CONTENT
HOW STAR.FUN WORKS
FROM STARTUP IDEA TO PROGRAMMABLE OWNERSHIP
Star lets a founder design a token, raise USDC from internet backers and operate ownership after the raise through trading, governance, rewards and follow-on funding.
THE SHORT ANSWER
WHAT STAR CHANGES
Star compresses fundraising, ownership design, token issuance and community coordination into one onchain system. A startup becomes both an operating company and a liquid ownership network.
THE NEW FUNDING MODEL
CHAPTER 1
WHAT STAR IS
A PROGRAMMABLE-OWNERSHIP PLATFORM
Star describes itself as a platform where founders design a token, raise against it and then use it for revenue sharing, rewards, governance and later funding. Its primary control interface is a command-line tool.
THE CORE LOOP
DESIGN → RAISE → GRADUATE → OPERATE
1. Choose an ownership structure. 2. Configure a token and raise. 3. Sell tokens for USDC. 4. Graduate into a trading pool. 5. Run the treasury, incentives and future funding around the token.
THE SHIFT
FROM TOKEN LAUNCHPAD TO OWNERSHIP SYSTEM
Older Star material described utility-token fundraising. Current documentation goes further: tokens may carry revenue rights, replace a cap table, link to equity or convert into equity. The present model is materially broader.
WHAT FOUNDERS RECEIVE
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Founders can raise initial USDC, earn part of later trading fees, unlock more capital as market value grows and turn holders into users, promoters and contributors. The exact rights depend on the chosen structure.
WHAT BACKERS RECEIVE
A TOKEN WITH STRUCTURE-SPECIFIC RIGHTS
Backers receive a tradable token. Depending on the model, it may carry revenue exposure, ownership of an offshore DAO, equity backing or an optional route into equity. It still carries startup and market risk.
“BUILD A BUSINESS AND RAISE MONEY FROM YOUR LAPTOP WITHOUT VC INTROS.”
— ADAM BERGEMAN, STAR FOUNDER
FOUR OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES
CHAPTER 2
STRUCTURE DEFINES THE DEAL
THE CHOICE IS FIXED BEFORE THE ROUND
Star documents four models: revenue share only, Offshore DAO, Bedrock and ACE. The choice determines what the token contains, what remains on the company cap table and which funding paths remain possible later.
1. REVENUE SHARE
TOKEN RECEIVES ECONOMIC VALUE THROUGH BUYBACKS
The startup commits a fixed percentage of sales. A smart contract converts that value into onchain token buybacks. It can stand alone or accompany another structure. Star lists it as available on request.
REVENUE-SHARE CHOICES
TERMS THAT MUST BE DECIDED BEFORE LAUNCH
Set the revenue percentage, start trigger, cadence and whether repurchased tokens are burned or held in treasury. A day-one trigger gives holders earlier value; a later milestone preserves more operating cash.
2. OFFSHORE DAO
THE TOKEN BECOMES THE CAP TABLE
An offshore entity holds the project IP. The token represents ownership of the project and decision markets govern major choices. There is no separate conventional equity class, so a normal VC equity path is no longer available.
3. BEDROCK
A TOKEN LINKED TO MINORITY COMPANY EQUITY
Bedrock links the token to 1–30% of company equity, typically through preference shares held by a Cayman structure. Founders retain the remaining equity and operational control. Star states a standard 10% link.
HOW BEDROCK PRICES EQUITY
VALUATION = GRADUATION CAP ÷ EQUITY LINK
At Star’s documented Standard graduation cap of about $352K, a 10% equity link implies a valuation near $3.52M. A 5% link implies about $7.04M. These are mechanical implied valuations, not independent appraisals.
BEDROCK PROTECTION
LEGAL RECOURSE DOES NOT REMOVE STARTUP RISK
Star says the structure creates a legal counterparty, assigns IP to the company and funds enforcement for fraud or misuse. It does not protect holders from ordinary failure, weak execution or a falling token price.
4. ACE
TOKENS CAN CONVERT INTO A MODIFIED SAFE
Eligible holders may exchange selected tokens for an ACE SAFE denominated in the token. They keep unconverted tokens and receive a non-transferable certificate for the SAFE position. KYC, sanctions and eligibility checks apply.
CHOOSE BY FUTURE PATH
THE STRATEGIC DECISION
Revenue share preserves the cap table. Offshore DAO suits a fully onchain company. Bedrock combines a token with minority equity backing. ACE keeps early ownership liquid while offering some holders a later equity route.
FORMATION FOLLOWS SUCCESS
LEGAL SETUP OCCURS AFTER GRADUATION
Star says the selected structure is declared before the raise, while incorporation or legal implementation happens only after a successful raise. If the round fails to graduate, nothing is formed or signed.
HOW THE RAISE WORKS
CHAPTER 3
TWO RAISE MECHANISMS
CURVE OR PRESALE
A curve is a live market with changing price and immediate liquidity. A presale uses one fixed price, a defined window and a minimum target. Star states that a round uses one mechanism or the other.
CURVE ROUND
OPTIMIZED FOR SPEED AND PRICE DISCOVERY
Backers buy and sell during the raise. Price rises as demand buys along the bonding curve. The round ends at a graduation market cap, then liquidity moves into a live trading pool.
CURVE PRESETS
DOCUMENTED STANDARD CONFIGURATIONS
Micro: founder target $10K; graduation near $190K. Standard: $25K; near $352K. Pro: $50K; near $622K. Star says larger rounds require direct configuration.
WHY MORE IS COLLECTED
PART OF THE CAPITAL SEEDS LIQUIDITY
The curve collects more than the founder’s take-home target. Some proceeds pair with tokens to create post-graduation market liquidity. This reserve gives later buyers and sellers a pool to trade against.
STANDARD CURVE SUPPLY
ONE BILLION SPL TOKENS
Star documents a fixed 1B supply: 60% for the public sale, 20% for the team and 20% for graduation liquidity. The team allocation is locked under a disclosed vesting schedule.
PRESALE
FIXED PRICE AND SELECTED PARTICIPANTS
Participants deposit USDC during a set window, usually five days. If the minimum is missed, deposits are refunded. Oversubscription is refunded pro rata. Successful participants claim tokens after launch.
PRESALE PARAMETERS
THE FOUNDER CONFIGURES THE ROUND
Set the minimum raise, treasury allowance, public allocation, liquidity allocation and team performance package. Lock periods may vary by allocation tier. Star lists presales as available on request.
PRE-COMMIT CAMPAIGN
MEASURE DEMAND BEFORE THE ROUND
Participants commit before launch and may receive a larger allocation. The founder enters the public round with visible demand. Star lists this mechanism as available on request, with CLI support still in development.
FROM SETUP TO LAUNCH
CHAPTER 4
THE CLI IS THE CONTROL LAYER
DASHBOARD FOR VISIBILITY; CLI FOR OPERATION
Star’s current workflow centers on its command-line interface. Founders can inspect requirements, authenticate, preview a launch payload, approve it and wait for the token to become live.
FOUNDER DECISIONS
NO SILENT DEFAULTS
Current docs require an ownership structure and also describe decisions for raise tier, equity-link percentage, compensation bands and launch rewards. Missing decisions should stop the launch and request explicit input.
AGENT-ASSISTED LAUNCH
AN AI AGENT CAN OPERATE THE WORKFLOW
The agent reads Star’s requirements, asks for founder decisions, initiates sign-in, previews the exact payload and waits for approval. Star says agents do not receive wallet secrets or private keys.
PROOF BEFORE PROMOTION
WHAT BACKERS CHECK
Connect X, GitHub and LinkedIn. Link a live product, beta or 60–90 second demo. Prepare a clear launch post explaining what exists, why the timing matters and what the raise unlocks.
LAUNCH DAY
CONCENTRATE ATTENTION IN THE FIRST HOURS
Publish across core channels, pin the main post, start a livestream, demonstrate the product and answer questions publicly. Star treats live interaction as a central trust and conversion mechanism.
THE FIRST 48 HOURS
MAKE MOMENTUM VISIBLE
Stay responsive, share 25% and 50% funding milestones, highlight product usage, thank backers publicly and stream again on day two. The launch behaves like a coordinated product release and capital campaign.
AFTER THE RAISE
CHAPTER 5
GRADUATION
THE SALE BECOMES A MARKET
When a curve reaches its graduation market cap, the token moves into a live Solana trading pool. From that point, holders can trade on compatible decentralized exchanges and secondary-market fees begin.
TRADING-FEE MODEL
STAR EARNS FROM ACTIVITY, NOT THE RAISE
During the raise, each trade carries 1%: 0.8% to Star and 0.2% to Meteora. After graduation: 0.7% to the founder, 0.1% to Star and 0.2% to Meteora. Star says failed rounds pay no fee.
TEAM VESTING
STANDARD CURVE SCHEDULE
The standard team allocation is 20% of supply. Star documents a three-month cliff followed by linear vesting over nine months. Tokens stay transfer-locked until vested, and the terms are disclosed before purchase.
CAPITAL UNLOCKS
GROWTH RELEASES MORE OPERATING CAPITAL
Star places token positions higher on the price curve. As demand buys them, proceeds unlock to the team. Documented cumulative unlocks rise from $10K at a $2M market cap to a maximum $8.6M at $160M.
DECISION MARKETS
MARKET-MEDIATED TREASURY GOVERNANCE
A holder with at least 5% of supply may open a proposal. Participants put capital behind outcomes, and the market result determines whether a major treasury or structural action executes. Daily operations remain with founders.
MONTHLY ALLOWANCES
RUNWAY WITHIN GOVERNED BOUNDARIES
Raised funds, trading fees and revenues sit in the project treasury. The team receives scheduled operating allowances. Larger spending, allowance changes, follow-on funding and structural changes require proposals.
REWARDS CAMPAIGNS
PAY TOKENS FOR VERIFIED GROWTH ACTIONS
A project can reward referrals, signups, orders or other actions. Star supports leaderboard points and fixed action rewards. Tokens are escrowed before earning begins, and server-side events verify completed actions.
USERS CAN EARN FIRST
WALLET COMES LATER
Participants can earn without a Star account or wallet, then verify a Solana wallet when claiming. Star states that app-side identities remain in the startup’s database rather than being sent to Star.
HOLDERS BECOME DISTRIBUTION
OWNERSHIP IS ALSO A GROWTH LOOP
Founders keep holders informed through updates and livestreams, ask for feedback and amplification, then reward valuable contributions. This can turn financial alignment into customer acquisition and product participation.
FOLLOW-ON FUNDING
FUTURE TOKEN ISSUANCE REQUIRES APPROVAL
Star documents later fundraising through proposal-approved minting. New supply can fund the next stage, with amount and valuation stated in the proposal. Existing holders therefore face a possible future dilution decision.
ECONOMICS AND INCENTIVES
CHAPTER 6
FOUNDER ECONOMICS
THREE POSSIBLE CAPITAL STREAMS
A curve founder may receive the initial raise target, 0.7% of post-graduation trading and milestone-based capital unlocks. Revenue-share commitments, incorporation costs and treasury rules reduce unrestricted cash.
BACKER ECONOMICS
RIGHTS VARY; RETURNS ARE NEVER GUARANTEED
A backer’s outcome may come from token price, buyback demand, ownership rights or optional equity conversion. Each source depends on structure, execution, liquidity, law and future demand. None guarantees recovery or profit.
THE ALIGNMENT THESIS
CAPITAL + COMMUNITY + MARKET
Star’s thesis is that backers become owners, early users and promoters; founders gain funding and distribution; and Star earns when trading continues. The loop works only if a useful company grows beneath the token.
LIQUIDITY HAS TWO FACES
ACCESS AND VOLATILITY ARRIVE TOGETHER
Day-one trading gives holders an exit route and produces price discovery. It also lets speculation, thin liquidity and sentiment reprice the startup continuously, often faster than the underlying business changes.
MARKET CAP IS NOT CASH
DO NOT CONFUSE VALUATION WITH RUNWAY
A token’s market capitalization is price multiplied by supply. It does not mean the treasury holds that amount. Selling a large position can move price sharply when liquidity is limited.
RISKS AND OPEN QUESTIONS
CHAPTER 7
STARTUP RISK REMAINS
PROGRAMMABILITY CANNOT CREATE PRODUCT-MARKET FIT
The company can still fail from weak demand, poor execution, competition, founder conflict or insufficient runway. Legal rights and transparent contracts improve structure; they do not make an early-stage company safe.
TOKEN AND SMART-CONTRACT RISK
CODE, CUSTODY AND MARKET MECHANICS MATTER
Backers face contract bugs, wallet mistakes, liquidity shocks, governance attacks and volatile pricing. Public documentation explains intended mechanics, yet it is not a substitute for audits, onchain verification and risk review.
LEGAL LABELS ARE NOT ENOUGH
THE TOKEN AND ITS TRANSACTION REQUIRE ANALYSIS
Under current U.S. SEC guidance, a crypto asset may be non-security property yet become subject to an investment contract through issuer promises, purchaser expectations and reliance on essential managerial efforts.
EQUITY CONVERSION IS RESTRICTED
ACE ELIGIBILITY DEPENDS ON SECURITIES RULES
Star says the MetaLeX pilot uses Regulation S for verified non-U.S. persons, while U.S. participation may use Regulation D for accredited investors. Founder and investor counsel must validate the applicable route.
GOVERNANCE CAN CONCENTRATE
THE PROPOSAL THRESHOLD IS 5% OF SUPPLY
A 5% proposal threshold limits spam, yet it also favors large holders. Readers should verify voting-market design, manipulation resistance, execution safeguards and what happens during disputed or low-liquidity outcomes.
CAPABILITIES HAVE DIFFERENT STATUS
LIVE, ON REQUEST AND IN DEVELOPMENT
Current docs show curve launches and rewards through the CLI. Presales, pre-commit campaigns and revenue share are on request. Token utility is in development. Product evaluation must keep these categories separate.
DOCUMENTATION NEEDS RECONCILIATION
ONE VISIBLE SUPPLY TABLE IS INTERNALLY INCONSISTENT
The $STAR page lists total supply as 272,762,996, then calls that both 100% and 70%, while adding a 116,910,117 team allocation. Those amounts sum to 389,673,113. Verify onchain data before relying on the table.
EVIDENCE QUALITY
WHAT IS VERIFIED AND WHAT REMAINS A CLAIM
Mechanics, statuses and fees come from Star’s current documentation. The 2025 origin story is independently reported. Legal enforceability, audit quality, operational adoption and future features were not independently proven here.
WHEN STAR FITS
BEST FOR PUBLIC, COMMUNITY-NATIVE STARTUPS
Star fits founders comfortable with public building, token liquidity, transparent economics and shared major decisions. It is less suitable when the company needs confidentiality, a simple cap table or predictable private financing.
FOUNDER DUE DILIGENCE
BEFORE OPENING A ROUND
1. Choose the long-term ownership path. 2. Obtain legal and tax advice. 3. Verify contracts and costs. 4. Model treasury runway. 5. Plan disclosures. 6. Prepare a working product and an audience.
BACKER DUE DILIGENCE
BEFORE BUYING A PROJECT TOKEN
Check the founders, product, ownership structure, token allocation, vesting, liquidity, treasury, legal documents, contract addresses, audits and holder concentration. Treat every purchase as high-risk startup exposure.
THE REAL PRODUCT
A STARTUP OPERATING SYSTEM FOR OWNERSHIP
Star’s deeper product is the connection between capital, ownership, liquidity, governance and distribution. Its success depends on whether that system funds durable companies rather than short-lived token markets.
SOURCES
CHAPTER 8
PRIMARY SOURCES I
CURRENT STAR DOCUMENTATION
https://docs.star.fun/llms.txt
https://docs.star.fun/founders/overview
https://docs.star.fun/founders/structures
https://docs.star.fun/quickstart
PRIMARY SOURCES II
OWNERSHIP AND FUNDRAISING
https://docs.star.fun/founders/ownership
https://docs.star.fun/founders/offshore-dao
https://docs.star.fun/founders/ace
https://docs.star.fun/founders/fundraising
PRIMARY SOURCES III
ECONOMICS AND OPERATIONS
https://docs.star.fun/about/fees
https://docs.star.fun/founders/capital-unlocks
https://docs.star.fun/founders/decision-markets
https://docs.star.fun/founders/rewards
PRIMARY SOURCES IV
LAUNCH AND POST-LAUNCH OPERATIONS
https://docs.star.fun/founders/presales
https://docs.star.fun/founders/launch-guide
https://docs.star.fun/founders/team-vesting
https://docs.star.fun/founders/post-launch
PRIMARY SOURCES V
ECONOMIC FEATURES AND HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION
https://docs.star.fun/founders/revenue-share
https://docs.star.fun/founders/token-utility
https://docs.star.fun/about/what-is-$star
https://star-fun.gitbook.io/star
SUPPORTING SOURCES
INDEPENDENT, TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY CONTEXT
https://blockworks.com/news/starfun-vc-capital
https://solana.com/docs/tokens/basics
https://www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/2026/03/s7-2026-09
https://www.sec.gov/resources-small-businesses/capital-raising-building-blocks/assessing-accredited-investors-under-regulation-d
HOW STARTUP WORKS : SIDESHIFT.APP (2026)
HARIO SETO
CHAPTER INDEX
HOW SIDESHIFT WORKS
CREATOR CAMPAIGNS, OPERATIONS AND STARTUP LESSONS
A practical breakdown of sideshift.app.
Learn the brand journey, creator journey, revenue model and developer platform.
Based on public sources checked on 11 September 2026. Company claims, analysis and original examples are identified separately.
THE BUSINESS BEHIND SIDESHIFT
CHAPTER 1
WHAT SIDESHIFT DOES
DOCUMENTED POSITIONING | [1]
SideShift connects brands with content creators and supports campaign execution: recruiting, coordination, tracking and payouts.
Its central promise is simpler administration across the full creator relationship.
WHO USES IT?
DOCUMENTED USERS | [2][3]
Brands run creator campaigns.
Creators find paid opportunities and manage delivery.
Teams can choose self-service plans or a managed enterprise service.
Each side has a different goal: dependable campaign output or dependable paid work.
WHAT UGC MEANS HERE
WORKING DEFINITION
UGC means user-generated content. In this commercial context, brands commission creator-made material such as demonstrations, reviews or short videos.
A campaign should specify who publishes the content and how the brand may reuse it.
THE PRODUCT'S STRATEGIC SHAPE
ANALYSIS
SideShift combines three functions:
1. A marketplace to find collaborators.
2. Software to coordinate their work.
3. Infrastructure to record results and move payments.
The strategic opportunity is repeated use across successive campaigns.
THE BRAND JOURNEY
CHAPTER 2
1. PUBLISH THE OPPORTUNITY
DOCUMENTED WORKFLOW | [1]
Brands post a brief or role and creators apply.
SideShift also advertises automated applicant screening and scheduling.
Its promise of 50+ qualified applications within 24 hours is a marketing claim; this research did not test it.
2. DEFINE THE ASSIGNMENT
RECOMMENDED BRIEF STRUCTURE
Specify:
1. Product and audience.
2. Content format and quantity.
3. Publishing account and deadline.
4. Approval and revision process.
5. Compensation and bonus rules.
6. Usage rights.
These are suggested brief fields, not a verified screenshot of SideShift's form.
3. SELECT AND COORDINATE CREATORS
DOCUMENTED WORKFLOW | [1][3]
The platform supports hiring, messaging and briefing creators.
Briefs, conversations, approvals and payments are grouped around creator relationships.
Operationally, this gives the team a common place to coordinate campaign delivery.
4. MEASURE AND PAY
DOCUMENTED FEATURES | [1]
SideShift advertises dashboards for views, engagement and costs, plus bulk payouts and view-based bonuses.
Contracts, invoices and US 1099 administration are also advertised.
Exact availability and payment conditions should be checked for the intended account.
THE CREATOR JOURNEY
CHAPTER 3
1. BUILD A PROFILE
DOCUMENTED ONBOARDING | [2]
Create a free account and complete a profile.
Add personal or UGC social handles and examples of strong videos.
SideShift also offers a free UGC course under Badges, with a completion badge intended to signal preparation to brands.
2. APPLY AND DELIVER
DOCUMENTED WORKFLOW | [2]
Browse campaigns and apply to suitable opportunities.
Use the platform to manage briefs and approvals.
Creators can monitor content performance and earnings from their dashboard.
An application does not establish that a creator will be hired.
3. BUILD EVIDENCE FOR FUTURE WORK
ANALYSIS
A useful creator profile should show relevant examples, reliability and completed outcomes.
For repeat work, track accepted deliverables, revision frequency and on-time completion alongside audience metrics.
These are recommended evaluation criteria, not confirmed SideShift ranking factors.
HOW SIDESHIFT MAKES MONEY
CHAPTER 4
SUBSCRIPTION PLUS CREATOR BUDGET
PUBLISHED HOMEPAGE PRICING | [1]
The homepage lists platform access from US$299 per month and a 7-day trial.
Creator compensation is a separate budget. It also lists a 3% payout processing fee.
Pricing was checked on 11 September 2026; the checkout amount was not tested.
PLANS EXPAND WITH WORKLOAD
PUBLISHED PLAN LIMITS | [3]
Starter: up to 5 creators, 1 listing and 30 invites.
Growth: up to 15 creators, 2 listings and 100 invites.
Scale: uncapped creators, 3 listings and unlimited invites.
The retrieved pricing page did not expose readable numeric subscription prices.
A MANAGED SERVICE TIER
PUBLISHED ENTERPRISE OFFER | [3]
Enterprise offers a campaign manager who hires creators, prepares briefs and sets compensation.
The service includes weekly review and reuse of successful videos in paid advertising, with usage rights described in the offer.
Pricing is custom.
AN ILLUSTRATIVE MONTHLY BUDGET
ORIGINAL CALCULATION USING [1]
Assume US$299 platform access and US$2,000 in creator payouts.
3% of US$2,000 = US$60.
Illustrative total: US$2,359.
This excludes taxes, advertising, production extras and any other fees. It is a budgeting example, not a quote.
WHAT REVENUE REMAINS UNKNOWN
EVIDENCE BOUNDARY
Public pricing supports a subscription business with payment-related charges and managed services.
The reviewed sources do not establish audited revenue, profitability, customer acquisition cost or how much processing-fee income SideShift retains.
THE TECHNOLOGY LAYER
CHAPTER 5
THREE DEVELOPER PRODUCTS
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION | [4]
SideShift documents three surfaces:
1. Platform API: campaign operations.
2. Connect: embedded payments.
3. Scraper: social-platform data.
These expose functionality to other software. They do not reveal the company's complete internal technology stack.
PLATFORM API
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION | [5]
The current API supports campaign operations including contracts, posts, payouts and analytics.
An internal company integration uses scoped API keys. Third-party apps use OAuth 2.1 authorization.
Access requires an active company subscription.
AI AGENTS CAN USE MCP
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION | [5]
SideShift documents a remote MCP server at:
https://app.sideshift.app/api/mcp
MCP lets compatible AI clients use scoped platform tools through OAuth.
The docs describe confirmation guidance for sensitive tools and restrictions on test-mode side effects.
INTEGRATION DETAILS THAT MATTER
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION | [5]
The current Platform API uses /api/oauth/v1. Its older /api/v1 platform surface is deprecated.
Money-moving writes require an idempotency key to prevent duplicate execution.
Keep credentials on the backend and request only the permissions the integration needs.
CONNECT: PAYMENTS INSIDE ANOTHER APP
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION | [6]
Connect provides user accounts, wallets, transfers and embedded pay-in or payout interfaces.
A platform creates accounts through its backend and generates short-lived widget sessions.
Webhooks report payment events so the platform can update its own records.
CONNECT: OPERATIONAL BOUNDARIES
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION | [6]
Connect requires enablement on the SideShift account.
Its documentation covers identity verification, test keys and transfer metadata linking payments to commercial obligations.
Availability for an AgentX.ID deployment in Hong Kong or Indonesia was not established in this review.
SCRAPER: SOCIAL DATA ACCESS
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION | [7]
The Scraper API covers TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, X and LinkedIn.
It provides common formats for profiles and posts, plus some platform-specific resources.
It uses separate credentials and credit-based billing. Data coverage varies by endpoint.
RESULTS AND EVIDENCE QUALITY
CHAPTER 6
THE SCALE SIDESHIFT REPORTS
COMPANY-REPORTED FIGURES | [2]
The creator page reports:
• 1M+ creators onboarded.
• 3,000+ brands actively hiring.
• US$100M+ paid to creators.
• 5B views over the last 90 days.
These are promotional figures observed on the site, not independently audited findings.
BREX: A PUBLISHED CAMPAIGN EXAMPLE
COMPANY CASE STUDY | [8]
SideShift reports that Brex generated 500+ videos in four weeks and 5.1M+ organic views at a CPM below US$3.
The described content used humorous workplace and expense scenarios. Successful clips were later reused for paid advertising.
WHAT THAT EXAMPLE DEMONSTRATES
ANALYSIS OF [8]
The case illustrates a high-volume creative testing approach: publish many variations, observe response and reuse strong material.
It does not establish how many qualified buyers became customers or how much incremental revenue the campaign generated.
READ PERFORMANCE CLAIMS CAREFULLY
MEASUREMENT GUIDANCE
Ask how views were counted, which expenses the reported CPM includes and how conversions were attributed.
Assess customer quality, contribution margin and repeat purchases alongside reach.
A published success story provides an example; it cannot establish expected results for every brand.
WHAT THIS RESEARCH DID NOT VERIFY
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS
This review used public pages and documentation, without testing a logged-in campaign or moving money.
Actual creator quality, payout speed, dispute outcomes and conversion attribution remain untested.
Technical documentation confirms a described interface, not its operational performance.
STARTUP LESSONS
CHAPTER 7
1. CHOOSE A REPEATABLE PAID PROBLEM
STRATEGIC INFERENCE
Creator campaigns have recurring coordination needs: briefs, people, deadlines, approvals and payments.
Lesson : Choose one customer group with frequent work and measurable delivery requirements.
A focused first use case makes quality and repeat usage easier to evaluate.
2. MAKE THE WORK RECORD VALUABLE
STRATEGIC INFERENCE
A marketplace relationship becomes more useful when each job preserves its brief, decisions, deliverables and payment status.
Lesson : attach these records to the relevant WorkStep and Assignment so clients can manage execution and repeat successful work.
3. CONNECT HUMAN AND AI WORK
PROPOSED AGENTX.ID APPLICATION
Use a WorkFlow for the campaign plan.
Create WorkSteps for briefing, production, review and reporting.
Lesson : Assign creator production through Gigs and Assignments. Use Ops for suitable AI-assisted tasks such as draft briefs or report preparation.
Keep review responsibility explicit.
4. START WITH ONE COMPLETE CAMPAIGN
ORIGINAL AGENTX.ID PILOT
Pilot: a local café needs 12 short videos in one month.
Recruit 3 creators, each producing 4 videos. Define audience, deadlines, revisions, rights and payment before production.
Track every deliverable inside WorkManagement and record the client's decision to commission another campaign.
5. MEASURE COMPLETION AND REPEAT DEMAND
SUGGESTED PILOT METRICS
Track:
1. Time to first suitable applicant.
2. Percentage of deliverables accepted on time.
3. Cost per accepted video.
4. Time from approval to payment.
5. Clients commissioning another campaign.
For marketing impact, add tracked leads or purchases where attribution is feasible.
6. EVALUATE INTEGRATIONS AFTER THE PILOT
STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATION
SideShift's APIs suggest possible integration paths for campaign operations, payments and data.
Before adopting one, validate access, regional coverage, costs and required capabilities.
Lesson : For immediate next step, run one complete creator campaign and use its bottlenecks to prioritize development.
SOURCES: PRODUCT AND PRICING
REFERENCES [1]–[4] | CHECKED 11 SEPTEMBER 2026
[1] Homepage
https://sideshift.app/
[2] Creator journey
https://sideshift.app/creators
[3] Plans
https://sideshift.app/pricing
[4] Developer overview
https://docs.sideshift.app/
SOURCES: TECHNOLOGY AND CASE STUDY
REFERENCES [5]–[8] | CHECKED 11 SEPTEMBER 2026
[5] Platform API and MCP
https://docs.sideshift.app/platform
[6] Connect
https://docs.sideshift.app/connect
[7] Scraper
https://docs.sideshift.app/scraper
[8] Brex case study
https://sideshift.app/casestudies/brex
HOW STARTUP WORKS : DELPHI.AI (2026)
HARIO SETO
CHAPTER INDEX
HOW DELPHI.AI WORKS
FROM HUMAN KNOWLEDGE TO AN INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MIND
THE EXPERTISE BOTTLENECK
CHAPTER 1
EXPERTISE DOES NOT SCALE
ONE PERSON. LIMITED TIME.
Experts accumulate valuable knowledge through years of experience.
But they cannot personally answer every question, attend every meeting or advise every person who needs them.
CONTENT SCALES, CONVERSATION DOES NOT
THE LIMITATION OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA
Books, videos, podcasts and newsletters can reach millions.
But they remain static. People cannot explain their specific situation, ask follow-up questions or receive personalized answers.
THE SHIFT TO CONVERSATIONAL MEDIA
CONTENT BECOMES INTERACTIVE
Delphi transforms an expert’s existing content into an AI people can talk to.
Instead of searching through hundreds of videos, users ask one question and receive a contextual answer based on the expert’s knowledge.
"OUR MINDS ARE OUR MOST UNIQUE ASSET."
__DARA LADJEVARDIAN
BUILDING A DIGITAL MIND
CHAPTER 2
1. CONNECT THE EXPERT'S KNOWLEDGE
START WITH EXISTING CONTENT
The creator connects sources that represent how they think:
1. Books and documents
2. Websites and newsletters
3. YouTube and podcasts
4. Social-media content
5. Notion and internal materials
6. Direct interview answers
2. INDEX THE CONTENT
TURN MEDIA INTO SEARCHABLE KNOWLEDGE
Delphi processes the source material, transcribes audio and video, separates content into meaningful sections and identifies important topics, principles, stories, relationships and opinions.
3. BUILD A KNOWLEDGE GRAPH
CONNECT IDEAS INSTEAD OF STORING ISOLATED TEXT
Delphi organizes knowledge as connected relationships.
For example:
SMEs need systems
→ WorkFlow creates structure
→ structure enables execution
→ execution produces measurable outcomes.
THE GRAPH REMEMBERS TIME
OPINIONS CAN EVOLVE
Delphi describes its architecture as temporally indexed.
It can track when an expert expressed an idea, recognize newer positions and potentially distinguish between what the person believed previously and what they believe today.
THE GRAPH ALSO STORES CONFIDENCE
NOT EVERY IDEA HAS EQUAL CERTAINTY
The system evaluates how strongly the source material supports a response.
This helps Delphi decide whether it should answer confidently, make a careful inference or acknowledge that the expert has never addressed the subject.
4. CALIBRATE THE PERSONALITY
MAKE THE ANSWER SOUND LIKE THE EXPERT
The creator defines tone, language, boundaries, response style and preferred calls to action.
Delphi can also interview the creator to fill knowledge gaps and use a short voice recording to reproduce their speaking voice.
THREE RESPONSE MODES
CONTROL HOW FAR THE AI CAN REASON
1. Strict
Answer only from directly supported knowledge.
2. Adaptive
Apply the expert’s principles to new situations.
3. Creative
Use the expert’s knowledge with broader AI assistance.
THE CONVERSATION ENGINE
CHAPTER 3
A USER ASKS A QUESTION
THE INTERACTION BEGINS
The audience can describe a specific situation instead of searching through content.
Example:
“How should I build a content system for my small café with only one employee?”
RETRIEVE, REASON, RESPOND
THE ANSWER PIPELINE
1. Understand the question
2. Read the user’s context
3. Retrieve relevant knowledge
4. Connect supporting principles
5. Generate a personalized answer
6. Apply the expert’s voice
7. Cite the original sources
AVAILABLE ACROSS CHANNELS
THE DIGITAL MIND FOLLOWS THE AUDIENCE
A Delphi can operate through:
1. Public profile
2. Website embed
3. Text chat
4. Voice calling
5. Video interaction
6. Slack
7. SMS and WhatsApp
8. API-powered applications
TRUST IS PART OF THE PRODUCT
REAL PEOPLE NEED STRONG GUARDRAILS
A wrong answer could damage the expert’s reputation.
Delphi uses identity verification, response boundaries, source citations, confidence controls and anti-hallucination measures to protect the represented person.
FROM CONVERSATION TO BUSINESS
CHAPTER 4
EVERY QUESTION REVEALS INTENT
CONVERSATION IS RICHER THAN PAGE VIEWS
Website analytics show what people clicked.
Conversations reveal what they need, what they cannot solve, what they want to buy and how urgently they need help.
CAPTURE QUALIFIED LEADS
TURN CURIOSITY INTO OPPORTUNITY
During a conversation, the Digital Mind can request contact information, identify the user’s problem and classify whether they may be a customer, partner, candidate, journalist or valuable connection.
RECOMMEND THE NEXT ACTION
MOVE BEYOND ANSWERING
The Digital Mind can recommend:
1. A relevant article
2. A book or course
3. A product or service
4. A consultation
5. A community
6. A notification when an offer becomes available
ALERT THE HUMAN WHEN IT MATTERS
PROTECT THE EXPERT’S REAL TIME
The expert does not need to review every conversation.
Delphi can surface important signals and notify the creator when a high-value lead, partnership, customer problem or unusual opportunity appears.
CONVERSATIONS BECOME RESEARCH
THE AUDIENCE IMPROVES THE DIGITAL MIND
Delphi can identify:
1. Frequently asked questions
2. Emerging audience problems
3. Missing content
4. Product opportunities
5. High-performing ideas
6. Conversations requiring human attention
THE DELPHI GROWTH LOOP
KNOWLEDGE IMPROVES THROUGH USAGE
Creator publishes knowledge
→ audience asks questions
→ Delphi detects demand
→ creator builds better content and products
→ new knowledge enters the Digital Mind
→ future answers become stronger.
THE BUSINESS MODEL
CHAPTER 5
CREATORS PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
A VERTICAL AI SAAS MODEL
Delphi primarily charges experts, creators and organizations to build and operate Digital Minds.
The free plan supports experimentation. Paid plans expand knowledge capacity, distribution, analytics, customization and integrations.
THE PRICING LADDER
EXPAND WITH AUDIENCE SIZE
Free — $0/month
Test one Digital Mind.
Builder — $79/month
For professionals and creators.
Scaler — $299/month
For larger audiences and CRM usage.
Immortal — Custom
For celebrities and enterprises.
CREATORS CAN MONETIZE ACCESS
SELL SCALABLE ACCESS TO EXPERTISE
Creators can provide free access, paid memberships or usage-based experiences.
This allows a coach, author or consultant to serve significantly more people without adding the same amount of human time.
WHAT DELPHI REALLY SELLS
CHAPTER 6
1. SCALABLE EXPERTISE
ONE MIND SERVING UNLIMITED CONVERSATIONS
Delphi separates access to knowledge from access to the expert’s calendar.
The audience receives immediate guidance while the human reserves their energy for important relationships and complex decisions.
2. CONVERSATIONAL DISTRIBUTION
A NEW FORM OF MEDIA
Traditional content distributes the same message to everyone.
Conversational media reorganizes the expert’s knowledge around each user’s specific question, context and level of understanding.
3. OPPORTUNITY FILTERING
A GATEKEEPER FOR HUMAN ATTENTION
The Digital Mind handles repetitive interactions and identifies the conversations that deserve human involvement.
It becomes the intelligent layer between public access and the expert’s limited personal time.
4. AUDIENCE INTELLIGENCE
PRIVATE QUESTIONS EXPOSE REAL DEMAND
Public likes and views measure attention.
Private questions reveal problems, urgency, objections and purchasing intent. This data can guide the creator’s next product, article, service or business decision.
DELPHI'S STRATEGIC MOAT
MORE THAN AN AI INTERFACE
Its defensibility comes from:
1. Verified human identities
2. Personalized knowledge graphs
3. Historical creator knowledge
4. Audience conversation data
5. Continuous corrections
6. Creator distribution and trust
WHERE DELPHI STOPS
ADVICE STILL NEEDS EXECUTION
Delphi can explain, recommend, qualify and sell.
But after receiving an answer, the user must still determine the steps, choose the tools, hire the right people and manage the work until completion.