Project Celena is an ad‑free streaming and content platform for independent creators of color, offering music, video, and narrative publishing with blockchain‑secured licensing that automates royalty distribution. The service enables direct fan‑to‑creator payments, a marketplace for pay‑per‑play, merchandise and sponsored collaborations, and grants participating artists equity stakes as the platform grows.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Independent creators and emerging artists of color often lack access to platforms that allow authentic storytelling, direct fan engagement, and equitable revenue sharing. Traditional music‑rights models concentrate earnings with major labels, leaving minority creators under‑represented and financially disadvantaged. Fans also struggle to connect directly with the creators they support, resulting in fragmented experiences and limited monetization pathways.
Solution
Project Celena offers an ad‑free streaming and content hub where creators of color can publish music, video, and narrative works directly to their audiences. The platform integrates blockchain‑based licensing to ensure transparent royalty distribution and enables fan payments to flow straight to creators without intermediary cuts. Artists receive equity stakes in the platform as it scales, aligning growth incentives. A built‑in marketplace, “Audience,” supports pay‑per‑play, merchandise sales, and exclusive fan experiences, while brand sponsorship tools allow creators to monetize collaborations. Fans benefit from curated discovery, customizable playlists, and direct interaction channels, fostering a participative community.
Target Audience
The primary users are independent musicians, visual artists, and storytellers of color seeking direct monetization and fan engagement, along with their dedicated fan bases and brands looking to sponsor authentic creator content.
Features
- Ad‑free streaming with algorithmic recommendations and user‑customizable playlists for seamless content discovery
- Blockchain‑secured licensing ledger that records ownership, automates royalty splits, and provides immutable audit trails
- Direct fan‑to‑creator payment flow with support for multiple payment methods, eliminating platform‑level take rates
- Equity‑share model granting participating creators ownership interest proportional to platform growth
- “Audience” marketplace enabling pay‑per‑play, merch storefronts, ticketed experiences, and collaborative project listings
- Integrated brand‑sponsorship interface allowing creators to attach sponsored content and receive campaign revenue
- Mobile‑first web app with secure login, content upload tools, and real‑time analytics dashboard for creators
- Curated “#First150” roster showcasing emerging talent and providing early‑stage exposure to the community