You’ve probably seen the ads or heard the whispers on Twitter—now X—about a social media app that actually pays you. No, not like a "maybe you'll get a creator fund check in six months" kind of way, but a platform built from the ground up for monetization. The name is Fanbase. And the question that keeps popping up in comment sections and subreddit threads is pretty straightforward: is Fanbase black owned?
Honestly, the answer is a lot more interesting than just a simple yes.
It’s easy to get lost in the sea of new apps claiming to be the "next big thing." Most of them vanish within a year. But Fanbase has managed to stick around since 2018, carving out a space for itself in an industry dominated by giants who usually just "borrow" culture without paying for it. If you’re looking for the short version: Yes, Fanbase is Black-owned. But if you want to understand why that actually matters for your data and your wallet, we need to look at who is holding the keys.
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The Man Behind the Platform
The face of Fanbase is Isaac Hayes III. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the son of the legendary soul icon Isaac Hayes. But Isaac isn't just coasting on a famous last name. He’s an entrepreneur and music producer who spent years watching Black creators drive the trends on Vine, Instagram, and TikTok, only to see those platforms reap all the financial rewards.
He founded Fanbase in Atlanta, which is basically the tech and culture hub of the South. Hayes serves as the Founder and CEO. He didn't just start the company; he owns the majority of the voting stock. In the tech world, that’s a huge distinction. A lot of founders lose control of their companies the second they take venture capital money. Hayes has been very vocal about avoiding that trap. He often says that Fanbase is "Black-owned in infrastructure and ownership."
It’s not just a branding exercise. It's a structural choice.
Why the "Black-Owned" Label is Controversial to Some
There’s always a bit of internet skepticism, right? On sites like Reddit, you’ll find people digging into the SEC filings and pointing out that the CTO or some of the developers aren't Black. They use this to question if the "Black-owned" tag is just marketing.
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Here is the reality of tech in 2026: building a social network requires a massive team. Fanbase uses a development vendor called ConsultR, and they have employees from all sorts of backgrounds. But in the business world, ownership is defined by equity and voting power.
Because Isaac Hayes III holds the majority of the Class A voting common stock—roughly 69% as of recent filings—he has effective control over every major decision the company makes. The "whiteness" of a dev team doesn't change who owns the intellectual property or who decides the company’s mission.
The Equity Crowdfunding Revolution
One of the coolest things about Fanbase is how they raised their money. Usually, a tech startup goes to Silicon Valley, pitches to a room of guys in vests, and gives away 30% of the company for a check.
Hayes did something different. He used Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) and Reg A+. This allowed regular people—you, me, the person posting dance videos—to buy shares for as little as $399.
- Milestone 1: Fanbase became the first Black-founded app to raise $6 million in seed funding on StartEngine.
- The Big Number: By mid-2025, the company had cleared over $12.7 million in its quest for a $17 million goal.
- The Valuation: As of their Series B rounds, the company has been valued at over $160 million.
This model means that while the company is Black-led and Black-owned at the top, the "ownership" is actually spread across thousands of individual investors. Many of these investors are Black creators who wanted a stake in the "vibranium" of their own culture.
What Does Fanbase Actually Do?
If you haven't downloaded it, the app is basically a hybrid. Imagine if Instagram, TikTok, and Patreon had a baby.
You’ve got your standard feed of photos and vertical videos. But the "secret sauce" is the "Love" button. Instead of just a useless heart that does nothing but boost an algorithm, you can "Love" a post with actual currency. Users can also set up subscription tiers, ranging from $2.99 to $99.99 a month.
The philosophy here is simple: if you’re providing the entertainment that keeps people on the app, you should be getting a cut of the revenue from day one. You don't need 10,000 followers to start seeing a return.
The Fight Against Shadowbanning
A major reason why the is Fanbase black owned question matters so much to creators is the issue of "shadowbanning." For years, Black creators on other platforms have complained that their content is suppressed, or that they don't get credit for the trends they start.
Hayes has positioned Fanbase as a "safe haven." Since the ownership isn't beholden to traditional VC boards that might not understand Black culture, they’ve built algorithms that they claim are more transparent. There’s a heavy emphasis on not suppressing voices that are often marginalized on larger, more "corporate" platforms.
Of course, this comes with its own set of challenges. Being the "alternative" app is hard. You’re competing for attention against companies with billions of dollars. Sometimes the app is buggy. Sometimes the user base feels small compared to the giants. But for many, the trade-off of having a platform where they aren't just the product, but also the owners, is worth it.
The Bottom Line on Ownership
So, is Fanbase Black-owned? Absolutely. It was founded by a Black man, is led by a Black man, and the majority of the decision-making power rests with him.
But it’s also a community-owned platform. By opening up investment to the public, Hayes has made it so that the success of Fanbase is tied to the success of its users. It’s a risky bet—tech startups are notoriously volatile—but it’s one of the most significant attempts at "digital land ownership" we've seen in the creator economy.
If you’re a creator tired of the "algorithm games" on other apps, here is how you can actually engage with this shift:
- Check the App: Download it and see if the UX works for you. Don't just take people's word for it; the interface has improved a lot in the last year.
- Analyze the Monetization: Look at your current engagement on other platforms. If you have a small, loyal following, a subscription-based model like Fanbase’s might actually net you more than "ad revenue shares" elsewhere.
- Due Diligence: If you’re thinking about the "ownership" side and considering investing, read the SEC filings on StartEngine. Understand that equity crowdfunding is a long-term play, and your money could be tied up for years.
- Diversify: You don't have to leave TikTok or IG. Most successful creators use Fanbase as a "premium" hub while using the big apps for discovery.
Ownership in the digital age isn't just about a name on a building. It's about who controls the data, who controls the money, and who has the power to keep the lights on. For now, Isaac Hayes III and his army of crownfunders are proving that a Black-owned infrastructure isn't just a dream—it's a multi-million dollar reality.