Founder: 'Burn Bridges and Commit'

Harry Gestetner and his co-founder Simon Pompan started FanFix while they were still in college, identifying a gap for Gen Z creators who struggled to monetize their content on platforms like TikTok. They had no prior experience in the creator economy and didn't even have TikTok accounts when they began. The platform, which prohibits nudity, takes a 20% cut of creator earnings from subscriptions that can range from $5 to $50 per month. Before its acquisition, FanFix attracted around 3,000 creators and 500,000 paying users, with top earners making over $1 million annually. In June 2022, after Gestetner's graduation from Tulane, the global brand accelerator SuperOrdinary acquired FanFix for a reported $65 million. The deal was initially presented when the founders were seeking investment, not a buyout. After the exit, Gestetner teamed up with his father, Daniel Gestetner, a serial entrepreneur, to launch his next venture, Orion. This new company pivots from the creator economy to the health and longevity sector. Orion is developing an AI-powered smart mattress cover that adjusts its temperature throughout the night to improve sleep quality. The company aims to be a more affordable alternative to existing sleep temperature control devices. Orion recently closed an $18 million seed round with backing from investors like Mucker Capital and Browder Capital. The product is priced around $2,300 for a queen-sized bed plus a monthly subscription for its AI features.