Here’s what you missed over the past weeks in the creator economy.

These recent headlines offer a glimpse into the most important moves and news, and they are just the tip of the iceberg.

When creator authenticity and distribution are paired with the vision of experienced consumer founders and strong operating discipline, we can see just how far these initiatives can go, surpassing the billion-dollar mark.

Once Upon a Farm, the baby food company co-founded by Jennifer Garner, successfully listed on the NYSE on February 6, 2026, reaching a market capitalisation near $1 billion.

Founded in 2015, the brand added Jennifer Garner as co-founder in 2017, alongside John Foraker, former CEO of Annie's Homegrown, a successful organic food brand (acquired in 2014 by General Mills for +$800M, with John as CEO).

Her credibility with parents, combined with Foraker's management expertise, fueled growth. In 2022, the company raised a $50M round led by CAVU Consumer Partners, a top consumer fund behind successes like Poppi (a brand that also scaled through the creator-founder playbook with Alix Earle).

Fast forward to 2025: Once Upon a Farm leveraged this fresh funding to grow beyond 94% pouch-based sales (2023), rebranding as a childhood nutrition powerhouse with protein bars and frozen meals targeting big kids. This strategic move extended customer lifetime value from 18 months to 12 years across diverse categories, while tactical large-scale in-store branded cooler rollouts fueled 61% retail sales growth, driving net sales to $225M (+60% CAGR since 2018) and consolidating OUAF's category dominance ahead of its IPO.

Congrats to all those involved.

Sydney Sweeney launched Syrn, a lingerie brand backed by Coatue Management's new $1B Innovation Fund.

The debut generated 50M+ organic Instagram views in its first week, fueled by a controversial pre-launch stunt. Sweeney scaled the Hollywood sign, draped it in bras, and TMZ leaked the footage the day before launch. She now faces potential legal action.

The risk was calculated, and we believe it paid off. Most products sold out immediately, with any fines most likely offset by the massive attention surge.

While it’s early to determine if Syrn will truly be able to disrupt the category like creator brands in adjacent segments have done (i.e., Skims), Sydney Sweeney has proven she knows how to make savvy use of controversy. She did it before with American Eagle, delivering immense value to the brand; now she's done it for her own.

NOBULL just raised $50M at a $1B valuation, its first funding since Mike Repole, the entrepreneur behind Vitaminwater and BodyArmor (about $10 billion in combined exit value, both to Coca-Cola), stepped in.

Founded in 2015 by Marcus Wilson and Michael Schaeffer, NOBULL built its reputation on CrossFit-focused footwear and apparel. However, in 2023, it faced staff layoffs, a CMO departure, and the big question of how to relaunch.

Mike Repole stepped in, taking majority control in July 2023. His first move was merging Tom Brady's TB12 (performance/nutrition) and Brady Brand directly into NOBULL, launching NOBULL Nutrition.

This anchored the company to one of the most trusted names in sports. He then doubled down, signing mainstream icons like Livvy Dunne and NFL/NHL stars, and expanded the assortment to more casual training and everyday wear via the acquisition of Public Rec.

Mike Repole's moves have the clear goal of repositioning the brand from performance apparel tied to a sport that's losing its flair (i.e., CrossFit) into a much larger wellness and casual wear market.

Definitely one to watch.

Beast Industries acquired Step, a U.S. fintech app focused on financial literacy and money management for Gen Z.

Founded in 2018, Step has raised over $500 million from venture firms including General Catalyst, Coatue, and Stripe, as well as celebrity investors such as Stephen Curry, Charli D'Amelio, Justin Timberlake, Will Smith, and The Chainsmokers, which helped grow its user base to more than 7 million users.

The acquisition by Beast Industries is interesting as it's the first of its kind concerning financial services, and it comes after a series of rounds that propelled the company's growth.

The rationale makes sense: MrBeast frequently discusses money in his videos, and Step's target persona aligns with MrBeast's community.

The deal allows MrBeast to enter a regulated industry by acquiring expertise and infrastructure rather than building from scratch.

This could have a significant impact on Step's adoption, and we will definitely follow its progress.

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