What Display does

Display was a US-based consumer social media platform, originally founded in 2016 under the name Tsu and rebranded to Display in 2021, with headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut. The platform was built around a creator-monetization model in which users — including artists, athletes, celebrities, and general content creators — could earn a share of advertising revenue (up to 50%) via a 'Support Me' engagement button, earn a 50% commission on sales generated through personalized in-app affiliate storefronts, and mint, buy, sell, and trade NFTs on an integrated marketplace. The product stack combined a mobile social networking core available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, creator content tools, and live video streaming capabilities (integrated with Dolby.io for audio/video quality), supported by AWS infrastructure for large-scale virtual events such as displayFest concerts and pre-game experiences.

Display's go-to-market was product-led and community-led, targeting creators directly and developing partnerships with sports and entertainment agencies (Entrobox), athlete management platforms (INFLCR for NCAA Name, Image, and Likeness reporting), and metaverse co-developers (Thunder Studios and Infinite Reality). The business relied on three revenue streams: advertising revenue share with creators, affiliate storefront transaction commissions, and NFT marketplace fees. No enterprise sales motion or named B2B customer logos appear in the data; monetization was structurally a long-tail, SMB-style consumer/creator model with no disclosed revenue or ARR.

Despite raising $20 million in capital in 2021 and forming a multi-billion dollar combined metaverse entity with Thunder Studios and Infinite Reality, Display failed to scale against incumbent social platforms. On May 19, 2025, the company announced a permanent shutdown effective June 18, 2025, with select social features to be released on the Napster platform (an Infinite Reality company) in certain markets. As of the shutdown date, the website states 'Display Social is no longer active.'

Name

Display

Legal name

Display

Website

https://displaysocial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Display was a US-based consumer social media platform that enabled content creators to monetize visual content through ad revenue sharing, affiliate storefront commissions, and an NFT marketplace, serving artists, athletes, celebrities, and student-athletes before its permanent shutdown in June 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Media Platform (Creator Economy)

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Commerce & Creator Storefronts (Shoppable Links) (MPACAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creator Merchandise & Print-on-Demand Platforms (MPACAFAE), Virtual Events & Conferences Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAL), Shopping/Deal & Affiliate Content Aggregators (MPACAKAK)

Keywords

• Social media platform
• Creator monetization tools
• Content creator economy
• Affiliate marketing platform
• Digital advertising revenue

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwalk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue Share: Platform shares up to 50% of ad revenues generated by creator content with content creators. Creators earn when users engage with their content through the 'Support Me' button.
2. Affiliate Storefront Commissions: Creators can build personalized storefronts on their profiles to sell products as affiliates, earning 50% commission on each sale made through their affiliate links.
3. NFT Marketplace: Platform enables users to mint, buy, sell and trade NFTs, providing a marketplace for digital asset transactions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Display operated a mobile social media platform where content creators (artists, athletes, celebrities, and general users) could publish videos and visual content, share a "Support Me"-driven share of advertising revenue, run personalized affiliate storefronts, livestream events, and mint/trade NFTs. Revenue was generated through advertising, affiliate commissions, and digital asset transactions on the platform.

Product overview

Display is a social media platform built on a platform-plus-features architecture. The core Display platform provides a social networking space where creators can connect, create, and share content while earning revenue from ads. Key modules include Display Tools (content creation tools), a personalized storefront for affiliate product sales, and an NFT marketplace for minting, buying, selling, and trading NFTs. The platform monetizes through affiliate marketing (with up to 50% commission on sales) and ad revenue sharing (up to 50% payout rate).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Display Platform Mobile social media platform for creators (artists, athletes, celebrities, students, and general users) to share visual content, livestream, run affiliate storefronts, and mint/trade NFTs while earning revenue from ads and commissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50% ad revenue payout to creators
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or Integration · 7 February 2022Display collaborated with AWS using Amazon Interactive Video Service for a reimagined Big Game experience on February 7th. AWS provided the video streaming infrastructure for this large-scale event.
• Dolby.iocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Display integrated Dolby.io within its live video features to enhance content creation capabilities, providing improved audio and video quality for creators streaming on the platform.
• EntroboxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Display Social and Entrobox formed a strategic partnership. The premiere boxing, sports, and entertainment agency partnered with Display on various live events and content programming.
• INFLCRcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Display partnered with INFLCR to report payments to student-athletes just in time for new regulations on Name, Image and Likeness. This partnership enabled athlete monetization on the platform.
• Thunder Studios & Infinite RealityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThunder Studios, Infinite Reality, and Display Social entered a strategic partnership to create metaverse experiences for content creator communities. The companies subsequently combined to form a multi-billion dollar metaverse entertainment company.
• NapsterminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerNapster (an Infinite Reality company) will release certain Display social features in certain markets. Display users are being transitioned to Napster following the platform shutdown on June 18, 2025.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Twitter / X: Social platform with creator revenue sharing (Ads Revenue Sharing program) and live event streaming (Spaces, live video). Comparable as a social network enabling creators to earn from posted content.
• Instagram: Meta-owned social network offering creator monetization via Reels bonuses, Badges, and Instagram Shopping storefronts. Directly comparable to Display's combination of social networking, creator payouts, and shoppable storefronts.
• TikTok: Global short-form video social platform with a dominant creator monetization program (Creator Fund, Creator Rewards, TikTok Shop). Comparable to Display as a primary destination for creator content monetization and social commerce.
• Snapchat: Mobile-first social platform with Spotlight creator monetization and AR commerce features. Comparable as a mobile-first consumer social app pursuing creator revenue share and augmented monetization surfaces.
• YouTube: Google-owned video platform with ad revenue sharing (55/45), Super Chat, Channel Memberships, and Shorts monetization. Comparable to Display's ad revenue share economics and live streaming capabilities.

Direct peers

• Patreon: Subscription-based creator monetization platform where creators earn directly from their audience. Comparable to Display's creator-first revenue share model and Support Me-style direct monetization features.
• Triller: Short-form video and music-focused social platform with creator monetization tools. Comparable as a late-entrant creator monetization platform pursuing similar music, athlete, and entertainment verticals as Display.
• Cameo: Marketplace enabling fans to pay creators and celebrities for personalized video content. Comparable to Display's creator-first monetization approach and athlete/celebrity targeting.
• Fanfix: Creator monetization platform enabling influencers to earn from exclusive content and direct fan subscriptions. Comparable to Display as a creator-economy platform targeting the same demographic of artists, athletes, and celebrities.

Emerging players

• BitClout / DeSo (Decentralized Social): Decentralized social blockchain platform that pioneered creator coin monetization. Comparable to Display as an early-stage social platform attempting to tokenize and reward creator content with novel monetization primitives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Display