Overview
Trend is an influencer marketing and User-Generated Content (UGC) platform that connects brands with a curated network of creators. It simplifies the process of sourcing content by offering a 'contract-free' marketplace model where brands only pay for the content they receive. Acquired by soona in 2023, the platform now combines influencer outreach with professional studio photography capabilities.
Founder: Ramon Berrios, Grant Gurtin
Popularity: Trusted by over 1,000 brands including Health-Ade and FabFitFun.
Tech stack: React, Node.js, AWS
Integrations: Shopify, Klaviyo, soona, Zapier
What it does
- Connects brands with a curated network of 5,000+ influencers and creators.
- Facilitates the creation of high-fidelity UGC for ads and product pages.
- Automates the shipment of products to influencers for reviews and content.
- Allows brands to buy full usage rights for all content generated through the platform.
- Provides a collaborative dashboard for managing multiple creator campaigns.
Who it's for
- D2C Brand Owners
- Shopify Merchants
- Social Media Managers
- E-commerce Growth Marketers
Why it works
- Frictionless: Eliminates the long negotiation and contract phase usually required with influencers.
- Cost Certainty: Fixed pricing per creator makes it easy for brands to budget their content scaling.
- Curation: Manually vets every influencer to ensure high aesthetic and engagement standards.
- Ownership: Simplified licensing ensures brands own the rights to repurpose content across all marketing channels.
Founder story
Founded in 2012 by Ramon Berrios and Grant Gurtin in Austin, Texas. Ramon and Grant saw that influencer marketing was becoming too expensive and complex for growing brands. They built Trend to be the 'antidote' to agency overhead, creating a simple, self-serve marketplace where brands could get professional content on demand.
Comparison overview
- Billo: Better for quick TikTok-style clips; Trend is the choice for high-fidelity influencer photography and long-term brand content.
- Grin/Aspire: Complex enterprise management tools; Trend is the lean, marketplace-first alternative for smaller teams.
- Now part of soona, Trend is the premier tool for brands that need a constant stream of authentic social content.