MAIN STORY

From NYC to SF: Megan Lightcap Joins Bay Area's Creator Economy

Rachel Masters, Contributor

Megan Lightcap is an investor at Slow Ventures where she oversees the fund’s creator investing strategy. Megan is probably the newest member of the Bay Area Creator Economy Community as she just traded in her New York life for the Bay Area!

Our conversation below will help you get to know Megan - and if you see her around, give her a warm BACE welcome!

What types of Creators are you looking to invest in?

• We partner with entrepreneurial creators who are best in class within their vertical or niche – and who are building businesses supported by their content, media, personal brand, and community

How do you make the decision whether or not to invest?

• We spend a lot of time getting to know the creator. We look to understand their entrepreneurial acumen, the strength of their community and the competitive dynamics within their category, their company-building ambitions, and how capital might further accelerate their success.

What do you wish more people understood about your work?

• I think there is a misconception that ours is a revenue share model. We invest in the creator’s holding company in exchange for equity in the companies and projects they launch. We aim to be maximally aligned with the creator! 

Why did you just move to San Francisco / Bay Area?

• After working remotely for the last few years in New York and countless trips out here, it was time to officially be in person with the team in the Bay Area… both because we have lots of exciting news to share soon (!!) but also because it’s a lot closer to the industry in Los Angeles. 

Who in the Bay Area creator community do you most admire?

• I am biased but Marina Mogilko. She was the first creator we partnered with at Slow Ventures. She has a first-rate creative mind and first-rate business mind – a very special combination.

What's your favorite Bay Area restaurant?

• I am still new to the city so my sample size is limited, but I’d have to say Cotonga. The food, vibe, and hospitality are excellent – and it’s down the street from my office… what’s not to like?? 

What’s your ideal day off?

• The San Francisco version: a slow morning with good coffee, followed by a hike in the Presidio, a stop by Baker Beach, and a yummy dinner with friends to cap off the day

What's a personal passion project or hobby you're working on?

• I have a business idea I am incubating with a friend who also just moved out to the Bay Area from New York. It’s still in its infancy but it’s a fun creative outlet. Other than that, I'm trying to furnish and decorate my new home! Does that count?

What's one question about the creator economy you'd like answered?

• At what point do we just call it the economy? :)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Inside the Bay Area

FEBRUARY

February 12  
AI For Marketers — Leveraging AI to Enhance Marketing Strategies (San Francisco)

February 14-16
NBA All Star 2025 — Celebrating Basketball's Top Talent (San Francisco)

February 15
The Equity Lounge with Google Pixel X The Female Quotient SF — For NBA All-Star Weekend, The Equality Lounge is bringing thought leaders, bold conversations, and connections to drive inclusivity, innovation, and empowerment in sports and tech during this one-day event. (San Francisco)

MARCH

March 5 
ACG Silicon Valley M&A Tech Connect 2025 — This one-day event brings top dealmakers, investors, and innovators together for a high-impact day at Levi’s Stadium. With exclusive networking, curated 1:1 meetings, and thought-provoking panels, this premier event is ideal for M&A and startup leaders. (Santa Clara) 

March 11
Gen Jam SF: Make a Video Game With AI in 3hrs with AI — Create a Video Game Using AI in 3 Hours (San Francisco)

March 17-21
Game Developers Conference — The Leading Event for Game Industry Professionals, Creators, and Innovators (San Francisco)

March 17-21
NVIDIA GTC AI Conference — Their annual everything NVIDIA festival (San Jose)

March 22
San Francisco Fashion Community Week Runway Show — The 20th season of San Francisco's award-winning Fashion Community Week fashion show is taking place at the Marker Hotel in Union Square, featuring an exclusive runway showcase of extravagant global designs including categories such as Avant-Garde, Eco-Friendly, and more. (San Francisco) 

Beyond the Bay Area

FEBRUARY

February 22
FoodieCon — A Culinary Event for Food Lovers, Chefs, and Industry Experts (Miami)

February 26-27
Digital Marketing World Forum Asia — Leading event for digital marketers to explore trends, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of marketing (Singapore)

MARCH

March 3-6
MWC25 Barcelona Mobile World Congress — MWC brings together top policy, business, and tech leaders to explore the future of the digital economy. Featuring bold keynotes from outspoken global thinkers, the conference tackles technology’s impact on social, political, and economic challenges—helping businesses navigate change and stay ahead. (Barcelona) 

March 7-15
COMMUNITY PICK! SXSW/South By Southwest - A premier festival celebrating music, film, tech, and innovation. Catch our co-founder, Jim Louderback, as he takes the stage at SXSW! (Austin) 

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

• Ayesha Curry, Bay Area influencer, skincare brand founder, restaurateur and NBA Pro Steph Curry’s Wife is accused of blaming Oakland for her store's closing. (SiliconValley.com)
  

• Our co-founder Monica Khan is now a Partner at Strand Entertainment, bridging digital and Hollywood and representing top creators, including Bay Area creator Marina Mogilko (Silicon Valley Girl & Linguamarina), with nearly 10 million YouTube subscribers. (Deadline)
  

• YouTube is addressing mental health by flagging 22 high-risk keywords, such as ‘suicide’ and ‘anxiety,’ to ensure viewers receive accurate and supportive content and partnering with Room 1041, Koala App, The JED Foundation, and top creators to produce a mental health series featuring top creators and medical experts, including our co-founder Cassandra Bankson (YouTube)
  

• Instagram’s San Francisco-based CEO Adam Mosseri admits “hashtags don’t work” when hounded by The Daily Mail. Creator economy industry expert and reporter Lia Haberman led a threads discussion on the encounter for which Emeryville-based hashtag inventor Chris Messina noted, “Turns out you need to create quality content to earn attention, not just abuse hashtags.” (The Daily Mail and Threads)
  

• Sundance Film Festival, for the first time ever, honored a group of digital creators and their work, highlighting the impact on storytelling and brand power the creator economy has pioneered beyond traditional media. The lineup (moderated in part by San Francisco-based Global Product Lead for YouTube Shorts Paulina Gallagher) included YouTubers such as Michelle Khare, TikTok creators such as Reesa Tessa, Instagram stars, such as Jordan Howlett, and beyond. (Linkedin) 
  

• San Francisco-based startup Beacons AI expands their mission to connect and spotlight creators by opening a new office in NYC, making the creator-focused tech company officially bicoastal. (LinkedIn)

JOBS

• Director, Global Head Brand Marketing - Instagram (San Francisco / Menlo Park) 

• Engineering Manager, Content Acquisition - Netflix (Los Gatos)

• Staff Product Designer, Internal Tools - Linkedin (Sunnyvale)

• Senior Product Manager, Creator Generative AI - Roblox (San Mateo)

• Tech Lead, Content E-commerce - TikTok (San Jose)

• Events & Experiences Manager — Patreon (San Francisco and New York) 

  
  Have a job you’d like us to include here? Send the job posting URL to [email protected].

“HELLA BAY AREA” CREATOR PICK

Jina The Gorgeous: Bridging Cultures Through Content

If you’ve come across @jinathegorgeous, you know Jina is more than a beauty and lifestyle creator—she’s a cultural storyteller on a mission to make the ‘weird’ feel familiar. Through her content, she unpacks Korean beauty, fashion, food, and traditions, helping a global audience appreciate cultural nuances.

Born in Seoul and now based in the Bay Area, Jina’s experiences have shaped her perspective on how cultures perceive one another. As she puts it, “Unfamiliar things can seem ‘weird’ until we get to know them—every culture is fascinating in its own way.” Now, she’s expanding her message beyond Korean culture, inspiring people to embrace diverse lifestyles and perspectives.

Beyond content creation, Jina has a passion for travel, food, fitness, and meaningful connections. Whether she’s hiking California trails, testing a new recipe, or sharing a meal in deep conversation, she’s always finding ways to connect.

Follow Jina as she continues to bridge cultures—one post at a time!

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

Are you interested in contributing to the community or sponsoring an event? 
Email us at [email protected]