TEST CASE: OVERSUBSCRIBE — A New Model for Legacy Packaging?
On our last stack I broke down how creators can fund their first YouTube show—covering royalty systems to NFTs to crowd sourcing platforms.
This week, I’m zooming in on one platform that stood out, especially for legacy producers: OverSubscribe.
No sponsorship, no stake—just a genuine curiosity about whether it could be a smart tool for packaging projects using the same producer instincts we’ve always had, inside a very different ecosystem.
We’re also going to test-drive it. Open Gardens is launching a raise through OverSubscribe’s platform, and we’ll document the experience along the way. More on that below but first…
A Quick Story
Not long ago, I met a former TV exec—let’s call him Steve—who had left a big job at a legacy media company to build something for the digital age. His new venture was about building premium digital shows by packaging creators, IP, and brands—then licensing those shows to platforms.
His instincts were right. He saw:
Creators with real followings, stuck in the grind of their own content machines who needed capital to make a jump to premium
Brands eager to attach themselves to something more meaningful
Platforms needing lower-cost, more de-risked content
But he stumbled trying to bring old-school packaging logic into a space that now runs on different rules. Platforms weren’t hungry for free content—they were wary of the marketing burden to get it seen. Brands were inconsistent, constantly shifting focus. And Steve wasn’t bringing capital to the table—just sweat equity and traditional producing muscle, which didn’t carry the same currency anymore.
Worst of all? Creators didn’t know if they needed him.
Steve spent two years trying to put his slate of shows together. As of our last conversation, he had two projects fall apart on the one-yard line.
That’s the kind of problem OverSubscribe might solve.
What Is OverSubscribe?
At its core, OverSubscribe is a platform that helps creators raise capital from the people who already believe in them: their fans.
It’s not a new idea—but this version is different.
It’s not a glorified tip jar or crowdfunding campaign. It’s a fully regulated investment vehicle—non-crypto, SEC-compliant—where fans can invest directly in a creator and share in their future revenue.
The pitch is: creator-led, legally sound, and structured in a way that gives talent more control.
How the Model Actually Works
Whether you’re early or established, the process has four clear steps:
Creator sets terms: revenue share %, time window, and eligible income
Fans invest: as little as $50
Fans earn: quarterly payouts, plus optional perks like 1:1 chats or early product drops
Mentorship: select creators get access to OverSubscribe’s mentor network
What makes this model stand out is the alignment: it’s legally sound, emotionally driven, and structurally smart. Unlike Patreon, fans get a real stake. Unlike NFTs, it’s compliant and clear. Unlike traditional financing, creators stay in control.
You’re not just collecting contributions—you’re giving your audience a meaningful seat at the table. The passion hedges the risk. The investment reinforces the relationship. It’s a structure built for trust and passion.
Boring Things: The Back Office
Here’s where OverSubscribe earns its keep—and what most creators (and producers) underestimate.
They don’t just facilitate the raise. They build the entire financial engine that powers it.
They set up the legal entity.
They collect and manage fan investments.
They handle investor onboarding, KYC (Know Your Customer), and compliance.
They process yearly payouts.
They track revenue sources and provide dashboards.
In short: they take care of the infrastructure nobody wants to deal with—but everyone needs.
This is what turns a creative concept into a functioning business model. You focus on the vision. They run the rails.
Two Tracks: Accelerate vs. Amplify
OverSubscribe offers two core programs:
OS Accelerate: For emerging creators (5K+ followers), investing in their overall business over a fixed term
OS Amplify: For larger creators (1M+ followers or an existing product/brand), raising around a specific project or revenue stream
Accelerate offers standardized structure—clean and simple. Amplify is more bespoke. Creators can define revenue types, minimum investments, payout periods, and more.
This makes Amplify ideal for producers working with legacy (and new media) talent. You don’t have to open the entire brand to fan investment—just one new idea.
Baked-In Failure Prevention
Before you raise a dime, OverSubscribe runs a test campaign called the AIP (Audience Investment Pledge).
No money changes hands. The talent simply asks their followers: “If I launched this, how much would you invest?”
It’s quiet. It’s clean. It’s honest.
You get real market feedback before putting your name or time on the line.
We’ve already onboarded Open Gardens for this step.
And Some Guidance Along the Way
OverSubscribe doesn’t just open the door and wish you luck. For creators selected into their accelerator, there’s a mentorship layer built in—meant to reduce unforced errors and help sharpen the long game.
Expertise on Tap: Access to people who’ve been in the trenches—YouTube growth strategists, brand advisors, and operators who know how to turn attention into traction.
Tailored Support: This isn’t a one-size-fits-all playbook. The guidance is designed around your specific path and where you're trying to take it.
Built Into the Model: It’s not an add-on. Mentorship is baked into how OverSubscribe helps creators grow—so capital and coaching show up in the same place.
For a system that wants to make early investing feel less risky, this part matters. It’s not about guarantees. But it is about reducing blind spots.
Who’s Behind It?
OverSubscribe was founded by Peter Yang (ex-Goldman Sachs, venture capital) and Jae Kim (engineer, ex-Credit Suisse and Perella Weinberg).
They bring Wall Street precision to the creator economy, treating creators not as influencers, but as founders.
Why This Model Matters
Most creators today are running businesses—but they’re under-capitalized. Brand deals pay the bills but don’t fuel growth.
OverSubscribe bridges that gap—with a system designed for community-aligned capital.
Now replace “creators” with “actors, reality stars, legacy talent.”
They’ve got audiences—but not always communities. They weren’t building in public. They didn’t think like founders. Now they’re stuck with big followings, no real infrastructure.
That’s the opportunity. That’s the arbitrage.
Why That Matters for Legacy Stars
If you’re tapping into a legacy TV star’s fan base, you’re not just looking for reach—you’re looking for resonance.
Big numbers don’t mean real engagement.
A fan might follow. A community shows up. Shares. Comments. Stays.
That emotional investment often precedes financial investment. Not just curiosity, but belief.
With OverSubscribe, the message isn’t “support me.”
It’s: join me. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s alignment. Fans become stakeholders.
And if it works, that early group becomes your core 1,000 (or 10,000 or whatever). The ones who carry the message, provide feedback, and help build the thing you’re selling.
But that only works if your talent is willing to show up.
So here’s your checklist as a producer:
Does the talent actually talk to their fans?
Do they repost, respond, or invite input?
Is there a subset of followers with real energy?
Are they willing to build in public—not just post from above?
If yes, you’re not just building content. You’re building momentum—with fans who have skin in the game.
Packaging the Unclaimed: A New Playbook for Producers
Some stars don’t need a reinvention. They need a container—something that captures what they’re already putting into the world and gives it shape, momentum, and reach. That’s where you come in. Not just pitching shows, but spotting the latent communities orbiting talent—and building the thing that serves both the audience and the artist.
Here are five hypothetical packaging plays:
The Crime-Fiction Devotee (Movie Star Edition)
A big-screen icon who’s quietly obsessed with noir novels, pulp thrillers, and true crime deep cuts.
The Play: Launch a book club. Grow it into a curated storytelling vertical—featuring caper docs, vintage throwbacks, even an imprint or anthology. Think Hello Sunshine, but for lovers of grit and grit-lit.
The Iconic TV Star Turned Rescue Advocate
A household name. Millions of followers. But the comments go wild for her animal rescues and heartfelt updates.
The Play: Build a YouTube channel anchored in real shelter stories and comedic dispatches from the rescue world. Layer in merch, mini-docs, maybe even a rescue sitcom. Let the mission be the engine.
The Comedy Creator with Cult Skits on Late-Stage Capitalism
No one roasts hustle culture, tech bros, and performative wellness like this person. Their comment section is a movement.
The Play: Co-create a satirical news network. Or a sketch hub. Use OverSubscribe to test the waters—then scale into touring, capsules, or longform. The voice is there. You bring the scaffolding.
The Former Teen Star Turned Sober Sage
No longer chasing fame, just posting about sobriety, healing, and emotional honesty. The audience leans in.
The Play: Build a raw, intimate docu-series. Or a guided podcast-meets-experience. Quiet. Thoughtful. Low-fi. The kind of content that builds trust—and sticks.
The opportunity isn’t just in what they’ve done.
It’s in what they love—and what their audience already connects to.
The Playbook in 5 Moves
Find the right star — someone with a defined voice, a clear passion, or a fanbase hungry for more.
Bring the pitch — not just an idea, but a real plan with business logic behind it.
Think big-picture — how the first raise can lead to a content engine, community, and scalable brand.
Walk them through it — pitch the project and the platform. Make sure they get how OverSubscribe and the AIP let them test the waters without risk.
Build in public.
How We Heard About OverSubscribe
Peter Yang reached out after seeing how fast Open Gardens was growing—and how targeted the audience was. He thought we’d be a natural fit for their Accelerator program, and maybe even a good test case.
We’ve been kicking around a few ideas: a podcast, fireside chats, social-first drops, maybe even a paid tier. But this only grows if it stays useful—to my business and, hopefully, to yours.
Normally I’d bootstrap something like this. Or raise quietly from the usual suspects. But Open Gardens was built in public, so we’re testing this the same way—with transparency and curiosity.
We asked OverSubscribe to lower the minimum investment to $25. We’re not launching a raise (yet)—just running an AIP to see if there’s real appetite.
Let’s see what happens.
If you want more info on OverSubscribe click HERE
Or hit us up at editorial@opengardens.com for more information.
Looking forward to seeing how this develops! Question: is there a world in which the Producer IS the talent? Thinking of this in the context of documentary film... producers constantly deliver the goods in a field where the "talent" changes from project to project.
Super interested to hear how this goes. Excited there are more and more orgs bringing the back end needed to fuel building that creator and audience relationship that empowers sustainability for storytellers to do what they want to.