Finding Founders Finding Founders

Mari Takahashi’s first video for SMOSH, a YouTube sketch comedy channel, wasn’t immediately met with praise. And this gig was far on the side – she had a legitimate career as a professional ballet dancer. Youtube stardom wasn’t even a consideration… but eventually she’d have to make a choice. Today Mari has a large digital media presence, has won 2 Streamy Awards, produced shows like Smosh Pit Weekly, Maricraft, and Operation: Open World, and amassed over 2 billion collective views. Today, she’s focusing on her own YouTube channel and is the co-owner of SpacestationGaming. Let’s find out how she got here!
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It’s not every day Barbara Corcoran slides into your dms, but for Caleb Simpson this was suddenly the new normal. Now, if this name is sounding familiar at all, it’s because you’ve probably met Caleb before….on your For You page. Known for his casual house tours and the signature question “how much do you pay for rent,” Caleb has amassed over 7.1 million followers on TikTok and 2 million YouTube subscribers in the past few years. Traveling from house to house in New York to LA, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, he isn’t afraid to test out a stranger’s bed or play with your pets, or listen to a soundcloud music sample. But while these videos seemed to go viral in an instant, Caleb’s journey to filmmaking was anything but easy. From finding odd jobs on craigslist to sleeping behind a curtain in someone’s living room, Caleb had to build his skillset from the ground up while learning how to survive in NYC. And before tik tok was even invented, before Caleb first picked up a camera, his journey started in the unlikeliest of places: being homeschooled, amongst his eight other siblings. 
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Jan Williamson is a dedicated artist and community leader who’s transformed Southern California's art scene over three decades. As the executive director of the 18th Street Arts Center, she has grown the organization into the region's largest artist residency center, supporting nearly 700 artists. She’s co-founded environmental art initiatives and led 18th Street through reinvention with new programs and significant grants. Active in her community, Jan serves on Santa Monica's Art Commission and Santa Monica Travel and Tourism board, demonstrating art's power to transform and unite communities. Let’s see what inspired her creative endeavors.
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This project, Shit Art Club, started from creative expression in high school. But from a high school rebellious art project, it grew into a thriving artistic community in Downtown Los Angeles. Dedicated to genuine creative expression, Shit Art Club rejects conventional form and function, embracing authenticity and anarchy. The collective invites everyone to join their creative crusade, fostering a space where beauty and discord coexist harmoniously. Their journey from a paint-soaked backyard to a vibrant hub in Skid Row exemplifies their commitment to real, unpretentious art that challenges norms and celebrates the true essence of creativity. But let’s start before all that, back at the beginning.
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Despite thinking his career was shattered by his injury, Eric Clem continued to follow his passion for woodworking. In 2010, Eric was able to mix his love for archery and woodworking through Bowyer Brooklyn, where he sold handcrafted bows and arrows to the people of New York. He would eventually move to Los Angeles where he realized his dream of sharing his craft with others, as he opened the doors to LA Woodshop, a haven for aspiring artisans seeking to carve their own path in the world of woodworking. Let’s go back to where it all started in Houston.
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Midtown Lunch was a hit but we’ll come back to that later… because before Zach Brooks was looking for hidden gems in food he was looking for gems in music. Zach’s career would go from radio to food blogging, to eventually becoming the general manager at Smorgasburg where he operates the largest open-air food market in LA county. But let’s find where this love of food started and go back to his childhood.
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