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Category: CompanyNews

  • Bump Partners With Dubai — A Global Power Move for Creators 🌍✈️

    Last week, our CEO James Jones Jr. landed in Dubai to take a bold step in Bump’s mission to empower creators globally. From securing partnerships with industry leaders like Creators HQ Dubai, Paymentology, Wio Bank, and Mastercard EEMEA, this trip marks a major milestone — not just for us, but for creators everywhere.

    Dubai wasn’t just a destination. It was a launchpad. Here’s what went down, what it means for you, and how Bump is expanding access to smarter banking, upfront funding, and real-time content valuation — worldwide.

    We finalized our partnership with Creators HQ in Dubai. Partnering with Creators HQ Dubai marks a powerful alignment between Bump and one of the region’s most forward-thinking creator ecosystems. As a major hub that supports digital talent across the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Creators HQ brings local insight, community, and reach — making this partnership key to helping Bump add value to creators beyond borders. Paired with the backing of Mastercard EEMEA, this collaboration unlocks financial tools and resources tailored specifically for creators in emerging markets, ensuring they can monetize, manage, and scale their work with confidence.

    What does this mean for you?

    It means more access to the tools you need to thrive: banking designed specifically for creators, upfront funding to fuel your next big project, and real-time market valuation tools that help you understand — and charge — what you’re truly worth. This is just the beginning. We’re unlocking new opportunities for creators everywhere — and we’re just getting started.

  • Bump Raises $3 Million To Help Creators Build Wealth

     

    James Jones’ father was an engineer. He was also a musician and a preacher, performing at churches along the East Coast.

    Jones, an entertainment lawyer, noticed his father often worried about keeping track of the money he collected while performing at church, and artists and influencers were often complaining about the same things.

    “I also often had creators complain about the lack of ownership over their creative assets and how painful it was to get loans, mortgages, or generally create generational wealth opportunities for themselves and their families,” Jones told TechCrunch.

    Jones said the pandemic brought forth a new set of challenges for creators: So many of them were at home trying to figure out how they would earn money and what to do next.

    His solution was Bump, a platform that helps creators manage and grow their businesses. He launched it in 2020 with Anton Kovalyov, who now serves as CTO. On Tuesday Bump announced a $3 million seed round, with investments from ImpactX, Capitalize and Serac Ventures.

    Bump allows creators to track income and market value, which can help them negotiate better deals and see how much money they are owed from partners. In 2022, Bump launched the Bump Creator credit card in partnership with Mastercard, which provides no monthly or hidden fees and can be acquired without a credit check. Bump also works with a banking institution and has direct deposit accounts that let creators earn interest on cash placed in its money market account.

    Jones said fundraising for his company was brutal. Bump was up against numerous factors it simply couldn’t control, like a bear market and the lack of investor appetite for creator economy companies. “We took no after no from investors on the chin and lived to keep fighting,” he said. “We weren’t afraid to ask for investment, and we weren’t afraid of being ghosted, being judged or being told no.”

    Bump closed its seed round in about six months, with other investors, including Heirloom Ventures, H/L Ventures and Mana Ventures. It has raised $3.5 million to date, with existing investors, including Snap Inc. and Sixty8 Capital.

    “The creator economy is one of the most important trends in the future of work,” Oliver Libby, a managing partner at H/L Ventures, told TechCrunch. “There is virtually no financial infrastructure, no financial training, products, or help for this growing population — many of them underrepresented and underbanked.”

    Bump will use the latest fundraise to help it expand and refine its infrastructure.

    Creating a company like Bump has always been Jones’ passion, even though he didn’t always want to be a founder. “I always had a burning desire to solve the world’s problems,” he said. He liked talking to people, listening to what they were saying, and analyzing details that could help make them “healthier, wealthier, or happier.”

    “I can’t say that I always wanted to be a founder, but I do think my natural tendencies and characteristics have pushed me toward being a founder,” he said. “And despite the highs and lows, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

     

  • Exploring Open Banking & the Future of Payments at Fintech Meetup!

    Dove into open #banking & the future of payments at this year’s Fintech Meetup!

    In my convo with Dave Glaser & Raghavan Menon, moderated by Reed Bouchelle, we explored what it means to optimize pay-by-bank solutions to meet modern demand & create a frictionless #FutureOfFinance.

  • Amsterdam Dance Event

     

    ADE – Amsterdam Dance Event – was an awesome opportunity to connect with Bump customers, meet others in the #CreatorEconomy space, and support Natalie La Rose, one of our Bump users, in her homecoming. Looking forward to next year already!

     

     

  • Breaking Down VC & the Creator Economy at #LATechWeek!

     

    #LATechWeek was a blast! Thank you to everyone who came out to @BumpGlobal‘s session on how #VC intersects with the #CreatorEconomy. Understanding what investors are looking for is the first step towards securing reliable first-round funding.

     

     

  • Some snapshots of my presentation to Northwestern Mutual

    Some snapshots of my presentation to Northwestern Mutual earlier this month. Always love the opportunity to highlight @BumpGlobal and share insight into our value prop! Thanks for having me, @NM_Financial

     

  • Creator dinner “Network & Nosh”

    Looking back on last week’s event, we’re still buzzing with excitement! Last week we hosted our first Creator dinner “Network & Nosh”   It was incredible to see so many talented creators come together, connect, and share their journeys. We loved introducing some of the Bump team and seeing meaningful conversations spark. Here’s to building even stronger networks and growing together. 

  • An Ally, Not a Threat, to the Creator Economy

    Do you see AI as a threat or ally to the creator economy? “Personally I have found some incredible AI tools that have never replaced someone but only made mine and my teams jobs easier.” – @laurDIY

    A reminder that creative tools can work with you & not against you.

     

  • Honored to Speak at MIT R.I.S.E. on Scaling & Funding in the Creator Economy

    Shoutout to MIT for hosting R.I.S.E. – Empowering #Entrepreneurs of Color last week! It was an honor to speak with other industry innovators about the #growth of the #CreatorEconomy. Huge thank you to Princess, Allan, & James for the insightful conversation on scaling & funding.

  • 10 Black-Owned Startups To Watch

    Silicon Valley has always been considered one of the most prominent tech hubs in the world. The Bay Area is still the most significant tech epicenter globally and the only ecosystem to reach above $4 billion deal value in 2023 Q4.

    However, as LinkedIn’s founder Reid Hoffman once said, “Silicon Valley is a mindset, not a location.” Outside the disruptive ecosystem in the Valley, there are thriving technology sectors all across the U.S. Other hubs like Miami, New York, Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta are rapidly growing.

    So, for example, New York-based AI data security startup Cyera raised one of the biggest rounds in 2024, securing a $300M raise at a $1.4B valuation. Seattle-based ExtraHop, a network detection and response startup, closed $100 million in growth capital from undisclosed existing investors. Finally, Atlanta-based Calendly raised $350 million from various investors, including OpenView Venture Partners. So, there are a ton of startups based outside Silicon Valley that are making waves.

    In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the remote working culture and showed entrepreneurs that they can operate from anywhere in the world and still have access to top tech talents.

    In this article, UrbanGeekz spotlights 10 Black-owned, non-Silicon Valley-based startups that have caught the eye of investors. These companies span diverse industries and showcase the thriving tech landscape and its potential for further growth. From innovative FinTech solutions to groundbreaking health innovations, these startups are poised to significantly impact their respective industries.

    We asked VCs from MaC Venture Capital, Symphonic Capital, Zeal Capital Partners, and Techstars Washington DC to find out.

    Marlon Nichols, Managing General Partner at MaC Venture Capital

    MaC Venture Capital is a seed-stage venture capital firm.

    Mansa

    Mansa is a free ad-supported streaming service and content aggregator that curates Black cultural content. The Los Angeles-based platform offers a wide variety of content, from on-demand titles and digital linear (FAST) channels to short-form videos and user-generated content. The Black-owned streaming service was founded by actors David Oyelowo, Chiké Okonkwo, Nate Parker, and tech entrepreneur Zak Tanjeloff.

    Mahmee

    Mahmee is a maternal healthcare company on a mission to make the US the best place in the world to give birth. The platform offers an all-inclusive care experience to expecting and new parents, health systems, and payers. Mahmee’s Membership gives each patient their own care team of nurses, lactation consultants, doulas, mental health coaches, nutritionists, and care coordinators—available seven days a week, virtually, and in Mahmee clinics. Melissa Hana founded the Black-owned Los Angeles platform in 2014.

    Sydney Paige Thomas, Founding General Partner at Symphonic Capital

    Symphonic Capital is a Pre-Seed Venture Capital fund

    Bump

    Bump is an AI-powered analytics-driven platform enabling the fast-growing creator community to take charge of their business success. The startup enables creators across YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and TikTok to discover and track all income sources and manage their market value to grow their digital assets, businesses, and wealth. Bump’s vision is to be the neobank for 1.2 billion creators worldwide. The Los Angeles-based startup was founded by James Jones in 2021.

    Scout

    Scout helps student-athletes leverage financial decision-making and planning for long-term prosperity during and beyond their playing careers. The startup uses educational sessions and an app designed for athletes by athletes to keep players motivated to make the right choices. The Techstars-backed startup was founded by Michael Haddix Jr. in 2021. Scout is currently based in New York.

    Marti Health

    Marti Health is a healthcare company that focuses on comprehensive care management and advocates for health equity, particularly for underserved communities. The company offers personalized care plans and clinical care services specifically tailored to manage and alleviate symptoms of sickle cell disease. Marti Health was founded by Michael Smith in 2022 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Richard Odior, Principal Partner at Zeal Capital Partners

    Zeal Capital Partners is a leading venture capital firm partnering with founders building high-growth, early-stage businesses across the financial technology, employment pathways, and health equity verticals.

    Muse

    Muse enables financial platforms to offer financial analytics and tax insights through an AI-based, easy-to-implement API. Founded in February 2022 by CPAs Colin Horsford and Busayo Ogunsanya, Muse uses artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate the complex and ever-evolving world of tax codes. The platform is based in New York.

    GigEasy

    GigEasy is an insurance platform designed to offer flexible coverage options for individuals and businesses in the gig economy. The company’s platform features health, dental, and vision plans, including on-demand coverage activation, affordable pricing, and an API for businesses to integrate insurance directly into their platforms. The insurtech startup was founded by Ridwan Lawal in 2022 and is based in Houston, Texas.

    Adam H. Phillips, Managing Director – Techstars Washington DC

    As a Managing Director at Techstars, Adam leads the Equitech Accelerator and the Washington DC Accelerator, powered by JP Morgan.

    TechRow

    TechRow is an educational media platform that delivers a premium portfolio of VR and cinematic content in the education and training sectors. Known as the Enterprise Netflix for learning, the company delivers award-winning movies, series, documentaries, and VR experiences that engage learners in world-class learning. TechRow, based in New York, was founded by Travis Feldler in 2020.

    LunchTable

    LunchTable, powered by Inphlu, is the first fan activation and engagement platform designed to mobilize your fans into digital brand ambassadors that boost your brand, marketing, and sales efforts. With LunchTable, brands can connect, engage, and mobilize fans from a centralized technology hub. Joshua Reid founded the Ohio-based platform in 2020.

    Lokum

    Lokum is a cutting-edge platform revolutionizing how healthcare providers and patients connect and interact. As an innovative healthcare startup, Lokum offers a range of services and features designed to streamline the healthcare experience for anesthetists. The App is a matchmaking platform linking Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists) with healthcare facilities and anesthesia groups nationwide. Based in Houston, Texas, the platform was founded by Joy Ademuyewo in 2020.