Slow Ventures has made its first investment from its dedicated $60 million Creator Fund launched in February, backing woodworking content creator Jonathan Katz-Moses with a $2 million investment as venture capital continues to flow into influencer-led businesses, per TechCrunch.

Katz-Moses, who operates a woodworking YouTube channel with nearly 600,000 subscribers and 75 million video views, has expanded beyond content creation to develop his own line of woodworking tools and accessories.

He entered woodworking following a violent assault in 2010 that left him with severe injuries requiring 80 stitches. This near-death experience prompted him to pursue his passions for woodworking and business.

His business now generates mid-seven figures in revenue without marketing spend, operating on the principle “If it’s in our store, it’s in our shop,” according to Megan Lightcap, an investor at Slow Ventures.

The investment comes after Slow Ventures evaluated 700 applicants to its Creator Fund.

Investment Strategy for Niche Authorities

Slow Ventures’ Creator Fund specifically seeks creators who have become authorities in specialized areas rather than broad entertainment or celebrity figures. The fund typically invests for a 10% stake in a creator’s holding company with rights of first refusal on future business ventures.

“The pandemic accelerated direct-to-consumer growth for many. But the real signal is in the ones who’ve maintained and grown past that boom, which shows they can build something lasting and sustainable,” said Billy Parks, Slow Ventures partner and lead investor on the deal, in a statement.

The fund, backed by limited partners including MIT and the University of Michigan, represents what appears to be the first dedicated venture fund focused exclusively on creator-entrepreneurs.

Parks cited Katz-Moses’s “serious and long-term commitment to the brand and building a scaled business” as key factors in the investment decision after visiting his 30,000-square-foot shop in Santa Barbara.

With the new funding, Katz-Moses has already hired product developers, filed patent applications, and begun exploring new product development. He plans to expand his content across major platforms while maintaining YouTube as his primary focus.

Back in February, Sam Lessin, Slow Ventures partner, drew parallels between today’s creator economy and early app developers: “In the early 2000s, you had all these kids building apps, and professional VCs said, ‘That’s cute.’ When we go to VCs now about creators, they say the same thing. Which means they’re going to miss out again.”

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