MrBeast is laying the groundwork for a new business helping others with ads and marketing
: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
- MrBeast is exploring offering advertising services, according to new trademark filings.
- The top YouTuber has filed applications that list plans for a range of ad and marketing services.
- It's the latest sign of his ambitions to expand beyond his core media business.
YouTuber MrBeast broke the code for getting attention online. Now, he may be looking to share his strategies with others.
The content creator's company filed a new set of trademark applications in the past few weeks that lay the groundwork for branching into advertising and marketing services.
Two of those filings, for "MrBeast Social" and "Beast Social," include activities such as advertising, marketing, and promotion services, as well as facilitating connections between creators, brands, and agencies.
A third filing, under the name "Creator Industries," lists plans for services for online content creators, like software and mobile apps for content creation, editing, monetization, and more.
The CEO of Beast Industries, Jeffrey Housenbold, said in December that the company planned to build a platform to connect brands and creators. Donaldson's company already offers a "clipping" marketing service called Vyro, which matches brands with creators to promote video clips across social media. He also operates other content-related service businesses, such as the analytics company Viewstats and the dubbing company CreatorGlobal.
A fourth new trademark application, for "Watchtime Studios," describes a video production arm focused on developing and producing video content for others.
MrBeast's applications didn't give a timeframe, but they were filed on an "intent to use" basis, which means the applicant has a bona fide intent to launch such services, said Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney whose firm's clients include entrepreneurs, celebrities, and pro athletes, and who spotted the filings.
A spokesperson for MrBeast declined to comment.
Donaldson would be entering a crowded field in advertising and content creator services. The competition includes ad holding companies, tech platforms, and independent agencies. On the other hand, brands and creators could be drawn to the idea of the world's biggest online creator helping them master social media themselves. For example, Donaldson recently worked with Salesforce to develop a concept for its Super Bowl commercial, which he also appeared in.
Other entertainers have entered the advertising and marketing space lately, most notably Ryan Reynolds through his agency, Maximum Effort. Other recent examples are podcaster Alex Cooper, who in 2025 launched the Unwell Creative Agency, a division of her media company Unwell, and Kristen Bell, who launched Dunshire Productions in 2022.
Two former MrBeast staffers, Anthony Potero and Talia Schulhof, also launched a stunt-marketing startup called Pufferfish last year.
MrBeast has been branching out into new businesses beyond media as he tries to improve the company's financial footing ahead of a possible IPO.
In the past year, he's acquired Step, a financial app for teens; explored a mobile phone service in the vein of Ryan Reynolds' Mint Mobile; and dipped a toe into experiences with Beast Land, a pop-up theme park in Saudi Arabia. He also has a growing candy business, Feastables.
In January, Beast Industries, which was previously valued at around $5 billion, announced it raised $200 million in new funding from the ethereum holding company Bitmine Immersion Technologies.