What if one person could build a $100 million brand — without a team? Pietra’s new AI assistant is making that future possible right now.

Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc9

In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Ronak Trivedi and Tala Akhavan, co-founders of Pietra, to explore how their new AI assistant is revolutionizing e-commerce. They dive into the powerful potential of AI-powered digital workers and how this new tech is helping solo creators build and scale brands like never before.

Topics Discussed:
- The launch of Pietra’s AI assistant for e-commerce operations
- How AI can automate 80–90% of a business’s backend processes
- Real-world use cases from creators and brand owners using Pietra
- Ethical and creative implications of AI in entrepreneurship
- The duo’s early days at Uber and their approach to tech-driven problem solving

Key Takeaways:
- Learn how Pietra’s AI assistants automate the most time-consuming parts of running a business — from sourcing to fulfillment to marketing
- Discover how solo entrepreneurs can now scale brands faster than ever, with minimal overhead
- Understand the real-world impact of AI on creativity, brand authenticity, and founder focus
- Hear behind-the-scenes stories from Pietra’s early days at Uber and how those lessons shaped their tech
- Get inspired by real case studies of creators and celebrities using Pietra to bring product ideas to life in just hours

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

What if your kid’s favorite YouTuber could also make them fall in love with science? That’s exactly what CrunchLabs is doing — and today, Jim Lee, the company’s President and COO, reveals how.

Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc8

In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Jim to explore how CrunchLabs transformed from a kitchen-table idea with Mark Rober into a multimillion-dollar creator brand redefining STEM education. From high-tech toy kits to school curriculums and viral collaborations, Jim shares the blueprint behind building a purpose-driven creator business that’s both wildly fun and deeply educational.

Topics Discussed:
- How CrunchLabs launched and scaled with Mark Rober
- Building and testing subscription products like BuildBox and HackPack
- Using content and physical products to spark interest in STEM
- Collaborations with Dude Perfect, chess.com, and more
- The future of CrunchLabs in the classroom

What You’ll Learn:
- The behind-the-scenes story of a top creator brand's launch and growth
- How to pair content with products to create powerful engagement
- What it takes to keep kids (and adults) excited about STEM
- How creators can expand into education without losing their brand magic
- Practical advice on testing, partnerships, and authentic storytelling

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

What happens when you combine a viral creator with a disruptive candy brand? In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd dives into the story of 1UP with co-founders Michael Schenker, and Chris Koch — the team behind the bold new candy brand launched with FaZe Rug. From rapid product innovation to landing Walmart distribution in months, they share how they’re building a Gen Z-first CPG company with creators at the core.

Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc7

Topics Discussed:
- The origin and growth strategy behind 1UP Candy
- How FaZe Rug became an authentic co-founder — not just a face
- Equity, royalties, and what creator partnerships really look like
- Navigating retail launches and the power of viral product experiences
- Future product categories in protein and kids’ nutrition

Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to structure meaningful creator partnerships beyond sponsorships
- Discover how to use consumer insights and social trends to build breakout products
- Understand what retailers really want from creator-led brands
- See how a lean team used speed, testing, and authenticity to win shelf space
- Get inspired by how to turn creator influence into long-term brand equity

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!