Cannes. VidCon. Peninsula. BACE is Everywhere

Get the scoop on VidCon, Bay Area events, and two very Bay Area Creators.

Author

Bay Area Creator Economy
June 17, 2025

Hello and welcome to the Bay Area Creator Economy’s biweekly newsletter—the ultimate hub for everything you need to know about the buzzing creator scene in the San Francisco Bay Area!

If you’re reading this because someone shared it with you (lucky you!), and you want to make sure you never miss an issue, you can subscribe here:

Between Cannes Lions, VidCon, the start of summer, and everything happening in the world, many of us are a little OOO right now. So we’re keeping this edition short and sweet.

What’s not small? How proud we are to see BACE community members taking center stage at global media and entertainment events like Cannes Lions and the Viva Tech conference. With brands and agencies increasingly focusing on the creator economy, it's exciting to watch connections made at BACE events transform into IRL professional collaborations and friendships.

Jim Louderback and Marina Mogilko on stage at Viva Tech in Paris

If you’re in Cannes this week, say hi to Monica Khan. At VidCon? Look out for Jim Louderback, Cassandra Bankson, Rachel Masters, and France Tantiado.

In this issue, we’re spotlighting two perfectly apropos Bay Area creators: Maddy Zhang, the tech meme queen and Ted Chin, a digital dreamscape artist.

Looking ahead to July, we’re excited  to host our first-ever Peninsula event, the BACE Summer Social. Many of you have been asking for a non-SF meetup, and with the broader creator economy industry coming to town for Open Sauce, the timing couldn’t be better. Be sure to snag your spot here.

Cheers,
Rachel

Cassandra Bankson, France Tantiado, Jim Louderback, Monica Khan & Rachel Masters
The Bay Area Creator Economy Community Team / Co-Founders

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Senior Software Engineer | Tech Creator | Meme Queen of Code

France Tantiado, Contributor

From MIT to meme queen of tech, Madeline Zhang is making STEM funny, relatable, and unexpectedly viral - one post at a time.

If you’re in tech and spend even a little time on social media, chances are Maddy Zhang (aka @madeline.m.zhang) has already landed on your FYP with her laugh-out-loud takes on debugging, AI, and the glorious chaos of dev life. 

By day, Maddy is a Senior Software Engineer at Airbnb, with past roles at Google and internships at Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, and Morgan Stanley. By night, she’s creating viral content that hilariously breaks down the world of coding, tech news, and the oddities of startup culture.  

An MIT grad and lifelong STEM enthusiast, Maddy’s love for tech started young. “I wanted to be a mathematician or scientist before I even knew what kind,” she says. Her grandfather, an engineer himself, nurtured her curious spirit and love for analytical thinking, often fielding her endless childhood questions.  

She started creating content during the pandemic, blending her passion for teaching with a talent for storytelling and humor. 

Maddy, Unfiltered: Rapid-Fire Q&A

Q:  Fun fact people are surprised by?

“Everyone thinks I’m shorter online—but I’m actually 5’9”, and yes, I wear heels too.”

Q:  If your life were a coding language, what would it be?

JavaScript. “It’s chaotic, unpredictable, but somehow still alive and running.”

Q:  Tech trend you’re excited or skeptical about?

“I’m really excited about vibe coding—using AI tools like Cursor to quickly build apps from just prompts. It’s great for creativity and speed, but I’m cautious about it leading to security or testing shortcuts. Human review is still a must.”

Q:  Go-to stress reliever or ‘break from coding’ routine?

Running! “Especially with hardstyle music, it’s my way of rebooting during a tough sprint.”

Q:  Have any posts gone unexpectedly viral?

“Many of my memes take off when I least expect it. The ones I made just for fun often resonate the most!”

Q:  If you weren’t in tech or content creation, what would your dream job be?

“I’d love to do oncology research. There’s something deeply meaningful about that path.”

Q:  Favorite board game or puzzle?

Blood on the Clocktower. “It’s a social deception game that’s really popular with nerdy circles, super fun.”

Q:  Advice you wish you had starting out?

“Imposter syndrome is real. It stopped me from applying to roles or trying things I was capable of doing. You probably know more than you think.”

Q:  Favorite workspaces? “I love local coffee shops, they’re perfect for coding and people-watching.”

Q:  Mascot of choice? A cat. “They’re adorable, independent, and meme-able—just like me.”

Stay tuned as Maddy continues turning debugging chaos, tech trends, and AI memes into internet gold one post at a time.

Follow Maddy Zhang here:

SPONSOR

Industry Event Spotlight: Creator Economy Live East – NYC, August 5–6

Get ready for one of the most anticipated influencer marketing events of the year. Creator Economy Live East is launching its NYC edition August 5–6! Whether you're a creator, agency, or brand professional, this is your chance to connect with powerhouse companies like Free People, Wayfair, Ryanair, Doordash, Shein, Nespresso USA, Expedia, Subaru, Shutterstock, and Fox Entertainment. 

The event will tackle some of the industry's biggest challenges: accurate measurement, healthy brand-creator partnerships, which tools are worth it and more. See you in New York!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Inside the Bay Area

JULY 17
COMMUNITY PICK!  Bay Area Creator Economy: Summer Social

The premier pre–Open Sauce event

RSVP HERE for a fun evening where the creator economy comes to life through real connection, innovation, and celebration. The Bay Area Creator Economy Summer Social  brings together the people shaping what’s next—with powerful energy, meaningful conversations, and surprises in store.

This is more than a mixer, It’s where relationships form, ideas launch, and the summer creator season officially begins right before Open Sauce weekend. More details coming soon.

🌟 Want to partner or sponsor?
Reach out now to be part of the Bay’s most dynamic creator economy event of the summer! Please email: [email protected]

JUNE

June 21
BASH Bay Area & Sacramento Short Film Festival  Join this semi-annual film festival in SF to see a selection of shorts and mini-features from the Bay Area and Sacramento. The festival will showcase works from both award-winning directors and emerging amateur filmmakers.

June 24
Podcast & YouTube Creators Community: Marketing Tips & Strategies for 2025  Learn 10 podcast marketing tips and strategies from Bay Area pros. Join in person or on Zoom.

June 25
Future Forward Summit: San Francisco  If you are interested in how AI and innovation are reshaping the future of human potential attend this half-day summit featuring keynotes, fireside chats, and networking at Quantcast’s HQ.

June 28-29 
San Francisco Pride The 55th Annual SF Pride Celebration takes place over the weekend, with the iconic Pride Parade on Sunday along Market Street. Celebrate unity, joy, and vibrant community at one of the world’s largest LGBTQ+ events.(San Francisco)

Beyond the Bay Area

SPECIAL VIDCON EDITION
*Pre-approval may be required for some events. We are sharing these events for informational purposes only and are not affiliated with them.

COMMUNITY PICK! Lia Haberman’s ICYMI Marketing Event Database 
includes a helpful VidCon events tracker. 

June 20
4-6pm Spotify x VidCon 

Have an event you’d like us to include here? If so, please send the event URL to [email protected].

“HELLA BAY AREA” CREATOR PICK

Ted Chin aka @TedsLittleDream

Building Worlds Through Imagination: Ted Chin on Art, Visual Storytelling & Inspiration

Ted Chin is a digital dreamer literally. Known across platforms as @TedsLittleDream, Ted is a photographer-turned-digital artist whose surreal, mind-bending visuals have built a loyal following across Instagram, TikTok, and beyond.

Here’s an example of his work that is very “Hella Bay Area”:

Originally from Taiwan, Ted landed in San Francisco to study 3D animation and stayed for the creative energy. What started as a love for photography quickly evolved into something more whimsical: layered dreamscapes blending digital art, graphic design, and surreal storytelling.

Last year, he brought his creations off the screen with a solo show in SF, turning his 2D digital work into physical sculptures. Think: dream world meets reality.

What Inspires Ted?

Fairytales, folklore, anime, and - you guessed it - life in the Bay.

Whether he’s hiking through Golden Gate Park or spotting fog rolling over Twin Peaks, Ted says nature sparks his best ideas. His process often starts with a simple story or visual spark and grows into a piece that feels both otherworldly and strangely familiar.

 Advice for Artists & Creators

Whether you’re behind a camera, a tablet, or a phone screen, Ted’s advice is simple:

Find your voice. Create what excites you. And just start sharing even if it’s not “perfect.” You never know who it might inspire.

He encourages creators to engage with their community, enter competitions, and keep showing up. It’s less about going viral and more about building your creative identity and resilience.

Ted Behind the Scenes

Ted has worked with big names like Adobe, Apple, Warner Bros., and many more, but what lights him up most is building community. As an Adobe Insider, he often leads workshops and creative events and he sees the creator economy as a way for artists and digital creators to thrive on their own terms.

😄 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know

  • Ted proudly calls himself a modern surrealist

  • He’s a Star Wars super fan and anime nerd

  • He collects art and is always on the hunt for new pieces

  • His ultimate comfort food? Potatoes any way, every way

  • Go-to brunch spot: Plow in San Francisco

📲 Follow Ted’s creative world:

@TedsLittleDream on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Twitter

FINAL NOTE

We’d love YOUR help as we ramp up our offerings.  We’re looking for a few volunteers to help with our events, with editing, marketing and really anything else you think we might need.  Please fill out our short survey if you’ve got the time and inclination - we’d love to work something out!

Thank you for reading our newsletter! If you haven’t subscribed yet, make sure to do so here to stay in the loop!  

If you are a Bay Area Creator and have a piece of content you’d like for us to share, email it to us at [email protected]

Are you interested in contributing to the community or sponsoring an event? 

Email us at [email protected]