Creators + Brands: Building Value in the 2026 Attention Economy
The creator economy has moved beyond hype cycles and viral moments. In 2026, it’s infrastructure.
Creators aren’t just influencers anymore. They’re media companies, product founders, investors, and community builders. Many own direct distribution through newsletters, podcasts, paid memberships, and private communities. They understand attention, trust, and narrative better than most traditional brands.
At the same time, brands have evolved. The era of transactional sponsored posts is fading. What’s emerging instead are deeper partnerships—co-created products, revenue-sharing agreements, ambassador equity deals, and long-term storytelling collaborations.
This conversation brings together voices from both sides of that equation:
Ssonia Ong (Ong Squad) — Creator (10.8M TikTok followers) and digital entrepreneur building audience, influence, and brand partnerships in real time
Ali Adab, Chief Business Officer & Partner at Fixated
Contributing moderator: Ada Slivinski, Growth Strategist and VP, Swerve Strategic
Together, they’ll explore:
From the Creator Standpoint
Moving from influence to authority and long-term brand equity
What sustainable revenue actually looks like in 2026
Platform risk and the shift toward owned audiences
How creators evaluate partnerships and protect trust
From the Brand Standpoint
How brands measure ROI beyond impressions
Why long-term creator partnerships outperform campaigns
Co-building vs. renting attention
Where creators now compete directly with traditional media
We’ll also examine:
What’s changed since 2020
Where capital and opportunity are flowing
How AI is reshaping content and distribution
This isn’t a beginner conversation. It’s about leverage, distribution, and strategy. Because in 2026, the real question isn’t whether the creator economy is real.
It’s who controls the audience—and who captures the value.
Partners
Venue: And-Co Offices