businesses could access software engineering talent to build websites or apps; now, no-code website and app builders like Webflow and Glide have democratized that ability. Startups are also building mobile-first, lightweight versions of incumbent desktop software: Kapwing, for instance, is a web and mobile editor for videos, GIFs, and images that aims to displace legacy creative software. 
Companies have the opportunity to engage entrepreneurs in the early stages, then capture economic value as they grow. They might start with a <a href="http://cdixon.org/2010/01/03/the-next-big-thing-will-start-out-looking-like-a-toy/">very basic offering </a> and add product capabilities as their customers earn revenue and develop new needs. 
Whereas previous services marketplaces were rigidly built for standardized jobs, new platforms highlight variation among workers in categories that can benefit from more diversity in user choice . 
Take Outschool, an online marketplace for live video classes in which teachers are predominantly former school teachers and stay-at-home parents. On the platform, instructors can develop their own curricula or browse lists of courses requested by users. Beyond the subject matter, the marketplace's UI emphasizes each teacher's background, experience, and self-description. Parents and students can message instructors directly. 
For new platforms, this model can pose a sizeable risk: once consumers are able to work directly with a preferred provider on an ongoing basis, they may take that relationship offline. Marketplaces can combat disintermediation by offering workflow tools, like scheduling and invoicing, and by building in additional incentives that make it worthwhile for providers and users to remain on-platform. Marketplaces that cultivate these direct relationships can also succeed by focusing on areas-like education and tutoring-in which consumers might have repeated matching needs with a variety of different providers over time. 

<ol> They focus on digital products and virtual services</ol>

Whereas past generations of entrepreneurship-enabling platforms typically focused on selling physical products (e.g. Amazon, Etsy, Ebay, Shopify) or in-person services (e.g. Taskrabbit, Care.com, Uber), new creator platforms are focused on digital products. A platform built specifically for packaging and selling digital products looks different than a platform that is built for tangible goods. 
<a href="https://a16z.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Thinkific-1.png"><img src="https://a16z.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Thinkific-1.png?w=300"></a> Podia, Teachable, and Thinkific (at left) are all SaaS platforms that allow creators to make and sell video courses and digital memberships. Previously, these types of "knowledge influencers" had to either conduct classes in-person (restricting them to local customers); jerry-rig platforms meant for physical products, like Shopify; or customize sites like Wix and Squarespace. New platforms capitalize on the idea that expertise has economic value beyond a local, in-person audience. 
On the interior design marketplace Havenly, designers work remotely and interact with clients entirely online. For designers, the benefit is a steady stream of clients without the heavy lifting-since Havenly takes care of marketing-and the flexibility to work whenever, wherever. For clients, the benefit is access to a service that would otherwise be expensive or inaccessible. 

<ol> They provide holistic tools to grow and operate a business</ol>

Unlike discovery-focused marketplaces, which monetize through advertising, membership fees, or cost-per-lead, new platforms in the creator stack are often monetized through SaaS fees that increase as customers grow. Others take a percentage of the creator's earnings. This means that platforms are incentivized to help creators succeed and grow, rather than driving discrete, one-time transactions. 
Some platforms offer marketing tools like custom landing pages, coupons, and affiliate programs. Others provide behind-the-scenes support: Walden, for instance, connects new entrepreneurs with coaches for strategy and accountability. 
Sometimes, support may be bundled into platforms that help providers start a business. For instance, Prenda-a managed marketplace of K-8 microschools-provides teachers (called Guides) with curricula, computers, software, supplies, and assistance in navigating the necessary regulatory requirements and insurance. 

<ol> They open doors to new forms of work entirely</ol>

New digital platforms enable forms of work we've never seen before: 
<a href="https://a16z.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/190434-AH-Economy-Charts-FINAL-ART-Creators.jpg"><img src="https://a16z.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/190434-AH-Economy-Charts-FINAL-ART-Creators.jpg"></a> For a more extensive model of how human capital can give rise to new industries, look to China. On the microblogging site , for instance, users sell content such as Q&amp;As, exclusive chat groups, and invite-only live streams through memberships or a la carte purchases. This has spawned a wave of non-traditional influencers-financial advisors, bloggers, and professors-beyond typical beauty and fashion tastemakers. 
<h2>Factors to consider: Marketplaces vs. SaaS </h2>
When building a company in this space, it's important to consider the needs of the creators you're targeting, as well as their desired audience. There are tradeoffs between marketplaces and SaaS platforms. What's the difference? 
Marketplaces are entirely plug and play, meaning providers can sign up and start earning revenue with minimal set-up. The strength of a marketplace's two-sided network effect is directly correlated to the value it provides as an intermediary between supply and demand. One example of this model is Medium, which charges readers a subscription fee to access stories across the entire platform. The amount of money a writer makes is proportionate to the amount of time readers spend engaging with their stories. 
By contrast, SaaS platforms require creators to work independently to acquire customers. Such platforms might help with distribution-providing tools for marketing, managing customer relationships, and attribution-but users are largely responsible for growing their own businesses. On Substack, for example, features include a writer homepage, mailing list, payments, analytics, and a variety of different subscription offerings. Substack collects a portion of the creator's subscription revenue. 
In the marketplace model, writers count on Medium to drive reader traffic and subscriptions. On the SaaS platform (Substack), writers drive their own direct traffic and subscriptions; they can export their subscriber list at any time. 
Marketplaces bring value for creators looking to be discovered and attract customers over time. SaaS tools often make sense for more established creators who already have a customer base. In response to this dynamic, many startups are building SaaS platforms that aim to poach large creators from existing marketplaces. 
<h3>Looking Ahead </h3>
New integrated platforms empower entrepreneurs to monetize individuality and creativity. In the coming years, the passion economy will to continue to grow. We envision a future in which the value of unique skills and knowledge can be unlocked, augmented, and surfaced to consumers. 
If you're building a company in this space, we'd love to chat! 
***
The views expressed here are those of the individual AH Capital Management, L.L.C. ("a16z") personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources, including from portfolio companies of funds managed by a16z. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, a16z has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by a16z. (An offering to invest in an a16z fund will be made only by the private placement memorandum, subscription agreement, and other relevant documentation of any such fund and should be read in their entirety.) Any investments or portfolio companies mentioned, referred to, or described are not representative of all investments in vehicles managed by a16z, and there can be no assurance that the investments will be profitable or that other investments made in the future will have similar characteristics or results. A list of investments made by funds managed by Andreessen Horowitz (excluding investments for which the issuer has not provided permission for a16z to disclose publicly as well as unannounced investments in publicly traded digital assets) is available at <a href="https://a16z.com/investments/">https://a16z.com/investments/</a>. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see <a href="https://a16z.com/disclosures">https://a16z.com/disclosures</a> for additional important information. </div>

The top-earning writer on the paid newsletter platform Substack earns more than $500,000 a year from reader subscriptions. The top content creator on Podia, a platform for video courses and digital memberships, makes more than $100,000 a month. And teachers across the US are bringing in thousands of dollars a month teaching live, virtual classes on Outschool and Juni Learning.

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career

The Passion Economy and the Future of Work

Enterprization of The Consumer

Evolution of The Passion Economy

The Passion Economy

The New Platforms

Everyone Can Be An Entrepreneur

The Focus is Digital

Human Capital

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Bite-sized knowledgeto upgradeyour career

The Passion Economy and the Future of Work

Enterprization of The Consumer

Evolution of The Passion Economy

The Passion Economy

The New Platforms

Everyone Can Be An Entrepreneur

The Focus is Digital

Human Capital

IDEAS ABOUT

MORE LIKE THIS

The Creator Economy: Audience, Community, and Commerce

The Corporate Metaverse: A Complete Guide For Business Leaders

3 Steps for Turning Your Passion Into a Profitable Startup

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career