What Newbook does

Newbook (legal entity Newbook Labs Inc.) is a two-sided online marketplace that connects fashion models, commercial/promotional talent, and UGC creators with brand clients for paid photoshoots, videoshoots, events, and short-form content. The platform is delivered as a client-facing web app (newbookmodels.com) and a talent-facing iOS mobile app (App Store ID 1316969583), with both sides undergoing curated application review. The technology stack wraps an end-to-end transaction workflow — search/filter, option requests with a 7-day hold, in-app messaging with file attachments, e-signed contracts, Stripe-powered payment processing, and post-shoot review — and notably pays out 90% to talent within 72 hours of job completion (or same day per homepage copy), versus an industry-standard 90-day cycle. Underlying infrastructure is built on Stripe for payments and billing, Apple/Google in-app purchase rails for the Newbook Plus subscription, and Google Analytics for usage telemetry; no public API or SDK is offered.

The business model combines a 10% marketplace take rate on completed jobs (raised for the first time in 6+ years in July 2025) with a Newbook Plus recurring subscription, Newbook Perks paid services, and a three-tier UGC offering (self-service from ~$100/creator, managed service, and full production) that adds agency-like revenue at the higher end. Customers include a mix of enterprise brands (Nordstrom, Lululemon, Disney, Gucci, Revolve) and mid-market/SMB buyers (Drybar, LimeCrime, Blends, Vanity Planet) across 1,000+ brands and roughly 50,000+ vetted talents, with operations concentrated in four U.S. metros (Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Miami). Founded circa 2017 and privately held with 1-10 employees, Newbook is bootstrapped-plus (a single disclosed $1.5M round from Altpoint Capital Partners in 2017), runs a primarily self-serve product-led growth motion with an inside-sales overlay for managed UGC engagements, and reports 18,000+ cumulative completed jobs and 1,500+ UGC projects across its primary markets.

Name

Newbook

Legal name

Newbook Labs Inc.

Website

https://newbookmodels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Newbook operates a two-sided online marketplace connecting 50,000+ vetted fashion models and UGC creators with 1,000+ brands across LA, NYC, Chicago, and Miami, taking a 10% fee on bookings and offering a Newbook Plus subscription plus managed UGC production services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Talent Marketplace Platform

akta.pro primary industry

UGC (User-Generated Content) Production & Creator Networks (MPAAAHAF)

Keywords

• Talent marketplace
• Fashion model booking
• UGC creator platform
• Promotional talent staffing
• Brand content production

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Marketplace platform fee: Newbook charges a 10% platform/service fee on completed jobs, deducted from the model payout, with a separate 10% service fee also charged to clients per the FAQ. This is Newbook's core marketplace take-rate, raised for the first time in 6+ years in mid-2025 to fund talent acquisition and product investment.
2. Newbook Plus subscription: Recurring subscription Paid Service offering access to premium features, benefits, and a 'Newbook Plus Labs' early-access feature track. Billed automatically through Apple in-app purchase, Google in-app purchase, or Stripe on the web, with cancellation possible at any time and no refunds for partial periods.
3. Newbook Perks and other Paid Services: Additional one-time or recurring paid features (Newbook Perks is cited as a separate Paid Service alongside Newbook Plus). All payments final and non-refundable except as required by law.
4. UGC self-service and managed production services: For UGC, pricing for self-service bookings typically starts around $100 per creator; managed services and full production packages are quoted based on deliverables, volume, and complexity, providing an upsell path from self-serve to higher-touch agency-like engagements.
5. Payment processing fees: Processing fees associated with ACH/credit card transactions on completed jobs, plus an additional $15 charge for each returned NSF ACH attempt as separate transaction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Newbook operates a two-sided online marketplace that connects vetted fashion models, promotional talent, and UGC creators with brand clients (retailers, e-commerce companies, casting directors, and agencies) for paid photoshoots, campaigns, and content. Clients discover talent through a web app, request bookings under a 7-day Option/Hold, sign electronic contracts, and pay within the platform, while talent manages jobs and receives 90% of the job rate within 72 hours (or same day) via the companion iOS app. The company also offers a tiered UGC production service (self-service, managed, and full production) for brands needing short-form social content.

Product overview

Newbook operates a single unified two-sided talent marketplace platform — not a platform-plus-modules architecture in the traditional sense — comprising the Newbook web app for brands/clients and a companion iOS mobile app used by Talent (models, photographers, stylists). Layered on top of that core marketplace are the Newbook Plus subscription (with the Newbook Plus Labs early-access program) and Newbook Perks, both defined as Paid Services under the Purchaser Terms; the Professional/Verified Talent (Level PRO) program layers a trust badge and free Plus subscription on top of verified talent accounts. Within the core marketplace, UGC hiring is offered as three distinct service tiers (self-service, managed, and full production), and city-specific landing pages (Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami) act as localized sub-products of the browse/search experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Newbook Platform (web marketplace) Core two-sided online marketplace that connects Talent (models, photographers, stylists) with Talent Seekers (brands, casting directors, agencies) for paid, professional modeling jobs, with browse/filter, option/hold requests, in-app messaging with file attachments, built-in contracts, electronic payment processing, and dispute resolution.
• Newbook iOS mobile app (for Talent) Native iOS application (App Store ID 1316969583) used by models and creators to manage their portfolio, receive and respond to casting and booking requests, communicate with clients, and get paid within 72 hours of a completed job.
• Newbook Plus subscription Recurring paid subscription that unlocks additional features, benefits, and services on the Newbook platform, including the Newbook Plus Labs early-access program and a 'Professional and Verified Talent' badge for qualified models. Billed via Apple IAP, Google IAP, or Stripe on the web.
• Newbook Perks Paid Service referenced alongside Newbook Plus under the Purchaser Terms, providing additional features and benefits to subscribers; all payments are final and non-refundable except as required by law.
• UGC Creator service Three-tier UGC offering: (1) Self-service - clients browse, book, and pay creators directly starting at approximately $100 per creator; (2) Managed service - Newbook team shortlists creators, handles outreach, and oversees delivery; (3) Full production - end-to-end content strategy, production, and editing. Targets fashion, beauty, and wellness brands on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ models and UGC creators in the talent network
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core infrastructure, core distribution, minor / dispute resolution and minor / planned distribution.

• Stripecore infrastructureTechnology or IntegrationStripe is Newbook's embedded payment processor for all client-to-talent payouts, ACH/credit card billing, automatic recurring subscription billing (including Newbook Plus), and dispute/chargeback handling. Per the Privacy Policy, Newbook does not store credit card numbers; Stripe's privacy policy governs cardholder data. Newbook is a deep, platform-critical integration.
• Apple (App Store)core distributionOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerNewbook distributes its model-facing mobile app exclusively through Apple's App Store (App ID 1316969583). Apple is also a supported payment rail for Newbook Plus subscriptions via Apple in-app purchase, and Apple is a third-party beneficiary of the Terms of Service.
• JAMS, Inc.minor / dispute resolutionOthersDesignated mediation and arbitration provider for disputes between Newbook and its Talent/Talent Seekers. Per the Terms of Service, contested matters must first go to mediation before a retired JAMS judge; unresolved disputes proceed to binding JAMS arbitration in Los Angeles County.
• American Arbitration Association (AAA)minor / dispute resolutionOthersDesignated administrator for binding arbitration of Paid-Service disputes under the Newbook Purchaser Terms. Arbitrations are administered by the AAA in Cleveland, OH, under the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules, with a single mutually agreed-upon arbitrator.
• Google Play Storeminor / planned distributionOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAnticipated distribution and payment channel for an Android version of the Newbook model app, and a supported billing rail for Newbook Plus subscriptions (Google in-app purchase). Per the FAQ, an Android app and web version for models are 'in development.'

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Models.com: Long-established modeling industry directory and job platform connecting fashion models with agencies and clients. Comparable to Newbook as a two-sided destination for sourcing modeling talent, but it is a broader incumbent with an agency-first model rather than a direct-book marketplace.
• Grin: Creator marketing platform for enterprise brands, combining discovery, gifting, affiliate, and UGC workflows. Comparable as an end-to-end creator-marketing destination for the same enterprise brands Newbook serves (Nordstrom, Lululemon, Revolve-class accounts).
• Ford Models: Iconic traditional modeling agency that supplies fashion talent to brand campaigns. Comparable as an incumbent Newbook is disintermediating via its direct-book marketplace, but with a higher-end editorial focus and traditional agency commissions.
• Next Management: Global modeling and talent agency representing fashion and commercial talent worldwide. Comparable to Newbook on the supply side (fashion/editorial models) and a traditional-agency counterpart whose 20%+ commissions Newbook's flat 10% take-rate directly competes against.
• Backstage (Cast It Systems): Long-running casting and talent marketplace for actors, models, and performers. Comparable to Newbook on the talent-discovery and direct-book workflow, though broader in scope (acting, theater, voiceover) and oriented toward traditional casting pipelines.

Direct peers

• Billo: UGC creator marketplace where brands browse, book, and pay creators for short-form video content. Directly comparable to Newbook's UGC offering: same self-serve-plus-managed-service structure, same target buyer (DTC and e-commerce brands), and overlapping supply (fashion/lifestyle creators).
• Insense: Influencer and UGC platform offering self-serve creator booking plus managed whitelisted ad campaigns. Closely comparable to Newbook's UGC tiered offering and target brand segment, with a stronger paid/performance orientation.
• Aspire (formerly AspireIQ): Influencer and UGC marketplace that lets brands discover, brief, and pay creators at scale. Comparable to Newbook's managed-service UGC workflow and brand-customer overlap, with a broader influencer-marketing orientation.
• Casting Networks: Online casting platform used by brands, agencies, and casting directors to source talent for film, TV, editorial, and commercial projects. Comparable to Newbook as a direct-book talent marketplace for fashion and commercial modeling, with a deeper casting/film focus.

Regional players

• Pulse Advertising: Influencer and creator marketing agency with strong presence in Europe. Comparable to Newbook's managed-service UGC tier as an agency-style offering for fashion/beauty/lifestyle brands, though primarily serving the EMEA market rather than the U.S.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/newbookmodels
• Xx.com/newbookmodels

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Newbook