Raptive’s independent content creators have transformed their passions—from food to finance—into thriving businesses. On their own websites, blogs, and online channels, they reach 191M people in the U.S. every month and contribute over $1B in annual revenue to the U.S. economy.
Tune into the livestream to hear directly from these trailblazing entrepreneurs about the rewards and challenges of building their brands from the ground up and how you can empower their journey in the AI era.
Kevin Blue and Darin Blue (aka “The Blue Brothers”) are proud Ashland City, TN residents. They are the highly regarded cofounders of Country Rebel, a dominant force in the country music industry. The brand has flourished, amassing over 12 million followers across platforms and reaching an impressive monthly audience of 30 to 50 million people. The Blue Brothers run Country Rebel with a big heart for faith, family, and patriotism–it’s not just about music; it’s about bringing people together who share these same core beliefs. With an unwavering dedication to their craft and an innovative approach to business, Kevin and Darin continue to leave a tremendous mark on the world of country music, all while staying true to the values and legacy that make the genre beloved by millions.
Kimber Matherne is the creative force behind the popular site, Easy Family Recipes, which has become a go-to resource for millions of home cooks looking to get dinner on the table on busy weeknights. A mom of three and a devoted military wife, Kimber understands the challenges of balancing family life with wholesome, delicious meals. With over a decade of experience sharing recipes online, she has curated a collection of more than 1,000 easy-to-follow recipes designed to bring joy and convenience to the dinner time rush. Her expertise and engaging approach have earned her features in prominent national publications including USA Today, Parade, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, and Buzzfeed, among others. Kimber's commitment to making family meals easier and more enjoyable has garnered her a loyal following and cemented Easy Family Recipes as a beloved and reliable resource for busy families everywhere.
Lindsay Ostrom is the founder of Pinch of Yum, a personal blog that documents her favorite recipes, life stories, and travel adventures. What started as a casual hobby while Lindsay worked as an elementary school teacher has now grown into a profitable business. Together with her husband Bjork (and their dog Sage), she shares her love for fresh and flavorful recipes inspired by her everyday life in Saint Paul, MN. Bjork has maximized the potential of Pinch of Yum, growing the site's reach to over five million people monthly. As a business advisor and head of their umbrella company TinyBit–which also houses Food Blogger Pro, Clariti, and Curbly–as well as host of the Food Blogger Pro podcast, he shares the wisdom they've gained over the years and empowers others to build their own successful businesses. Pinch of Yum's recipes and content have been featured on The Kitchn, CNN, Refinery29, POPSUGAR, and more.
Toni Lipsey, the designer and instructor behind TL Yarn Crafts, strives to spark others’ creativity through online tutorials and modern, approachable crochet patterns. Toni learned to crochet from her mother as a teenager and has been exploring the possibilities of yarn ever since. She offers 100+ crochet patterns on her website and thousands of hours of crochet instruction and inspiration on her YouTube channel. When she’s not crocheting, you can find Toni cuddled with her fur babes, kitty Sheba and puppy Pepper, and husband in her metro-Detroit home, binge-watching the latest true-crime thriller. Follow her daily crochet journey and pick up her book, The Tunisian Crochet Handbook, and patterns on tlyarncrafts.com.
Larry Irving is the President of the Irving Group, a consulting firm providing strategic planning and consulting services to international telecommunications, media and technology companies, non-profit organizations, and philanthropies. Irving is also an operating partner and chief public policy, ESG and DEI advisor to ZMC, a private equity firm.
Marc McCollum is the Chief Innovation Officer at Raptive. He is responsible for developing new revenue streams that open monetization opportunities for over 5,000 creators, including affiliate products, services, and new video and social offerings, complementing the company's leading digital advertising sales business. In his role, he focuses on innovative strategies that empower creators to maximize their earnings and expand their reach.
Michael Sanchez is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Raptive. He is responsible for leading the company as it builds a creator-first future where independent creators become the most valuable and important part of digital media. In his role, he is focused on supporting an extraordinary 300-person team while growing the company’s capabilities that empower 5,200 of the world’s best creators to build their businesses and compete at the highest levels on their own terms.
Raptive represents America’s largest and most diverse network of independent content creators and entrepreneurs who are integral to both our economy and cultural landscape. We are dedicated to making sure their voices are heard in the national debate about the future of the Internet and to fight for their essential role in the age of AI. These 5,200 independent creators have supported their families and communities with the $2.5 billion we have paid directly to them as their strategic partner. Through their collective efforts, the Raptive network reaches nearly 200 million Americans every month, amplifying voices from all walks of life, particularly women, minorities, and underserved communities.
