Belong
Belong is in a16z speedrun SR006. Based in New York, United States of America. Team of 9, founded in 2025.
Facts
- New York, United States of America
- 9
- 2025
About Belong
Summary
Belong is a New York-based fintech and creator-economy startup, founded in 2025, that builds artist-owned membership programs backed by real financial infrastructure. The platform connects fan identity to financial rails, allowing fans to be recognized and rewarded for their long-term participation and spending. Rather than treating fandom as purely a social or attention-driven phenomenon, Belong attempts to make it measurable and financially meaningful — for both artists and their most dedicated supporters. The company was co-founded by Nick Holmsten, formerly Spotify's Global Head of Music, and Ash Pournouri, who managed and developed Avicii into a globally recognized artist.
Business model
Belong appears to generate recurring revenue by taking a share of the membership and transaction activity that flows through each artist's program, essentially monetizing the spending fans already do. The model is built around financial infrastructure rather than a simple subscription layer, positioning it to capture ongoing transactional value rather than one-time fees.
Go-to-market
Belong appears to target recording artists and their management teams as its primary customers, signing them on an artist-by-artist basis to launch branded membership programs. The buying motion likely involves direct outreach to artists and managers, leveraging the founders' deep industry relationships in the music business. Fan acquisition likely follows organically through each artist's existing audience, making the go-to-market relatively concentrated but high-trust within the music industry.
Founders (2)
- Ash Pournouri
- Nick Holmsten
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