In this episode, Shane Austrie talks with Natalie Barbu, YouTuber turned founder of Rella, a startup reshaping the way content creators manage their businesses. With over a decade of experience building an audience, Natalie shares how she went from filming lifestyle vlogs to raising VC funding for a platform built specifically for the creator economy.

They cover:

– The moment she realized creators needed a “business OS”

– How her YouTube background sharpened her founder instincts

– Balancing transparency with leadership as a young CEO

– The unique mental health challenges creators face

– Why building in public helped her build trust

– Fundraising lessons from turning audience into advocates

– What she wishes more VCs understood about Gen Z founders

– Creator economy myths vs. realities

– Why Rella focuses on daily workflow, not just social metrics

– What’s next for Natalie and her mission to empower creators

Whether you’re a founder, a marketer, or a creator yourself—this episode offers a raw and refreshing look at building from the inside out.