Entrepreneur and Diary of a CEO host Steven Bartlett has raised a landmark eight-figure investment for his media venture, Steven.com, valuing the company at €365 million. The round, led by Slow Ventures and Apeiron Investment Group, marks the largest creator-economy fundraising ever in Europe. Bartlett’s ambition is to build the “Disney of the creator economy,” bringing together creator media, commerce, and technology under one global brand.
The scale of this raise stands apart in Europe’s growing creator ecosystem. While startups like Wyrld, Assisterr, and Paid are still experimenting with creator tools and platforms at early stages. It positions Bartlett’s company as a potential anchor in Europe’s creator-media evolution, blending content, data, and brand power into one integrated model.
From podcast to powerhouse
Bartlett’s journey from Diary of a CEO host to global media entrepreneur has been swift and strategic. In 2025 alone, his influence in the business and creator space was recognised twice, his channel was named among the “25 must-follow YouTube channels for startups and entrepreneurs,” and featured among the top business voices on TikTok.
His flagship show, Diary of a CEO (DOAC), continues to shatter records. Now the world’s second-largest interview podcast, it boasts 13 million YouTube subscribers, 70 million monthly downloads, and over one billion YouTube views. With a 500% annual growth rate and guests ranging from Michelle Obama to MrBeast and Jurgen Klopp, DOAC has redefined long-form business storytelling for a digital generation.
Scaling a creator empire
Steven.com integrates Bartlett’s existing ventures: FlightStory, FlightCast, and FlightFund, each serving a key role in scaling creator-led businesses. FlightStory collaborates with top global talent like Trevor Noah and Davina McCall, building the commercial infrastructure around creator IP. Meanwhile, FlightCast.com, launched this month, is pioneering podcast hosting for video creators with built-in testing tools.
Bartlett retains more than 90% ownership, ensuring independence while accelerating growth. His portfolio now spans over 40 companies, including SpaceX, Whoop, Replit, PerfectTed, and MrBeast’s ventures. Notably, PerfectTed, once a Dragon’s Den investment, is now valued at over $190 million, marking one of the show’s greatest success stories.
As the global creator economy heads toward a projected $528 billion by 2030, Steven.com stands out as a model for how creators can evolve from individual brands into global media networks, reshaping how audiences, influence, and commerce intersect on a global stage.
