Creators are making custom websites in vogue again.
After years of watching social networks abruptly tweak their algorithms or make other changes like hiding popularity metrics, influencers are trying to exert more control over their audiences by launching their own websites and blogs. That’s feeding demand for the startups that help them build these sites.
Universe, a four-year old developer of software that gives creators and small businesses drag-and-drop design tools, raised $30 million last month in a Series B round led by Addition, the venture fund led by former Tiger Global Management partner Lee Fixel. Existing investors including GV, formerly known as Google Ventures, also participated. The startup says 500,000 creators and small business owners have used its sites within the last month. News of the funding has not been previously reported.
