Zivity

Zivity was an online social art patronage platform focused on pin-up and glamour photography. Co-founded in 2007 by the husband-and-wife team of Cyan and Scott Banister, along with Jeffrey Wescott, the company aimed to create a community where artists, models, and photographers could directly connect with and be supported by their fans. The startup launched at the TechCrunch40 conference in 2007.

The founders brought significant, complementary experience to the venture. Scott Banister was a seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor, recognized as a co-founder of the anti-spam company IronPort (acquired by Cisco for $830 million) and an early board member at PayPal. His technical acumen was pivotal in developing concepts like paid search advertising. Cyan Banister, who served as CEO, had a background in tech operations and security at companies including Cisco and IronPort, where she met Scott. Her journey from experiencing homelessness as a teenager to becoming a prominent venture capitalist shaped her determined and unconventional approach to business.

Zivity's business model was a direct-to-creator monetization system, preceding later platforms like OnlyFans and Patreon. The platform operated on a subscription basis, where fans paid a monthly fee for access to exclusive content. A key feature was a voting system; subscribers received monthly votes, which they could allocate to their favorite artists. Each vote translated into a direct cash payment, with a default split of 60% to the model and 20% to the photographer, creating a meritocratic system where creators were rewarded based on popularity. This enabled direct financial support and fostered relationships between creators and patrons.

The company secured significant venture capital, raising a total of $8 million in funding from notable investors including Founders Fund and BlueRun Ventures. However, the platform faced challenges in scaling. In 2009, the company split, spinning off a mainstream-focused site called Top Fans, which took a majority of the employees and half of the remaining capital. Cyan Banister remained with Zivity to continue its original mission. After a ten-year run, Zivity ultimately shut down in 2017. Cyan Banister cited burnout and the persistent difficulties of monetization in the adult content space as reasons for the closure, noting the rise of free content and the challenges of finding a viable exit strategy.

Keywords: Zivity, Cyan Banister, Scott Banister, pin-up photography, glamour photography, creator monetization, artist patronage, social art platform, subscription model, direct fan funding, TechCrunch40, Founders Fund, BlueRun Ventures, adult-themed social network, online art community, fan-supported artists, model photography, Jeffrey Wescott, IronPort, early creator economy