They Quit an Influencer Marketing Startup and Built Their Own. Now They’re Projecting to Make $3M

Why It Matters

Storytime fills a critical gap by making influencer marketing affordable and scalable for local businesses, potentially reshaping how neighborhoods drive foot traffic. Its success could signal a broader shift toward hyper‑local SaaS solutions in the advertising ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

• Former Lefty staff launch Storytime influencer marketplace.
• Targets city‑by‑city local business marketing.
• Founder Yeager has 3M followers, five‑figure deals.
• Projected $3 million revenue in first year.
• Ex‑boss becomes early investor, avoiding legal conflict.

Pulse Analysis

The influencer marketing industry has become a multi‑billion‑dollar engine for global brands, yet its tools remain geared toward luxury houses with massive budgets. Platforms such as Lefty charge upwards of $1,500 per month for software that supports large creative teams, leaving small‑scale retailers and restaurants without affordable automation. As foot‑traffic dwindles in many brick‑and‑mortar locations, owners struggle to locate relevant creators, negotiate rates, and measure ROI. This gap creates a fertile niche for a solution that simplifies local campaigns without the overhead of enterprise‑grade systems. Investors are watching this segment closely for scalable opportunities.

Storytime, founded in 2024 by former Lefty growth lead Philip Davis and influencer‑marketing specialist Aris Yeager, aims to turn that niche into a city‑by‑city marketplace. Leveraging Yeager’s 3 million‑strong TikTok and Instagram audience, the platform connects local businesses with creators who can generate authentic, location‑specific content. By automating outreach, contract handling, and performance tracking, Storytime promises a subscription model far cheaper than legacy software. The duo projects $3 million in revenue within the first twelve months, a figure that signals strong demand for scalable, hyper‑local influencer solutions.

The venture’s early backing from Lefty’s co‑founder Thomas Repelski removes a potential legal hurdle and validates the concept among industry insiders. If Storytime can replicate its model across multiple metros, it could attract larger venture rounds, positioning it alongside other niche‑focused SaaS players that have scaled to exit valuations. Competitors may respond by launching localized add‑ons to existing platforms, but Storytime’s first‑mover advantage and data‑rich creator network could cement its role as the go‑to marketplace for neighborhood‑level brand amplification.