Oliver Yonchev unveils his new venture studio, cocreatd, marking a new chapter in the marketing industry.
- The studio aims to incubate and invest in groundbreaking marketing ideas, supporting early-stage founders.
- Emphasizing co-creation, the venture prioritizes partnerships with marketers, creatives, and technologists.
- Yonchev highlights the need for a new approach in leveraging AI and talent management.
- Initial investments have already been made, with plans for further ventures by 2025.
Oliver Yonchev, a pivotal figure in the marketing world, has launched cocreatd, a venture studio intended to energize the marketing industry with fresh ideas. This move represents his first major endeavor since leaving Flight Group. Joining him are co-founders James Lawson Baker, Paul Stevens, and Simon Whitaker. This team aims to foster innovation by providing capital and a unique platform to budding entrepreneurs, particularly those at the initial stages of their ventures.
The focus of cocreatd is on empowering marketers, creatives, and technologists who are ready to rethink the delivery of marketing and creative services. Yonchev argues that the industry needs a radical overhaul, especially in how artificial intelligence is utilized and how talent is incentivized through ownership models. He noted the significant trend of skilled individuals leaving the industry due to the allure of independence and AI’s rise, emphasizing that small expert teams now rival larger organizations.
James Lawson Baker shared that the studio has already committed to two investments in recent weeks, and there are plans to support 8 to 10 more ventures by the end of 2025. This demonstrates a proactive approach to nurturing the next generation of marketing innovation. According to co-founder Stevens, cocreatd’s model is centered on collaboration with founders, emphasizing that this is as much about people as it is about technology.
Simon Whitiker pointed out a significant gap in startup funding within the creative industries, noting that existing support frameworks often mirror outdated business models. He indicated that cocreatd seeks to address this by supporting ventures that don’t adhere to traditional agency structures. Yonchev, reflecting on his experience in scaling global agencies, expressed that the timing is perfect to challenge current practices and develop new models that can outpace larger corporations.
He emphasized that with the help of AI, smaller teams can compete strongly against established entities. This initiative is about accelerating the validation of ideas and creating technology solutions swiftly.
Yonchev’s cocreatd venture studio is set to redefine marketing innovation by backing groundbreaking ideas and fostering collaboration.
