Whop platform millionaire creators now number more than 650, the $1.6 billion digital marketplace says, as its 26-year-old co-founder Steven Schwartz pushes to make the model available to every worker who wants to monetise a passion.
The New York-based company, which lets users sell expertise, content, physical products and services, has raised around $272 million in total funding since Schwartz co-founded it in 2021 alongside Cameron Zoub and chief technology officer Jack Sharkey.
How Whop platform millionaire creators are making their money
Users are reaching seven figures through coaching programmes, skills courses, meal kits and supplements, the company says.
Entrepreneur Shelby Haas brings in $1 million a month teaching remote sales on Whop. Troy Adashun, a 37-year-old Las Vegas fitness influencer, according to the Review-Journal, built his wealth selling health products through his brand Alpha Lion Supplements on the platform. Podcast host Jay Shetty also runs his coaching business, the Jay Shetty Certification School, through Whop.
The platform says 10 to 15 users make their first $20,000 on Whop every day. It currently supports around $4 billion in annual commerce generated by businesses across 145 countries, equivalent to $300 million in monthly sales.
Schwartz told Fortune his vision is straightforward. ‘The future’s gonna look like everyone is complete of their own agency, and [are] spending their days doing the work that they find way more fun than what they’re doing today,’ he said. ‘They shouldn’t have to worry about money, it’s coming with the work that you’re finding passionate.’
From sneaker bots to 22 million users
Schwartz’s path to building Whop began at 13, when he and Zoub created Sole Sniper from a childhood bedroom. The bot operation sold tools that snapped up in-demand trainers before they sold out, priced between $20 and $500.
Born to military parents practising medicine, Schwartz grew up across multiple cities including Honolulu and Chicago, and sold water on the streets of China as a child. Before finishing secondary school he had already worked for a New York hedge fund.
At NYU Stern School of Business, Schwartz interned at Accenture in Singapore, building chatbots for shipping companies. He graduated in 2021 and launched Whop the same year.
Funding milestones followed. Insight Partners led a $17 million Series A in 2023, with angel investment from Peter Thiel and The Chainsmokers. A Series B of more than $50 million followed, led by Bain Capital Ventures. Most recently, Tether invested $200 million, pushing the valuation to $1.6 billion.
Whop now has around 22 million platform users, with between 50,000 and 60,000 logging on daily.
‘The idea that people can have fun while working is very foreign to most people, but has been solved by some,’ Schwartz said. ‘We just want to bring it to the rest.’
Whop hiring at pace while rivals pull back
The company has 120 full-time staff and is recruiting for 40 open roles in engineering, growth and design. In May alone it onboarded 16 new employees.
Schwartz says the rapid growth demands careful hiring to protect company culture. The quality he prizes most is the ability to build something end-to-end, whether technical or creative.
‘The only thing that really matters is: has this person built something? Is it impressive and cool? And if so, then welcome to the team,’ he said.
Energy and social fit also matter. ‘We look at energy. How fun is it to be with this person? Do you find yourself wanting to spend a lot of time with them? That’s a good trait,’ Schwartz added.
With 40 vacancies currently open, the hiring push shows no sign of slowing.
