Startups > Viral Nation

Viral Nation

Viral Nation connects brands with vetted influencers using AI-powered software.
Venture Round $198M total Founded 2014 Toronto, Ontario 246 employees
Viral Nation is a global influencer marketing and talent management company that combines full-service agency capabilities with proprietary AI-powered software. The company operates across multiple divisions including VN Marketing (digital agency), VN Talent and VN Sports (creator/athlete representation), and VN Tech (software platform CreatorOS). They help brands connect with influencers while using AI technology to vet creators for brand safety and measure campaign ROI.
Problem solved
Brands struggle to find the right influencers, assess brand safety risks across creator content, and measure influencer campaign ROI at scale.
Target customer
Mid-market to enterprise brands in consumer goods, technology, media, and entertainment seeking influencer marketing campaigns and creator partnerships.
Website LinkedIn Crunchbase
Founders
J
Joe Gagliese
Co-CEO & Co-Founder
Serial entrepreneur who founded Viral Nation in 2014; Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Toronto and founder of YES Scholarship.
M
Mathew Micheli
Co-CEO & Co-Founder
Serial entrepreneur since childhood who co-founded Viral Nation in 2014; oversees strategic vision, global operations, finance, and technology.
Funding history
Series D / Private Equity $198M April 12, 2022 Led by Eldridge Industries · Maverix Private Equity
Total raised: $198M
Industries
Social Media Marketing Advertising
Pricing
Project-based pricing ranges from $50,000 for specific projects to $400,000–$600,000 CAD for larger engagements. Viral Nation Secure™ uses custom pricing based on client size and scope with no tiered subscription model.
Notable customers
Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Disney, Hasbro, Meta, Tencent, Tim Hortons, TJX, Uber, Vivid Seats, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Audible, A24, MGM Resorts International, Microsoft, Zillow, Walmart, 7-Eleven
Integrations
Major social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook), Google Gemini AI for content analysis
Website
viralnation.com/
Competitors
CreatorIQ
Focused primarily on influencer discovery and campaign management software, less integrated with full-service agency services.
Grin
Emphasizes influencer database and workflow automation, less emphasis on brand safety AI and comprehensive talent representation.
AspireIQ
Focuses on influencer relationship management and long-term partnerships, less integrated with creative production and talent agencies.
Why this matters: Viral Nation represents the consolidation of the influencer marketing industry—combining agency services, talent representation, and software into a unified platform. Their $198M Series D funding (2022) from Eldridge Industries and focus on AI-powered brand safety (powered by Google Gemini) positions them as a leader in bridging creator economy infrastructure with enterprise-grade risk management.
Best for: Enterprise and mid-market brands that need end-to-end influencer marketing campaigns with brand safety vetting, creator talent representation, and performance measurement.
Use cases
Brand Safety Screening
A consumer brand launching a major influencer campaign uses Viral Nation Secure™ to audit thousands of creator profiles for inappropriate content across video, images, audio, and text. The AI-powered platform scans 86,000+ channels daily, helping the brand avoid partnerships with creators whose content doesn't align with brand values.
Influencer Talent Representation
A rising creator or athlete partners with VN Talent or VN Sports to manage their brand partnerships, negotiate contracts, and grow their audience. Viral Nation handles business development, allowing the creator to focus on content production.
Large-Scale Campaign Execution
A CPG company like 7-Eleven needs to enhance social presence across multiple markets and demographics. Viral Nation's full-service team manages influencer selection, content creation, paid media, and performance tracking across regions.
ROI Measurement and Attribution
A brand running multiple influencer campaigns simultaneously uses CreatorOS to track campaign performance, measure ROI, and understand which creators and content formats drive the most conversions.
Alternatives
CreatorIQ Pure-play software platform for influencer discovery and campaign management; lacks integrated full-service agency and talent representation services.
Influencity Focuses on influencer discovery and analytics; doesn't include brand safety AI or full-service creative production.
In-House Agency Teams + Manual Platforms Brands build internal teams; requires significant hiring and doesn't leverage AI-powered brand safety or integrated talent management at scale.
FAQ
What does Viral Nation do? +
Viral Nation is a global influencer marketing and talent management company that combines full-service agency services (influencer marketing, social media management, creative production) with proprietary AI software (CreatorOS and Viral Nation Secure™). They help brands connect with vetted influencers, assess creator brand safety, and measure campaign performance across social platforms.
How much does Viral Nation cost? +
Agency services range from $50,000 for specific projects to $400,000–$600,000 CAD for larger engagements. Viral Nation Secure™ (brand safety tool) uses custom pricing based on client size and scope. Contact sales for specific quotes.
What are alternatives to Viral Nation? +
CreatorIQ (influencer discovery and campaign software), Grin (influencer marketplace and workflow tools), AspireIQ (influencer relationship management), and Influencity (influencer analytics and discovery platform). Most alternatives focus on software only and lack integrated full-service agency and brand safety features.
Who uses Viral Nation? +
Enterprise and mid-market brands in consumer goods, technology, media, and entertainment including Coca-Cola, Disney, Hasbro, Meta, Tencent, Uber, Microsoft, Walmart, and e.l.f. Cosmetics. Also works with rising creators and athletes through VN Talent and VN Sports divisions.
How does Viral Nation compare to in-house influencer marketing? +
Viral Nation provides scale (246+ employees globally), proprietary AI for brand safety (86,000+ channels monitored daily), integrated talent representation, and full-service creative production. In-house teams require significant hiring, lack AI-powered vetting at scale, and don't benefit from Viral Nation's global influencer network and expertise.
Tags
influencer marketing creator economy talent management brand safety AI content moderation social media marketing marketing automation