From Side Hustle to $80M Empire: How One Dad Built a Creator Agency with Just a Laptop

The Journey from IT to Influencer Marketing

Ted Raad, a 37-year-old father from Nashville, Tennessee, transformed a simple side hustle into a multi-million dollar influencer marketing agency called Trend. What started with just a laptop and internet connection has grown into a business that secures approximately $80 million in brand deals annually and employs nearly 100 people.

The Inspiration Behind Trend

Raad was working in IT Mergers and Acquisitions at Hewlett-Packard when he launched Trend on January 7, 2019. The inspiration came from his wife, Dede, who was growing as a creator at the time. After she signed with an agency that pushed campaigns misaligned with her brand, Raad saw a gap in the industry. He wanted to build something that prioritized alignment, transparency, and doing what was right for the creator.

Bootstrapping the Business

Raad started by working with his wife and a few of her friends to understand creator rates, brand expectations, and deal structures. He worked with a lawyer to put contracts in place, signed his first creators, and began building brand relationships. His only startup costs were a laptop and internet—the business was fully bootstrapped.

Image Credit: Trend. Ted Raad.

Key Resources and Early Challenges

The most helpful paid resource was hiring an executive coach, who provided guidance on hiring, time management, and financial decisions. However, Raad admits he waited too long to hire, trying to do everything himself to stay lean. "Hiring earlier would have saved time, stress, and burnout," he notes. Once he brought on strong team members, the business changed quickly.

Navigating the 24/7 Nature of Creator Business

One of the most challenging aspects of this business is that there's no 9 to 5 schedule. "You are always on—early mornings, late nights, weekends," Raad explains. "You are serving creators and brands constantly. You are never really the boss. You work for your clients, and you have to be confident enough to guide them while always acting in their best interest."

Early on, Raad took on too many creators without enough internal support, which slowed communication and affected quality. He owned the mistake, had honest conversations with clients, and changed operations. This experience led to Trend maintaining one of the lowest talent-to-manager ratios in the industry.

Growth Trajectory and Current Operations

It took about six months to see consistent monthly revenue, largely due to 60 to 90 day payment terms. Early growth was rapid at around 200% year over year. Today, growth is more consistent at 20% to 25% annually, with a focus on reinvesting in the team and long-term stability.

Trend has grown into a multi-division company with offices in Nashville and Houston, representing more than 130 creator clients. The agency has expanded with Trend Social (brand division), Trend Elevate, and Trend Athletes, creating additional opportunities for both creators and brands.

What Makes This Business Rewarding

Raad enjoys finding new opportunities for creators beyond traditional brand deals, helping them build additional income through podcasts, investing in brands, media opportunities, or projects that extend beyond social platforms. He's most proud of building a company that reflects his values while staying grounded in family and faith.

"Trend started as a simple idea and has grown into a thriving business," Raad says. "What matters most to me is creating a culture where people feel genuinely supported and where our success drives real impact in the community."

Actionable Business Advice

Raad's best piece of advice: "Be realistic before you start. Understand what revenue actually looks like and how long it takes to get there. Once you commit, go all in. Not part-time effort, full commitment. Mentors help later, but early success comes from knowing your daily role and executing consistently."