REC (Resources for Every Creator) has chosen Miami as its next emerging market. The Philadelphia-based startup, also known as “REC Philly,” will launch “REC Miami” courtesy of a $2 million investment from Sean’ Diddy’ Combs’ Sean Combs Capital, the lead investor in the round. Will Toms and Dave Silver founded REC to provide creative people with the resources, communities and opportunities needed to enhance their passions and entrepreneurial goals.
The REC Philly location has over 1,000 active members subscribed to their membership offering, providing access to a 10,000 square feet creative facility, educational programming, and a network of brands needing innovative services. Members use the space to create content, connect with collaborators and attend educational and social programming. Brands also use REC to find emerging talent. Current brand partners in Philadelphia include Live Nation, Comcast, Cash App, WXPN, WSFS Bank, Amuse, Red Bull, T-Mobile, Ballard Spahr and Temple University.
Sean Combs, the music industry tycoon who founded Combs Enterprises, will use the investment to help expand the company and use its resources to access creative talent to strengthen his company’s brands.
“Our goal is to make sure that independent creators have the information, tools and resources needed to win and level the playing field,” he says. “This partnership is about the future of the creator economy and helping REC expand to serve more creators in cities and countries around the world.”
REC Miami will open in Miami’s Little River neighborhood in 2023 with a 12,000-square-foot creative facility featuring multiple recording studios, photo/video production studios, editing bays, podcast studios, dance studios, design studios, an event venue, coworking space and the in-house production equipment for high-quality media.
“In Philadelphia, much of our success comes from our ability to empower and convene the local creative community, making it easy for both local and global brands to know where they can find and hire creative talent,” Silver says. “Getting artists paid has always been our most impactful metric, and I’m excited to bring that same energy into Miami.”
REC was founded in 2015 and paid nearly $2 million directly to its community members through its creative agency by serving as a resource for brands. The company strives to craft a ‘creator-first’ approach that caters to the needs of local creative talents.
“Our key focus is turning artists and creators into creative entrepreneurs. We’ve known since the beginning that we weren’t just solving a Philadelphia problem,” Toms says. “Access to resources, strategies and opportunities is a global challenge for creatives everywhere, and with Diddy’s support, we’re excited to bring our solution to communities beyond our hometown of Philly.”
For more information, visit JoinREC.com.
