Showcase
Showcase was a UGC marketplace platform connecting brands and marketers with handpicked content creators to produce authentic advertising content. Operated as a product under parent agency inBeat Agency; the public marketplace has since been shut down.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Showcase does
Showcase was a user-generated content (UGC) marketplace platform that connected brands and marketers with a network of handpicked content creators for the production of authentic advertising content. The platform facilitated end-to-end collaboration from creator discovery through content approval, and was positioned around the thesis that creator-produced UGC lowers customer acquisition costs (CPA) compared to polished brand-produced assets. Notable customer logos displayed by the platform included Bumble, Hopper, NielsenIQ, Linktree, YouTube, and 7-Eleven, and the company claimed global operations across the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
The platform's underlying technology consisted of a self-serve marketplace interface for matching brands to creators, payment processing through PayPal on a bi-monthly creator payout cycle, and supporting educational content (articles, guides, contract templates) for UGC strategy. AI-assisted tools (text-to-speech, AI avatars, automated editing for captions and resizing) were referenced as augmenting the creator workflow, though positioned as supporting human-led production rather than replacing it. Showcase was governed under Quebec, Canada law per its Terms of Service, with data and privacy practices covering personal, content, payment, and usage information.
Commercially, Showcase operated on a marketplace commission revenue model, taking a share of transactions between brands and creators, with typical creator compensation benchmarks cited at $150–$300 per video. The platform was launched and operated as a product under inBeat Agency (a performance-driven UGC agency), and was subsequently shut down as a publicly available product, with agency services continuing through the parent. Leadership is anchored by co-founders Lance Stewart and Pieter Raubenheimer. No independent funding rounds beyond an early $600,000 round were disclosed.
Showcase firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Showcase
- Legal name
- Showcase
- Website
- https://showca.se
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Showcase was a UGC marketplace platform connecting brands and marketers with handpicked content creators to produce authentic advertising content. Operated as a product under parent agency inBeat Agency; the public marketplace has since been shut down.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Showcase industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Influencer Marketing Platform
- akta.pro primary industry
- UGC (User-Generated Content) Production & Creator Networks (MPAAAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- UGC Sourcing & Community Creator Programs (BPAFAHAK), UGC Sourcing & Creator-for-Hire Platforms (Non-Influencer Content) (MPACAGAH)
Keywords
Where Showcase is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Showcase business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission: Showcase operated as a marketplace connecting UGC creators with brands. The platform facilitated transactions where brands could hire creators to produce authentic advertising content. Payment processing was handled through the platform, with bi-monthly payment cycles to creators via PayPal.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Creator compensation for UGC content production |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Showcase product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Showcase is a user-generated content (UGC) marketplace platform that connected brands with content creators to produce authentic advertising assets. The platform enabled brands to source creator-made content at scale for paid social, organic, and performance marketing campaigns, while creators gained access to paid brand partnership opportunities.
Product overview
Showcase was a UGC (User-Generated Content) Marketplace platform designed to help brands lower their CPA by connecting them with top-performing creators for authentic advertising content. The platform operated as a unified marketplace enabling seamless content creation from discovery through approval. However, the public platform has been shut down. The agency services continue through inBeat Agency, which offers performance-driven UGC production, creator management, and media buying. Additionally, Showcase provides educational resources including articles, guides, and contract templates covering UGC marketing strategies and best practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Showcase UGC Marketplace Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- UGC-based ads generate 4× higher click-through rates and 50% lower cost-per-click compared to traditional branded content
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Showcase
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Showcase technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Showcase partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- inBeat AgencycoreShowcase was a product of inBeat Agency. Following the Showcase platform shutdown announcement, inBeat Agency continues to provide UGC services. Showcase directed users seeking next-level performance creative or media buying to inBeat Agency. The platform shutdown message specifically stated: 'The agency side will remain completely unaffected.'
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Showcase competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trend: Creator commerce and UGC platform enabling brands to source short-form content from a network of creators; directly comparable in target customer (brands seeking UGC ads) and creator-for-hire model.
- Aspire (formerly AspireIQ): Creator and UGC marketplace platform serving enterprise brands; comparable two-sided model with performance data, brand-creator matching, and content approval workflows overlapping Showcase's feature set.
- Billo: Direct competitor running a UGC creator marketplace that connects brands with vetted creators for short-form video ads; comparable marketplace model, target customers (DTC and enterprise brands), and creator pricing structure.
- Insense: UGC and influencer marketing platform offering a creator marketplace plus managed services for brands producing ad creative; directly comparable business model with both marketplace and agency offerings.
- inBeat Agency: Direct parent and operational sibling of Showcase; inBeat is a performance-driven UGC agency offering creator sourcing, content production, and media buying — the same value chain Showcase addresses, with the agency services explicitly continuing after the marketplace shutdown.
- Grin: Creator marketing platform with a vetted creator marketplace, CRM, and content workflow tools aimed at enterprise and DTC brands; comparable target market and end-to-end creator content management.
- Collabstr: Marketplace connecting brands with UGC creators and influencers for paid content; comparable horizontal marketplace model with self-serve brand discovery and creator-for-hire transactions.
Emerging players
- Superside: AI-augmented creative production platform serving enterprise marketing teams; overlapping customer base (enterprise marketing) and intersecting value proposition on scalable, on-demand ad creative.
- Generative AI UGC tools (e.g., Creatify, Arcads): AI-native UGC ad generation platforms that create synthetic creator-style video ads without human creators; an emerging substitute that could compress demand for human-creator marketplaces like Showcase.
Broad incumbents
- Fiverr: Broad freelance services marketplace that includes a large UGC/video creator category; competes for the same brand budgets on a much larger, generalist platform with a wider range of services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Showcase social profiles
Digital presenceShowcase financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Showcase leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Showcase funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Showcase M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Showcase
What does Showcase do?
Showcase is a user-generated content (UGC) marketplace platform that connected brands with content creators to produce authentic advertising assets. The platform enabled brands to source creator-made content at scale for paid social, organic, and performance marketing campaigns, while creators gained access to paid brand partnership opportunities.
Is Showcase a public or private company?
Showcase is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently closed.
When was Showcase founded?
Showcase was founded in 2023. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Showcase based?
Showcase is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Showcase make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketplace Commission.
Who are Showcase's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trend, Aspire (formerly AspireIQ), Billo, Insense, inBeat Agency, Grin and Collabstr. Emerging players are Superside and Generative AI UGC tools (e.g., Creatify, Arcads). Fiverr is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Showcase have an API?
No public API is recorded for Showcase.
What industry is Showcase in?
Showcase's product category is Influencer Marketing Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAHAF, UGC (User-Generated Content) Production & Creator Networks, with a secondary code of BPAFAHAK, UGC Sourcing & Community Creator Programs.