Thats Clutch! Founder Madison Long is Building a Creator Marketplace

It was the summer of 2020 when Madison Long decided to take a leap of faith. She had been working as a project manager at the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation for years, but something was missing. She felt restless like she was meant for something greater. That's when she decided to start her own business, and Clutch was born.

Initially known as Campus Connect focused on building a student talent marketplace, Madison and her cofounder Simone pivoted to the Creator space.

While Madison attended Purdue University to study accounting, her true calling was yet to be discovered. After graduating, she landed a job at Microsoft in finance. But even then, she knew that she wasn't meant to be a corporate drone. She wanted to do something that would make a difference.

Clutch is a digital marketplace that connects creators with businesses. It's a platform that allows creators to monetize their unique talents and passions by helping businesses with their content creation needs. Madison's vision was to build a world where authentic, engaging work supports a more sustainable, equitable lifestyle. And with Clutch, she's doing just that.

But starting a business is never easy, and Madison knew that. She faced numerous challenges along the way. One of the biggest challenges was securing funding for Clutch. Madison was determined to make it happen, though. She entered the Founders Pack Winner Takes All Pitch competition, where she won $500. That might not seem like a lot of money, but for Madison, it was the beginning of something great.

With the $500 she won, Madison was able to start building Clutch. She worked tirelessly, day and night, to bring her vision to life. And it paid off. Today, Clutch has secured $1.6 million in funding. It's a remarkable achievement, and one that Madison is incredibly proud of.

But Madison's journey wasn't just about securing funding. It was also about overcoming the obstacles that came her way. She faced rejection, criticism, and doubt. But she never gave up. She knew that her vision was worth fighting for.

And that's the thing about Madison – she's a fighter. She's not afraid to take risks, to go against the grain, to do things differently. That's what makes her a true visionary.

As I sit here, typing away at my laptop, I can't help but feel inspired by Madison's story. She's proof that anything is possible if you're willing to work for it and to recognize when a pivot is needed or an opportunity must be pursued. She's a reminder that we all have the power to make a difference, to create something that will change the world.

How to contact Madison

thatsclutch.com