What Smooth Media does

Smooth Media is a privately held, bootstrapped, and profitable New York City-based media company founded in 2021 that manages and represents 50+ knowledge creators — educators, operators, and experts with established audiences across categories including tech, AI, entrepreneurship, business, design, engineering, venture capital, cybersecurity, and personal finance. The company's core offering is a talent management and brand partnerships service that provides creators with strategy, day-to-day operational support (contracts, timelines, deliverables, renewals), hiring assistance, content planning, and the systems needed to scale their businesses. Its secondary offering is a B2B brand partnerships service that connects enterprise brands with creators for integrated, multi-channel campaigns spanning social video, podcasts, newsletters, events, speaking engagements, and brand ambassadorships.

The company's underlying technology is intentionally minimal: it operates as a media company rather than a technology company, with a website built on Framer, a biweekly newsletter ("Smoothletter") distributed via beehiiv, and organic social presence on Instagram and LinkedIn. No proprietary software platform, API, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. The company's strategic expansion in September 2024 included the acquisition of Energy Central, a B2B media platform serving 200,000+ electric power industry professionals, which now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary under the Smooth Creative Holdings parent structure alongside The Publish Press.

Smooth Media's revenue model is commission-based advertising and brand partnerships revenue, generated by managing campaigns and closing deals between the creators it represents and B2B brand clients. The pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with each campaign customized to brand goals, audience reach, and scope. Documented enterprise clients include HubSpot (multi-year integrated ambassadorship), Notion, Framer, and Lightricks, with dedicated Energy Central brand partnerships roles targeting the energy vertical. Brand partnerships managers are compensated at $120,000-$200,000+ and senior roles at $200,000-$250,000+, reflecting commission-based upside tied to closed deal flow. The company operates an in-person model in New York City (130 West 25th Street) and goes to market through a direct sales motion led by a dedicated Brand Partnerships team that runs full-cycle enterprise outreach.

Name

Smooth Media

Legal name

Smooth Media

Website

https://smoothmedia.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smooth Media is a bootstrapped, NYC-based media company that manages 50+ knowledge creators across tech, AI, and business, connecting them with enterprise B2B brands via integrated marketing campaigns. It also operates Energy Central, a B2B platform for energy professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creator Talent Management

NAICS

Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Media Buying Agencies (54183), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Planning, Buying & Optimization (BPAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Creator talent management
• Brand partnership services
• Knowledge creator representation
• Creator-led marketing
• B2B influencer marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brand Partnerships and Creator Campaigns: Smooth Media earns revenue by managing brand partnerships and running campaigns with their knowledge creators. They design and package ad products, connect brands with creators, and secure high-value campaigns. The company states they are 'fully aligned: we only make money when our creators do.' Revenue comes from commission on closed deals, with strong performers in brand partnerships roles earning $120,000+ and managers earning $200,000-$250,000+.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Smooth Media is a talent management and brand partnerships company that manages and represents 50+ knowledge creators across topics such as tech, AI, business, design, and venture capital. The company provides creators with strategy, day-to-day operations support, ad product packaging, and brand partnership campaign management, while connecting brands with these creators to run integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns (social video, podcasts, newsletters, events, brand ambassadorships). The company operates as a property of Smooth Creative Holdings and runs the acquired B2B energy media platform Energy Central.

Product overview

Smooth Media is a media company and talent management platform that manages and represents 50+ knowledge creators across categories including tech, AI, entrepreneurship, business, management, design, engineering, venture capital, HR, marketing, advertising, creator economy, creativity, filmmaking, personal finance, productivity, space, and cybersecurity. The core platform provides strategy, operations support, and brand partnerships services to help creators build scalable businesses. The portfolio includes acquired brand Energy Central (B2B media platform for the electric power industry serving 120,000+ utility and power professionals) and sub-brand The Publish Press, all under parent company Smooth Creative Holdings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Energy Central: B2B media platform that empowers, engages, and educates utility and power professionals through newsletters, events, and digital content. Acquired by Smooth Media in September 2024.

Products and services

• Creator Partnership Services Talent management and representation services for knowledge creators (educators, operators, and experts), providing day-to-day operational support, contract and deliverable management, ad product packaging, brand partnership campaign execution, and long-term strategic planning to help creators scale their businesses.
• Brand Partnerships Services Connects B2B brands with Smooth Media's network of knowledge creators to design and execute integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns including social video, podcasts, newsletters, events, speaking engagements, and brand ambassadorships targeting professional audiences.
• Energy Central B2B media platform and community for the electric power industry that empowers, engages, and educates over 120,000 utility and power professionals through newsletters, events, and digital content, with advertising and sponsorship opportunities for energy-sector brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of business leaders trust insights from experts and creators more than traditional channels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Energy CentralcoreOthers · 11 September 2024Smooth Media acquired Energy Central, a leading community platform and media publication for the electric power industry. Energy Central serves over 200,000 members and will benefit from Smooth Media's expertise in creating opportunities for industry professionals. This acquisition reflects a strategic move to address ongoing shifts in the energy sector toward cleaner and more sustainable sources. This is Smooth Media's first acquisition since its founding in 2021.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jellysmack: Jellysmack is a creator economy company that helps content creators distribute, monetize, and grow across platforms. Its creator services + brand partnership offering directly overlaps with Smooth Media's value proposition.
• Industry Dive: Industry Dive is a B2B media company operating vertical newsletters and publications for professionals, monetized via advertising and events. Directly comparable to Smooth Media's Energy Central vertical media arm.
• Spotter: Spotter provides financing and monetization tools to YouTube creators in exchange for future catalog royalties, plus brand partnership support. It competes for the same creator talent pool Smooth Media serves.
• Night: Night is a creator management and brand partnership company that represents digital talent and brokers brand deals. It is the closest direct analog to Smooth Media in business model and target creator profile.
• TheSoul Publishing: TheSoul Publishing operates a global multi-platform creator network and monetizes content via brand partnerships and owned channels. Comparable scale and creator-economy business model.
• Flow Management: Flow Management is a creator talent management and brand partnerships firm representing digital creators for sponsorships and integrated campaigns. Directly comparable operating model to Smooth Media.

Others

• Beehiiv: Beehiiv is the newsletter publishing platform Smooth Media uses to distribute its own Smoothletter and is widely adopted by knowledge creators. Adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Creative Artists Agency (CAA): CAA is a global talent and sports agency with a growing digital creator representation practice. Comparable brand-deal intermediation role at a larger, broader scale.
• United Talent Agency (UTA): UTA is a major talent agency that has expanded into digital creators and brand partnerships. Competes for the same creator representation business at the higher end of the market.
• Morning Brew: Morning Brew is the business media company where all three Smooth Media founders previously worked and which was sold to Axios/Insider Inc. for $75M. Closely related operating playbook and audience demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/smoothmedia.co
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smooth-media-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Smooth Media