Pearpop: Monetizing TikTok with Celebrity Shout-Outs

PearPop, a recently established company based in Los Angeles, is rapidly gaining traction with almost 25,000 users in under a month and has successfully secured initial funding from Rocket One Capital.

The core concept of the company is straightforward: it provides a platform for fans to submit bids for the opportunity to appear in shared screen time with their preferred TikTok personalities, a proposition that has garnered interest from several platform stars boasting millions of followers.

According to the company’s founder, Cole Mason, a single post from TikTok creator Anna Shumate, known as “annabananaxdddd” and with a following of 6.5 million, resulted in the acquisition of 3,000 users.

PearPop’s system allows TikTok celebrities to establish a price for shared screen experiences. They have the ability to review submitted content and accept bids, ensuring alignment with their established online presence. Payments are processed securely through Stripe, with the software verifying each transaction. Upon completion of payment, the celebrity publishes the collaborative video.

“Our focus is on empowering the influencer,” explained Mason. “Rather than attempting to contact managers and navigate legal complexities, fans can easily connect with their favorite TikTok stars through PearPop.”

Mason anticipates reaching 100,000 users within the next three months and plans to initiate a seed funding round upon achieving this milestone. The launch of Android and iOS versions of the service is currently scheduled for November, as stated by Mason.

The origins of PearPop can be traced back to an apartment floor in New York City. Mason, an ambitious entrepreneur with a background in modeling, began his ventures by selling handcrafted wooden crosses as a child and later transitioned to selling gaming gloves during his high school years. He moved to New York after being signed by Ford Models.

Following a period of living in a friend’s apartment in Manhattan’s East Village, Mason pursued modeling opportunities but found greater success promoting and managing model apartments – residences offered to individuals in exchange for appearances at local nightclubs.

“I found that work unfulfilling,” Mason stated. “My true passion lay in the technology sector.” 

Mason utilized the earnings from his promotional work to shift his focus towards the tech industry. As a developing model building a network within social media, he identified a key challenge: gaining visibility.

His initial attempt to address this issue involved creating a platform named GramEnvy, designed to accelerate growth on Instagram.

“Increasing your Instagram presence often required collaboration with others or leveraging their established followings,” Mason explained. However, algorithmic changes ultimately led to the closure of GramEnvy, despite the initial effort.

Inspired by the success of Cameo, Mason’s entrepreneurial drive led him to explore alternative methods for enabling emerging social media personalities – those operating below the level of A-list celebrities – to monetize their online presence.

While Cameo provides a means for celebrities to profit from their following, it doesn’t necessarily offer the exposure sought by aspiring social media stars. Mason believes PearPop effectively addresses this need. 

Spencer Markel, chairman of CubCoats, a Los Angeles-based children’s clothing and entertainment brand, shares this perspective.

Markel, introduced to Mason through a mutual acquaintance from New York, has joined the company as an advisor since Mason began developing it approximately ten months ago. He recognizes the potential of PearPop, particularly the ability to facilitate shared screen experiences within the TikTok platform, as a potentially more profitable avenue for celebrities.

“This service will fill a significant void in the market,” Markel commented. He anticipates that PearPop will provide a robust monetization solution for TikTok creators who are positioned just below those with the largest fan bases.