cocreatd, a new venture studio aimed at nurturing big ideas in the marketing industry, has launched with a mission to reinvent how marketing companies are created. Founded by Oliver Yonchev, former business partner of Steven Bartlett, cocreatd marks Yonchev’s first venture since leaving Flight Group. He is joined by co-founders James Lawson Baker, Paul Stevens, and Simon Whitaker, each bringing deep expertise and experience in marketing, investment, and business strategy.
Investing in the next generation of marketing innovators
cocreatd aims to be more than a venture studio, it invents, incubates, and invests in new marketing solutions, offering capital, support, and a unique growth platform to founders at the earliest stages of their journey, while co-creating alongside them. The venture encourages marketers, creatives, and technologists to rethink how marketing and creative services are delivered, making it a hub for forward-thinking entrepreneurs who aspire to transform the industry.
Yonchev stated: “The industry needs a radically different approach – from how AI is leveraged to deliver services, how talent is rewarded through ownership, and even how organisations are being designed.”
Addressing talent challenges and embracing technology
The marketing industry, long known for attracting top creative talent, has seen a significant shift over the past decade, with many professionals seeking independence and the benefits of new technologies like AI. Yonchev said: “Small, agile teams of domain experts now have the power to rival large scale organisations in terms of value they can create – cocreatd is built for those people.”
Lawson Baker added “The venture studio has already made two investments in the past 6 weeks, and plans to incubate and invest in 8-10 more ventures by the end of 2025.” – demonstrating a commitment to discovering and developing the next wave of marketing innovation.
Empowering founders and creators
At cocreatd, the belief in co-creation with founders is central to its model. According to Whitaker, there’s a lack of startup funding in the advertising and creative sectors, and where support exists, it often mirrors outdated structures. This venture studio seeks to change that by providing a platform where talented people with big ideas can thrive.
Steven Bartlett shared his perspective on the importance of supporting entrepreneurial ambition, saying: “This isn’t just about technology; it’s about people. Too many talented individuals don’t pursue their ideas because they’re held back by stable salaries, a lack of knowledge on where to start, or simply a lack of confidence.”
Yonchev concluded: “I’ve built and scaled multiple global agencies over the past decade and there’s never been a better time to disrupt the incumbent agencies, teams and models.” He then added: “With AI enablement, smaller teams can now compete with much larger organizations, which is incredibly exciting.”
cocreatd invites entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for marketing agencies, solutions, or tech platforms to join their mission. To learn more, visit their official website!
