destream: Building the financial backbone of the creator economy

The creator economy is skyrocketing. According to research, the industry is estimated to be worth around $300 billion every year, with predictions that it could double by 2030.

Fintech companies are leading the way in this transformation, making it easier and more efficient for creators to manage their finances. destream’s Founder and CEO, Tachat Igityan, is ready to break down what the creator’s economy stands for and how these companies are shaping its future.

Destream pioneer in the sphere

Since its launch in 2018, destream has become a pioneer in the sphere, way before the word “creator” was elsewhere. Back then, even though creators had already started to make serious money, they were treated more like hobbyists.

They were building real businesses, brand deals, and merch and exploring multiple income streams, but they were experiencing significant troubles trying to legalise their activity. The idea that creators could open a bank account, comprehensively report their activity or get any financial advice was a distant dream.

“So I thought, if there are few financial tools for creators, maybe we should create a convenient one — one that could relieve their burden and become an effective solution,” says Tachat Igityan. 

The boom of the creator economy

Nowadays, there are 430 million creators globally, and 72% say they have grown their income significantly in the last year. So, we are watching a whole new business class emerging — one that doesn’t fit traditional moulds but challenges industries, drives innovation, and creates new revenue streams.

According to the Schwarzwald Capital report, the industry is expected to hit $528 billion by 2030, which indicates that brands are actively pouring funds into this space.

The industry is growing, but creators’ business operations don’t fit traditional moulds and require tailored solutions. One key point is that most creators operate directly from their phones — which challenges the conventional way business is typically done.

“destream offers creators branded debit cards, transparent dashboards, and multi-platform payment links, enabling them to operate with the same level of control as any modern business”, stresses Mr Igityan. In other words, access to money should be immediate, global, and stress-free.

Since creators already have multiple solutions in the form of AI tools, marketing, and video apps, the key question appears: Why do startups for creators focus on finance?

And the answer is on the surface — financial stability is the backbone of nearly every industry. If one has the most intelligent growth strategy but doesn’t have access to cash flow data, this could result in serious complexities. Most importantly, such cases can even be observed at the highest levels.

In this context, Tachat Igityan gives an example: “During the last Super Bowl, up to 35% of ad budgets went to creators. And after all, they did right — this has become the biggest Bowl in history in terms of views.”

That’s a huge shift — and creators need infrastructure that matches that scale.

A professional team creating infrastructure 

Mr Igityan highlights that destream is building its own infrastructure from scratch because “solving the actual problems is possible only by creating our own unique tool.”

Third-party instruments are also suitable, but only until creators face difficulties such as international payments or inconsistent income when multiple revenue streams should be tracked simultaneously.

So, having a full-fledged team of professionals with a strong banking and fintech background, including traditional finances, is one of the keys to success.

“Thanks to that, we managed to build our own rails to give creators full control and flexibility. That lets us solve for things like fast payouts and cleaner compliance,” Igityan emphasises. 

What’s next for the creator economy?

The creator economy has a big potential to mature into a comprehensive ecosystem with its own rules, tools, and infrastructure. “Big companies are already entering the market and making more and more deals,” says Mr Igityan.

destream helps to build that financial layer where content and finances intersect, and it’s not solely about the technology sector. “We are investing in education, too. Through our ambassador program, we help creators with legal support, promo opportunities, and financial literacy,” claims Igityan. He stresses that they are helping creators not just survive but thrive in the long run. They should do what they are masters at — creating content, growing an audience, and expanding horizons, while financial matters should be outsourced to such companies as destream.

Tachat Igityan: the founder and CEO of destream

Tachat Igityan is the founder and CEO of destream, a financial platform for content creators.

Igityan is an entrepreneur with over 8 years of experience in fintech and more than 10 years in digital marketing.

He has been serving as an executive and consultant in various fintech projects, startups, and financial companies up to the present day.