When it comes to their physical locations, the 118 startups in The Information’s Creator Economy Database chose the metro areas most closely tied to tech and entertainment: 28 are in the New York City area, 23 in Los Angeles and 25 are in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

But eight startups founded during the pandemic, including crypto companies Foundation and Rtfkt and education companies Disco and Maven, decided to avoid having a physical headquarters altogether. These joined more established companies, such as celebrity video app Cameo, that shifted to a permanent remote-only structure during the lockdowns. 

Founders of some small startups say the choice helped them get off the ground during a period of intense competition for employees.