Influence rebooted: Launchd powers a new era of creator commerce

A new tech-first platform aims to flip the script on how brands manage talent deals, influencer marketing and high-profile sponsorships.

Pic via Getty Images

• Launchd brings together multiple acquisitions into one platform for managing talent, content and results

• Backed by institutional capital and prominent Australian investors

• Already used by the AFL and Cricket Australia for large-scale talent activations

Special Report: A new tech-first platform is flipping the script on how brands manage talent deals, influencer marketing and high-profile sponsorships.

Founded by former AFL stars James Begley and Matthew Pavlich, Launchd was created to solve a long-standing industry headache: fragmented workflows and hard-to-measure outcomes in the $33 billion influencer economy.

The business was built by integrating Pickstar with a series of strategic acquisitions that together form a unified platform connecting brands with more than 5,000 elite athletes, creators and keynote speakers.

A unified solution to a fragmented industry

Despite influencer marketing becoming mainstream, research shows nearly 70% of marketers still struggle to measure ROI on campaigns. Launchd is designed to change that with tech-powered campaign planning, talent matching, content delivery and performance analytics – all in one place.

“Talent has become one of the most valuable marketing assets in the world, but the way brands work with talent hasn’t evolved,” said CEO and co-founder James Begley.

“We built Launchd to solve that disconnect – with technology that empowers smarter decisions, faster execution, and transparent results.”

Co-founder Matthew Pavlich says the vision is to eliminate inefficiency, guesswork, and under-utilised talent through a streamlined, data-backed approach.

Platform features built for scale

At the heart of Launchd is a curated marketplace of more than 5,000 athletes, influencers and speakers, designed to help brands find the right voice for every campaign. The platform is supported by enterprise-grade software that enables planning, approvals and workflow automation from end to end.

Its in-house creative and communications teams help brands develop compelling storytelling and content, while its data-led strategy arm ensures campaigns deliver tangible commercial outcomes. By combining all of these elements in one place, Launchd gives organisations the confidence and clarity to run influence campaigns that actually move the needle.

Institutional capital fuels global ambition

Launchd’s early traction has attracted institutional capital, including a multi-million dollar investment from Altor Capital – the firm behind high-performance assets like the Tasmanian JackJumpers. The funding will accelerate product development, international expansion, and further acquisitions to fuel the platform’s next stage of growth.

“Launchd is solving real problems in a fast-growing sector,” said Ben Harrison of Altor Capital.

“Their platform delivers what brands and talent are asking for – clarity, simplicity, and measurable ROI.”

Backing the founders’ vision is a roster of prominent investors including Adam Gilchrist, Lleyton Hewitt, Matt de Boer, Cate Campbell, and Ryan Fitzgerald – a reflection of the deep trust Launchd has already earned from leaders in sport and media.

Trusted by top-tier Australian brands

Launchd is already playing a key role behind the scenes for some of the country’s most recognised organisations. The AFL and Cricket Australia both use the platform to manage more than 100,000 annual activations, from community visits to corporate appearances.

In the commercial space, Launchd manages endorsement deals like Australian test cricketer Alex Carey’s partnership with Toyota, showcasing how elite talent can drive brand alignment and engagement when supported by the right infrastructure.

The company now employs 78 staff across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Auckland, and is eyeing future expansion into the UK and US markets as interest continues to grow.

Big brands pivot to influence-first

The rise of influencer marketing is not slowing down. Unilever recently announced plans to allocate half its media budget to social platforms, doubling down on creator partnerships.

“We’re seeing global momentum around influence-led marketing,” Pavlich said. “Launchd is engineered for that shift – delivering clarity, scale, and ROI.”

One platform. One team. One solution

From athlete appearances to brand storytelling, Launchd centralises what has traditionally been scattered across agencies and spreadsheets.

“We’re defining a new category in this space,” Pavlich said. “One platform. One team. One solution. Built for results.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Launchd, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Influence rebooted: Launchd powers a new era of creator commerce