Natalie Barbu: From YouTube to CEO, Raising $1M+ for Rella, and The Challenge of Building in Public

This week Matt is joined by Natalie Barbu, a content creator, podcast host, CEO and founder of Rella a SaaS business created to be the ultimate project management assistant for creators. She has built a following of over 380,000 on her personal channels, raised an impressive $1M in pre-seed from top investors, and grown revenue by 35% month over month since launching the business. 

In this inspiring episode, we dive deep into the world of content creation, entrepreneurship, and the ever-evolving creator economy with Natalie Barbu, content creator, podcast host, and CEO of Rella. Rella is a pioneering software business crafted to serve as the ultimate project management assistant for creators, addressing the glaring need for a more integrated and efficient approach to managing the multifaceted demands of content creation.

Join us as Natalie shares her personal journey from starting on YouTube over a decade ago to identifying a gap in the market and taking the bold leap to fill it with Rella. We explore the challenges and triumphs of building a software business in the creator economy, the importance of aligning team dynamics with the creative vision, and Natalie's insights into the future of content and business.

Jump into the Conversation:

02:15 - Natalie’s evolution from content creator to CEO of Rella

05:40 - The unique challenges faced in establishing a software business 

09:25 - Building a supportive team, emphasizing the need for alignment and a positive work culture

13:50 - The critical role of content in business today

18:00 - Early days on YouTube and seeing a gap in the market 

22:45 - Potential opportunities for businesses catering to creators, and the future of creator-led ventures

27:10 - Advice for creators considering entrepreneurship and getting feedback

31:55 - Rella's ambitions and comments on the creator economy 

Continue the conversation with these resources:

Check out Rella

Follow Natalie on Instagram and YouTube

Listen to the Real Reel podcast