YouTube content has come a long way from Me at the zoo, and though the lo-fi video style has seen a resurgence with the popularity of TikTok and YouTube Shorts, long-form content continues to see higher, glossier production value.

But that production value requires upfront investment, and sometimes the money creators are currently earning from their content isn’t enough to fund videos they want to make in the future. That’s where creator-specific financial services companies come in. As the creator industry has matured, more and more creators have become entrepreneurs, small business owners, and even investors (in each other, and in platforms). And, in recognition of their growing need for capital, an entire financial services empire has sprung up to offer creators the cash they need to further their careers.

One of those companies in Fundmates. Founded in 2022 by Ilia Dronov, Daniel Galper, Monika Kuizinaite, and Jake Scherbak,...