Locals is a subscription-based creator community platform that allows independent content creators (writers, podcasters, commentators, video producers) to host members-only content, build communities, and monetize their audiences directly via tiered subscriptions rather than advertising. Co-founded in 2019 by political commentator Dave Rubin and Assaf Lev as an alternative to Patreon and other Big Tech platforms, Locals integrates video, audio, text, and community features so that creators own the relationship with their supporters. The platform was acquired by online video platform Rumble in October 2021 and now operates as Rumble's subscription product, opening a Creator Studio in Miami's Wynwood district in 2022.
Locals (Social/Platform Software) has been acquired
This company is no longer available on our private secondary market.
Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Founded
2019
Total Funding
$4.8M
2 rounds
Total raised $4.8M across 2 rounds
Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Last updated 06-25-2026
Latest Round
Type
Seed
Date
April 20, 2021
Amount
$3.8M
Valuation
—
Lead Investors
| Date | Round | Amount Raised | Valuation | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2021 | Seed | $3.8M | — | Craft Ventures |
| March 2020 | Seed | $1M | — |
Assaf Lev
Co-Founder & CEO
Dave Rubin
Co-Founder
Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.
Patreon
Leading membership platform allowing creators to collect recurring subscription payments from fans in exchange for exclusive content and perks; the primary platform Locals was launched to compete against.
Substack
Newsletter and audio subscription platform letting writers and podcasters monetize directly via paid subscriptions; competes for the same independent commentator audience as Locals.
Mighty Networks
Community-and-courses platform enabling creators to build branded paid communities with content, events and memberships; overlaps with Locals' community-plus-subscriptions model.
Ghost
Open-source publishing and membership platform for independent writers and publishers offering paid newsletters and subscriptions with low platform fees.
Memberful
Membership software (owned by Patreon) that lets creators add paid memberships and subscriptions to their own sites with content gating and analytics.
Buy Me a Coffee
Creator monetization platform supporting one-off tips, memberships, and digital product sales as a lightweight alternative to Patreon and Locals.
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