Applications open – September 3
THE ONES TO WATCH | 2027
THE ONES TO WATCH | 2027
The first ever annual editorial program celebrating creators who are shaping the creator economy.
Created by FiveTwoNine, Billion Dollar Boy and Companion, The Impact List recognizes creators whose work goes beyond audience size - spotlighting those setting new standards across craft, business, community and brand partnerships.
Published as a dedicated editorial and celebrated at launch events in London and New York.
CREATORS
CATEGORIES
The most culturally and commercially powerful voices of the next decade are no longer emerging from traditional institutions. They're coming from the creator economy — individuals who have built audiences, businesses and movements entirely from scratch.
The impact these people are having on culture, commerce and creativity has never been greater. And it's only accelerating.
The Impact List exists to surface who's next, and give them the access, investment and recognition to grow, build and shape what comes next.
THE IMPACT LIST DOESN’T JUST RECOGNIZE CREATORS. IT INVESTS IN THEIR NEXT CHAPTER.
Submit your application or nominate others.
Get direct access to some of the industry’s most respected voices on our judging panel by putting your work directly in front of them.
We’re looking for the creators gaining momentum now and set to become the names brands, platforms and industry leaders are working with in 2027 and beyond.
We don't just celebrate talent. We fund their next chapter – with real-world access to the world's most important creator economy moments.
We’re bringing together brands and platforms that believe creators are shaping the future of creativity, culture and commerce — and are ready to invest in that future.
Together, we can create more opportunities for the next generation of creator talent, giving them the access, support and resources to build ambitious careers, businesses and communities.
Join us in backing the people building what comes next.
OPEN NOMINATIONS
Creators apply directly or are nominated by peers, brands or industry leaders.
EXPERT JUDGING
An independent panel reviews submissions on creativity, impact, originality and industry contribution.
RECOGNITION & REWARD
Editorial and social announcement. Launch events in London and New York. Creator Fund and cash grants for selected creators.
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Recognising creators raising the standard of creative work online.
Creators with a distinctive voice and exceptional craft – those using originality, storytelling and execution to create work that captures attention, inspires audiences and pushes creative culture forward.
Criteria
Minimum 50K followers on a primary platform
Distinct creative style and point of view
Original content formats or recurring series
Exceptional storytelling and creative execution
High production quality
Consistent creative output throughout the year
Work inspiring audiences or other creators
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Recognising creators building businesses beyond content.
Creators turning their influence into ambitious, sustainable businesses — from launching products and companies to creating new revenue models, with the vision and strategy to build ventures that last.
Criteria
Minimum 50K followers on a primary platform
Founder or co-founder of a business or brand
Successful launch of a product, service or company
Demonstrated business growth or commercial traction
Innovative business model or market positioning
Strategic partnerships, retail expansion or investment secured
Clear long-term vision beyond content creation
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Celebrating creators who bring people together through meaningful communities.
Creators building engaged communities beyond social media – creating spaces to connect, learn and support one another through memberships, newsletters, events, podcasts and other initiatives that turn audiences into genuine communities.
Criteria
Minimum 50K followers on a primary platform
Established community platform (Patreon, Substack, Discord, Circle, etc.)
Clear community mission or purpose
Consistent engagement beyond primary social media
Regular community initiatives, events or exclusive experiences
Strong audience participation and retention
Demonstrable impact on their community
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Celebrating creators using their platform to create meaningful change.
Creators using their influence to educate, advocate and drive important conversations – challenging industry norms, improving representation and championing causes with clear purpose, authentic values and a sustained commitment to positive change.
Criteria
Minimum 20K followers on a primary platform
Clear mission or cause
Consistent advocacy through content
Demonstrable positive impact
Authenticity and credibility
Long-term commitment to their cause
Meaningful audience engagement around the issues they champion
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Celebrating the next generation of creators shaping the future of the industry.
Creators at the early stages of their journey who are already showing exceptional creativity, consistency and momentum – with a distinctive voice, strong creative identity and the potential to become some of the industry’s most exciting talent.
Criteria
10K-25K followers on a primary platform
Consistent publishing schedule
Strong creative identity
Original ideas and content formats
Positive audience growth and engagement
Clear potential for long-term success
Evidence of continuous improvement and ambition
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Celebrating creators setting the benchmark for brand collaboration.
Creators who consistently deliver exceptional brand partnerships – combining authentic integration, creative excellence and strategic thinking to create work that resonates with audiences, delivers for partners and builds lasting relationships.
Criteria
Minimum 20K followers on a primary platform
Strong portfolio of brand partnerships
Authentic integration of branded content
Creative execution that aligns with both audience and brand
Long-term or repeat partnerships with brands
Professionalism and reliability
Demonstrated commercial success through creator partnerships
Being recognized on The Impact List is just the starting point.
We’re backing the creators we believe in with access to experiences, resources and opportunities that can take their careers, businesses and influence further.
RECOGNITION
60 CREATORS
A dedicated profile in The Impact List editorial and across our channels amplifies your work to industry leaders. FiveTwoNine, Billion Dollar Boy and Companion will also champion you with access to unique opportunities, connections and experiences.
THE CREATOR FUND
6 CREATORS
Six category standouts, one from each discipline, are entered into the Creator Fund. Each gains real-world access to the career-defining opportunities that open doors – such as 1 Billion Dollar Summit (Dubai) and SXSW (Austin, TX)
CASH GRANT
1 CREATOR
One creator – the judging panel’s top pick – receives the full grant to put towards their next chapter, whether that’s growing their business, developing a new project or investing in their creative work.
KEY DATES
OCTOBER 27
THE IMPACT LIST ANNOUNCED
SEPTEMBER 21
APPLICATIONS CLOSE (11:59 EST)
SEPTEMBER 3
APPLICATIONS OPEN
NOVEMBER 5
LAUNCH EVENT - NEW YORK
NOVEMBER 12
LAUNCH EVENT - LONDON
Meet the jury
Your application will be reviewed by an independent jury of industry leaders shaping the creator economy. With their votes, they’re backing creators with the talent, ambition, and perspective to step into bigger rooms and make it count. The process is rigorous, transparent, and built to recognise real potential.
Brands. Be the Change!
We’re opening the door for brands and partners to co-sponsor future Creator Fund events, expanding what this movement can become.
If you want to champion creators, connect with communities, and make a lasting impact - we’re ready to collaborate.
FAQ
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The Creator Fund, created by FiveTwoNine and Billion Dollar Boy, is about reducing financial barriers and creating opportunities for talented creators to participate in key industry events. It started with Cannes Lions 2025.
We're providing passes and support to a select group, enabling them to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of the industry. This fund is set to support more events in the future, and we seek to eventually uncover new ways to empower creators in their careers and businesses
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The Creator Fund was born from our commitment to finding impactful ways to support creators, particularly when it comes to career-defining opportunities. We launched it earlier this year starting with granting creator passes to Cannes Lions, Art Basel, CreatorFest Europe - the industry's premier global stages, that offer an unparalleled chance for creators to connect with brand leaders, platforms, and key decision-makers.
Now we’re on a mission to help creators host their community events in NYC.
We understand that the significant costs associated with attending and hosting events create barriers for many talented creators. This fund is our direct response to these challenges, aimed at promoting greater diversity and representation at industry events, and ultimately, driving systemic change in creator economy.
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FiveTwoNine is a company that offers free resources, events, and workspaces for creators to support their careers. The Creator Fund is part of our larger mission to empower creators.
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Once applications close, the FiveTwoNine team will review all submissions and shortlist three creators whose event ideas best reflect our mission – building community, creativity, and connection in real life.
We’ll then hold interviews with each shortlisted creator to explore their ideas in more depth before selecting one creator for the first sponsorship.
We’ll also stay in touch with the other shortlisted creators to find ways to collaborate in future editions of The Creator Fund and continue supporting their growth.
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Our fund covers the cost of the pass itself – a €1,494 commitment to making Cannes more accessible for creators and opening up new career opportunities!
Creators will need to arrange and cover their travel, accommodation, and meals.
To assist with logistics, we're collaborating with Cannes Lions, who will provide guidance on travel and accommodation.
The pass unlocks a week of incredible access to valuable connections and career-defining moments! It includes a dedicated base in the beach area, along with exclusive programming and events we're curating for our creators.
In the future, our hope is to expand this fund through partnerships, with the long-term goal of offering even more comprehensive support. Keep posted to find out more.
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Yes! Beyond providing Cannes Lions Creator passes, we are leveraging our industry access and knowledge to open doors that aren't purely financial.
Getting to Cannes is one thing, but knowing where to go and who to meet is another. We're providing crucial support through exclusive programming and events, ensuring creators not only attend but also have the tools and connections to truly succeed. This includes networking events and career development opportunities that they would not otherwise have.
We are working with our partners to see how we - as an industry - can support more creators in the future, giving them even greater access.
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No. Creators who receive passes through The Creator Fund have no expectation or obligation to post anything for FiveTwoNine and Billion Dollar Boy or Cannes Lions. This is an independent investment focused on supporting creators.
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All hard costs for the Creator Fund are covered by FiveTwoNine, Billion Dollar Boy, and Patreon. This includes the Creator Passes for 20 creators (worth €1,422 each) and the full support of our team, both in the two months leading up to the festival and throughout the week on-site.
We are paying full price for all Cannes Lions passes. Cannes Lions has not provided any financial support or discounts for this initiative.
Beyond covering costs, we use our networks and expertise to unlock career-defining opportunities for creators: speaking on major Cannes Lions stages, attending invite-only events, securing brand partnerships, joining masterclasses with industry leaders, and more.
The partnership with Cannes Lions allows us to promote the initiative through official channels and ensures our creators get full access to the festival, invitations to key activations, and guidance on how to make the most of the experience.
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We wanted to maximize the impact of our resources and support a larger group of creators. Moreover, supporting only a few creators would have limited our ability to showcase the full diversity of the creator economy.
As this is the first initiative under The Creator Fund, we’re focused on providing event passes – which is a direct investment in the growth of talented creators from Billion Dollar Boy and FiveTwoNine. However, we aim to build this fund through industry partnerships to eventually offer comprehensive support, including travel and accommodation, for creators at key events and industry moments.
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The Creator Fund is specifically designed to directly support creators in attending key industry events. Our focus is on providing opportunities for creators themselves to connect, learn, and grow. While we recognize the valuable role that agents and managers play, the fund's resources are dedicated to empowering creators and amplifying their voices. We believe that by investing directly in creators, we can have the greatest impact on their career trajectories and foster a more inclusive and dynamic creative landscape.
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Yes. We are actively seeking partners – brands, platforms, industry players – to contribute to this fund so we can do more and support more creators. We believe that collaborative efforts are essential to drive meaningful change within the industry.
If you want to support The Creator Fund to make the support we offer creators even more substantial, let’s talk – contact us here.
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If you are passionate about increasing accessibility for creators and want to support this mission, please contact us at mail@fivetwonine.com. We'd love to discuss how we can work together to garner more support from the wider industry.