- Bay Area Creator Economy
- Posts
- SAUCY, SERIOUS and FUN
SAUCY, SERIOUS and FUN
The Bay Area was a Creator-palooza over the past two weeks, with much more to come.
Bay Area Creator Economy
July 29, 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:
What a great event two weeks ago. Thanks to everyone who came out, and I hope you all got a chance to enjoy Open Sauce as well, our very own Bay Area creator festival!
The Bay Area is also making waves in Washington DC, with Representative Ro Khanna - who represents Silicon Valley and parts of the South Bay - focused on liberating TikTok, protecting creator copyrights from AI and standing up for creator rights as well.
Creators are also standing up for themselves and their power around the world - and in the bay area, as our “Hella Bay Area” pick introduces you to a creator fighting for her rights for respect and inclusion.
Thanks for being a part of this amazing community!
Cassandra Bankson, France Tantiado, Jim Louderback, Monica Khan & Rachel Masters
— The Bay Area Creator Economy Community Team / Co-Founders
MAIN STORY
Inside the Bay Area Creator Economy Scene: The Summer Social Everyone’s Talking About
France Tantiado - Contributor
The energy was real, the conversations were electric, and the vibes were unmatched. Our Bay Area Creator Economy Summer Social brought together an incredible mix of creators, founders, and industry leaders. The connections made were just as powerful as the community we’re building. We’re so grateful to everyone who showed up, showed love, and showed why the Bay is a hub for creator innovation. From local attendees to those who traveled from beyond the Bay Area to spend time with us, thank you for making this such a special night. Here’s what some of our amazing guests had to say...
"The BACE Summer Social showcased how vibrant and driven the Bay Area creator scene truly is where tech, ambition, and community collide in the best way possible. The conversation has clearly moved beyond views and likes to building businesses and legacies that last, and at Kajabi, we're thrilled to be the platform that powers that shift."
“I love that the Bay Area Creator Economy was able to come together for their Summer Social, a space where executives, founders, and creators could connect, collaborate, and build community. My first time attending Open Sauce that same weekend reminded me just how much talent and innovation exists here in the Bay, and this event only amplified that.
"It was impressive to see the Bay Area creatives and tech professionals get together and network. I left feeling recharged and inspired:) would love to attend more of BACE events in the future."
“There’s something uniquely powerful about what’s happening in the Bay Area Creator Economy community, it’s not just about creators meeting each other, it’s about reimagining what the creator is. At the Summer Social, you could see the evolution: creators as entrepreneurs, IP developers, and cultural system-builders. These gatherings aren’t just social, they’re strategic. They’re where the future takes shape.”
Tobias Hoss, SVP Operations & Management Team at Lunar X and Theorist Media
“I used to struggle so hard to find other creators around SF! Events like these make it so much easier - they are THE place to connect with other Bay Area creators & creator economy professionals!”
“The Summer Social was such a fun and thoughtful gathering of creators, founders, and industry friends. It’s rare to find a community this genuine, and having my birthday celebrated there made it all the more meaningful.”
"I had such a great time connecting with fellow Bay Area creatives who share similar goals and love to post on social media as much as I do! It’s always refreshing to step out from behind the screen and build genuine, in-person relationships with people in my community especially from the Bay Area! Left feeling super inspired and felt like I found my people!"
“Absolutely electric energy at the Bay Area Creator Economy event—felt like the entire digital video space showed up in one room, buzzing with ideas, partnerships, and possibility.”
Gwen Miller, Senior Director, Creator Growth, Mythical Entertainment
"I met such awesome people! What a swell night."
“Being a creator can often feel like shouting into the void, so finding community at events like this means everything. For the first time, we connected with fellow creatives right here in our own backyard across wildly different niches, yet all speaking the same language of hustle, storytelling, and purpose. Hearing directly from brands and platforms gave us real, actionable insight into how to collaborate better. We walked away inspired, connected, and fired up.”
Juliana Wynkoop and Martín Gomez, Travel Creators behind @TouristTolocal
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Congressman Ro Khanna Talks Creators and TikTok
Jim Louderback, Contributor
I ran into Representative Ro Khanna and his campaign manager in the speaker lounge at VidCon. He was on his way to speak on the Creator Track, and I was waiting for my panelists to show up.
Representative Khanna represents Silicon Valley and the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. As a leading voice for creators in congress - and the first representative to speak at VidCon, I was happy that he agreed to a short interview for this week’s issue. Note the interview happened two weeks ago, before the bombshell news that TikTok is rolling out a new app and a sale seems more likely now than ever. We hope to see the congressman and/or some of his team at future events!
Q: You are working to have the TikTok ban overturned. Why are you working on that, and what do you think needs to be done to ensure TikTok is a safe place for everyone? It seems like TikTok is in a perpetual state of Limbo, what is likely to happen next?
A: Nearly 7 million small businesses and thousands of creators make their living. Banning Tiktok would destroy millions of livelihoods and violate the free speech of the app’s 170M American users.
Right now, Trump’s Executive Order is necessary to keep the app running, but it doesn’t save the app permanently. To ensure TikTok is here to stay we need legislation. My bill with Sen. Rand Paul repeals the ban.
Q: President Biden leaned into recognizing the importance of creators late in his term. What's being done to support creators in Washington DC today?
A: During and following the 2024 election, Democrats in Washington finally started understanding the importance of creators. They’re part of a movement that reaches millions of Americans. It’s vital we recognize the impact they have on the political conversation.
We also need to ensure it isn’t a one-way street for creators in Washington and that we use our position to fight for greater protections, economic security, and benefits, like healthcare, for content creators.
Q: Social media is where many people get their news. How do you see this shift impacting civic engagement, democracy, information that is “real” news?
A: The media environment has changed. People are searching for more authenticity in politics and creators are able to give that to them. Creators have had a significant impact on people’s ability to connect with Washington and have allowed more people to get involved than ever before in our democracy and in speaking out for the issues that matter to them.
Q: Do you see a need for new policies to support creators as small business owners and entrepreneurs in today’s digital economy?
A: Yes, it’s important we start to treat creators with respect, not just when an election is around the corner. We need to do more to ensure creators have access to support systems like affordable childcare and healthcare, and are treated fairly by large platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Q: How do you think AI will shape the future of the creator economy from content creation, copyright and regulation?
A: I have been a continuous advocate for regulations around AI and art. I stood with the picket line during the 2023 WGA strike, calling on Congress to fight to protect the integrity of writers and artists.
Q: Do you use social media yourself? If so, which platforms do you find most helpful for staying in touch with people in your community?
A: I try to be active everywhere. Building relationships means meeting creators where they are — whether that’s consuming content or starting a conversation over DM.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Inside the Bay Area
AUGUST
August 2
Bay Area Dog Surfing Contest. Bring your canine and camera to enjoy the annual dog surfing contest on the gorgeous California coastline. Instagrammable moments are sure to be captured, and canine competition awaits. (Pacifica)
August 8-10
OutsideLands Music Festival. Outside Lands, formerly known as the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, is a three-day music, art, food, wine, beer and cannabis festival held annually in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Back again this year with headliners such as Doja Cat, John Summit and Tyler The Creator. Details and tickets can be found here. (San Francisco)
August 27
CTRL+ALT RESPAWN Fireside Chat ft. Fiona Ma & Chaniah Kelley. In a rare joint session, public finance meets film innovation. Fiona and Chaniah unpack what it means to fund the future of storytelling, from state-backed incentives to grassroots studio builds. This is a must-hear conversation for creators and investors alike. Reserve your spot now.
SEPTEMBER
September 3-5
INBOUND 2025. Hosted by HubSpot, INBOUND brings together thought leaders, industry experts, and business innovators for four days of inspiring keynotes, interactive sessions, and hands-on workshops. It’s the ideal opportunity to gain insights into the latest marketing strategies, tools, and trends that drive success. See Ticketing & Registration details HERE. (San Francisco)
September 18th
Make with Notion. A day of keynotes, demos, and intimate conversations about AI and the tools of tomorrow with the people who shape them. You can request an invite to in person or join virtually — see more details about registration here. (San Francisco)
Beyond the Bay Area
AUGUST
August 1-3
KCON LA The top K-Pop fan and artists festival returns to LA for live musical performances, top k-pop creator meet and greets, k-beauty booths, Korean food and more in this celebration of culture and content. (Los Angeles)
August 5-6
Creator Economy Live East. Get ready for one of the top influencer marketing events of the year hits NYC/ Connect with brands like Free People, Wayfair, DoorDash, Shein, Nespresso, Subaru, and more. Join creators, agencies, and brands as we tackle key industry challenges: measurement, partnerships, tools, and more. See you in New York! Bonus: Score 20% off your ticket with the exclusive code BACE20. (New York)
August 15-17
CreatorHub. It's three days of actual, implementable strategies that transform content creators into business owners and business owners into influential personal brands. Register for your ticket HERE. (Orlando)
August 29 - September 1
Pax West 2025 The Pax West Gaming Festival is a four-day event that features a large expo hall with game publishers and developers, new game demos, panels, musical performances, tournaments, and community events. (Seattle)
SEPTEMBER
September 4
Press Publish NYC. A one-day summit where you’ll join hands-on workshops and meet collaborators, learn from experts shaping the future of the creator economy, and take part in a live, interactive episode of The Colin and Samir Show. Apply now — application to attend ends August 19th (New York City)
September 16-17
Content Marketing World. Produced by the Content Marketing Institute, CMWorld brings together marketers, strategists, creators, agencies, and teams from around the world for three days of ideas, connection, and guidance for the future. Register now. (San Diego)
Have an event you’d like us to include here? Send the event URL [email protected].
COMMUNITY NEWS
SF’s Kis Cafe to close after fallout with TikTok food creator: Hayes Valley’s Kis Cafe announced it is firing chef Luke Sung and closing after backlash from a collab gone wrong with Bay Area TikToker @itskarlabb, who went viral sharing she was berated and humiliated by Sung over her follower count (more below in Hella Bay Area). (KRON4)
YouTube Shorts Surpasses TikTok With 200B Daily Views: YouTube Shorts now pulls over 200 billion daily views, double TikTok’s last reported figure, according to CEO Neal Mohan at Cannes Lions 2025. While monetization still lags behind long-form, YouTube is testing affiliate tagging and Super Thanks to keep creators invested. (Creator Handbook)
Open Sauce Draws 33K to the Bay for Creator-Led Innovation: Dubbed “the science fair of the future,” Open Sauce 2025 brought over 33,000 attendees to the San Mateo Event Center, featuring 500+ exhibitors and 150+ creators, including Mark Rober and Hank Green. The Bay-born event blended STEM, cosplay, and creator culture into one electric weekend. (Tubefilter)
AI-Powered Private School Launches $75K Campus in San Francisco: Alpha School has opened a new Fort Mason campus, bringing its AI-driven learning model to the Bay Area. Students spend two hours daily with an AI tutor, while the rest of the day is dedicated to real-world challenges like programming driverless cars or running food trucks. Teachers serve as mentors, not lecturers. Tuition: $75,000/year. (NBC Bay Area)
Jobs
Brand Content Manager @ Visit Napa Valley (Napa)
Creator Partnerships @ Zams (San Francisco)
Director, Product Management, YouTube Creator Growth and Earnings @YouTube (San Bruno)
Music Product Designer @ TikTok Music (San Jose)
Product Manager @ Newsbreak (Mountain View)
Social Media & Content Strategist @ Marine Layer (San Francisco)
Software Engineer, iOS @Pika (Palo Alto)
Have a job you’d like us to include here? Send the job posting URL to [email protected].
“HELLA BAY AREA” CREATOR PICK
@itskarlabb
📍Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
@itskarlabb its a long video and not something i would normally upload but i feel like i had to talk about this experience. i basically ran out of the... See more
Why We’re Spotlighting This
TikTok creator @itskarlabb posted an emotional video about a planned collaboration at Kis Café. She says chef-owner Luke Sung dismissed her because, in his view, her TikTok following, 15,000 at the time, was “too small.” She alleges that he played her TikTok videos at full volume, told staff her followers were not the kind of customers his restaurant wanted, and name-dropped his daughter, who has 600,000 followers saying she “wasn’t at that level.”
Her story went viral, gaining over 2.3 million views and boosting her following from 22K to over 239K, showing the unexpected power of creator-led narratives
What Happened Next
Kis Cafe confirmed Sung was the chef in question, issued a public apology, and announced that Sung is no longer the Cafe’s Chef or Co-Owner. They also said they would temporarily close and restructure while standing by their staff which has been harassed.
In their Instagram statement, they stressed the importance of respect and urged the public not to use the incident for hateful or racist targeting.
BACE Takeaways
Algorithm > Status: The backlash proves that follower count is not currency. TikTok’s current algorithm rewards empathetic and local content.
Treat Creators with Care: Territorial snubbing of a micro-creator led to broad fallout, not just reputational damage, that impacts on staff, the business partner, and even unrelated local businesses. Creator ecosystems have the potential to impact commerce and greater accountability is expected.
Context is everything: Ownership and prestige do not grant anyone the right to disregard others. In the Bay Area, we prioritize equity and community respect.
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]