Creator Economy MapThe Music Cities™ and BusinessFlare® · 2005 to 2026
Intermediaries · tool or rail

IZEA Worldwide

Creator sponsorship marketplace, public company · Orlando

Founded
2006
Entered
2006
Status 2026
Active
Metro
Orlando
Embeddedness
3 connections
Confidence
verified · strongest source primary or company

Method

Ted Murphy launches PayPerPost in Orlando in 2006, the first marketplace that pays bloggers per sponsored post, and renames it IZEA, which lists publicly and trades on Nasdaq. It is paid a take rate on marketplace transactions and managed campaign fees from brands, and it publishes annual creator pricing data. Murphy steps down after eighteen years when board member Patrick Venetucci becomes chief executive on September 9, 2024, and the company sells its Australian unit Hoozu in December 2024. IZEA reports 31.2 million dollars of 2025 revenue, down from 35.9 million, but swings from an 18.9 million dollar loss to break even, and enters 2026 with 50.9 million dollars of cash, no debt and a stated appetite for acquisitions, buying FeaturedUsers in 2026.

People: Ted Murphy, Patrick Venetucci

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The path: money and goods moving

  • came out ofTed MurphyTed Murphy founds PayPerPost, later IZEA, in Orlando in 2006 and leads it for eighteen years.2006
  • acquiredFeaturedUsersIZEA acquires FeaturedUsers on December 10, 2012 in a cash and stock transaction with terms undisclosed. (partly verified)2012
  • spawnedTed MurphyTed Murphy departs IZEA on September 9, 2024 when Patrick Venetucci becomes chief executive.2024
Sources (primary or company): izea.com · tipranks.com · izea.com