Slow Ventures has placed its first bet from a new $60 million fund dedicated to content creators, investing $2 million in woodworking educator Jonathan Katz-Moses. The deal signals venture capital’s growing appetite for creators who transform online audiences into sustainable businesses.
Katz-Moses operates a woodworking education channel with approximately 600,000 followers and nearly 75 million video views. Beyond content creation, he has developed his own line of woodworking tools and accessories, demonstrating the entrepreneurial pivot that attracted institutional investment.
From Trauma to Tools
The creator’s journey began after a violent assault in 2010 left him with a broken eye socket requiring 80 stitches. In a recent video, Katz-Moses described waking up surrounded by police and paramedics, calling survival “the happiest moment of his life.” The experience prompted him to pursue woodworking and abandon unfulfilling pursuits.
He purchased a camera and began documenting his creations on YouTube, gradually building a dedicated following. As his audience grew, so did business challenges familiar to traditional founders: inventory management, salary allocation, and scaling operations.
Venture Capital Enters Creator Economy
Billy Parks, the Slow Ventures partner leading the investment, emphasized how creator roles have evolved beyond media and brand partnerships toward building independent businesses.
“The pandemic accelerated direct-to-consumer growth for many. But the real signal is in the ones who’ve maintained and grown past that boom, which shows they can build something lasting and sustainable” ~ Billy Parks, Venture Partner at Slow Ventures.
The fund launched in February with the thesis that successful influence translates to entrepreneurial capability. Parks noted that promising creator-founders
“think like an entrepreneur, not chasing fame but building real businesses that they own and control.” ~ Billy Parks, Venture Partner at Slow Ventures.
Scale and Selection
Katz-Moses emerged from 700 applicants to Slow’s Creator Fund. His 30,000-square-foot Santa Barbara workshop impressed investors during their visit “We were blown away by his serious and long-term commitment to the brand and building a scaled business” Parks said, explaining the selection rationale.
The investment strategy focuses on creators operating in defined niches rather than broad entertainment, prioritizing engaged communities and demonstrated expertise. Parks described this combination as creating “businesses with strong foundations and durable growth.” Parks stated.
Investment Impact and Expansion Plans
Since securing funding, Katz-Moses has hired product developers, filed patent applications, and expanded his product research. The creator plans to distribute educational content across multiple platforms while maintaining YouTube as his primary focus.
The deal represents broader investor interest in the creator economy as influencers transition into business operators. Slow Ventures aims to partner with creators early in their commercial development, providing support when intervention can maximize growth impact.
The investment validates a model where content creation serves as market research and audience development for product businesses. For Katz-Moses, who transformed personal tragedy into entrepreneurial opportunity, the funding enables scaling beyond individual content production toward systematic business growth.