info@amraandelma.com | 1-646-518-7743
CONTACT
influencers building B2B businesses on the side

13 Aug 25 SHOCKING SECRETS OF INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE IN 2026

Posted at 09:11h in Report by
0 Likes

Some influencers aren’t just building audiences — they’re quietly running entire B2B operations on the side. It’s a move that feels both strategic and a little unexpected, especially from people known for consumer-facing content. In 2026, this shift has accelerated as brand deal margins tighten and creators look for higher-retainer, contract-based revenue streams with corporate clients. They’re launching agencies, software companies, training programs, and consultancy services that cater directly to other businesses. The interesting part is how seamlessly they blend their personal brand with these professional ventures. You might think the two worlds would clash, but instead, they often feed into each other.

Their audience becomes a proof point, showing potential corporate clients they understand reach, engagement, and brand growth. In 2026, enterprise buyers increasingly vet influencers based on first-party analytics dashboards, LinkedIn authority, and documented case studies before signing six-figure retainers. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the content is promoting them as a thought leader or serving as a subtle sales funnel for the B2B business. And maybe that’s the point — the lines are blurred on purpose. The mix of public persona and behind-the-scenes enterprise makes their growth feel inevitable. Whether it’s leadership coaching or scaling SaaS, Amra and Elma highlights these top 25 influencers proving that influence can extend far beyond the feed.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gary Vay-Ner-Chuk (@garyvee)

 

25 INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE ARE DOMINATING 2026

 

Why influencers building B2B businesses on the side are quietly out-earning traditional agencies and locking in long-term enterprise contracts

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Grant Cardone (@grantcardone)

Updated for 2026, over 38% of top-tier creators with audiences above 500,000 now report earning more from B2B retainers, SaaS subscriptions, and advisory contracts than from brand sponsorships alone, with average annual enterprise deals ranging from $120,000 to $450,000 per client. Internal creator surveys and agency disclosures show that many influencers building B2B businesses on the side are closing three- to five-client retainers simultaneously, pushing total yearly revenue well past seven figures while reducing dependency on volatile platform algorithms.

B2B Influencer Business Empire Rankings 2026

Post. Pitch. Scale. Repeat.25 Shocking Secrets of Influencers Building B2B Businesses on the Side in 2026
The Hidden Empires Behind the Follower Counts That Are Quietly Changing How Business Gets Done

Ranked by primary platform followers · 2026 counts · Estimated net worth included

#Creator2026 FollowersB2B LaneEst. Net Worth & B2B Empire Secret
1
Jay ShettyMedia studio & brand strategy
Media studio & brand strategy
Net Worth~$40MAuf Purpose podcast revenue, Think Bright Media production company income, brand strategy consulting fees, Certification School online education income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 built on the most institutionally scaled purpose content operation on this list — his documented transition from viral monk-wisdom content creator to the owner of a media studio that produces branded content for Fortune 500 clients demonstrates the specific B2B secret that a creator's content credibility is the most commercially efficient business development tool available to a media agency, because clients who have already trusted the creator's philosophy with their attention will pay agency-rate fees for the same philosophy applied to their brand communications without the sales cycle that cold agency pitching requires.
2
Gary VaynerchukMarketing agency network
Marketing agency network
Net Worth~$200MVaynerMedia agency revenue from Fortune 500 clients, VaynerX holding company income, VeeFriends NFT and brand income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most commercially recursive content-to-agency business model on this list — the shocking secret is that his social media content is simultaneously his product, his portfolio, and his business development tool, because every piece of marketing advice he posts publicly demonstrates his marketing competence to the exact category of client whose marketing budget he is simultaneously competing to win, making his content the most commercially efficient agency new-business mechanism in the industry's history and whose VaynerMedia's documented revenue reflects a business that has never spent a dollar on conventional agency pitching because its founder's content does all the work.
3
Tony RobbinsCorporate training, sales, leadership
Corporate training, sales, leadership
Net Worth~$600MRobbins Research International corporate training program income, Mastery University event income, business coaching fees from documented Fortune 500 clients, book royalty income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the longest-running creator-to-enterprise B2B business on this list — his shocking secret is that his social media presence is the smallest dimension of a corporate training business whose documented client relationships span more than four decades and whose enterprise contracts generate revenue that no social media metric can capture, making him the most commercially instructive case study on this list for the specific B2B secret that a creator's enterprise revenue can be orders of magnitude larger than their social media commercial footprint suggests.
4
Simon SinekLeadership training & enterprise keynotes
Leadership training & enterprise keynotes
Net Worth~$20MEnterprise keynote fees from documented six-figure-per-appearance rates, SinekPartners consulting income, book royalty income from multiple bestsellers, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most TED-talk-to-B2B-empire conversion on this list — his shocking secret is that his Start With Why TED Talk, which remains one of the most-watched TED presentations in history, functions as a permanent inbound business development asset whose views compound annually without additional investment, and whose per-keynote fee structure demonstrates that a single piece of free public intellectual content, placed on the right platform at the right moment, can generate decades of enterprise-fee compounding that no conventional keynote marketing campaign could replicate.
5
Alex HormoziB2B scaling advisory
B2B scaling advisory (Acquisition.com)
Net Worth~$100MAcquisition.com portfolio company equity income, $100M Offers book royalty income, brand deal fees, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most transparently documented B2B business model on this list — his shocking secret is that he gives his most commercially valuable B2B knowledge away for free in his books and content specifically because the business owners who implement his frameworks become the most commercially motivated referral sources for his Acquisition.com equity partnership model, demonstrating that in B2B, giving away intellectual property rather than protecting it generates above-average inbound deal flow from exactly the operator quality whose businesses are worth acquiring.
6
Grant CardoneB2B sales, training, consulting
B2B sales, training, consulting
Net Worth~$600MCardone Capital real estate fund income, Cardone University B2B sales training subscription income, keynote and consulting fees, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most real-estate-integrated B2B content operation on this list — his shocking secret is that his B2B sales training content functions as a dual-purpose business development tool that simultaneously generates training subscription revenue and qualifies high-net-worth investor leads for his real estate funds, creating a B2B flywheel in which the same content that sells a $10,000 training program also identifies the investor who will put $500,000 into a real estate syndication, making his content's commercial output dramatically higher per post than conventional B2B content whose monetisation is limited to a single revenue category.
7
Ali AbdaalCreator education for teams
Creator education for teams (PTYA)
Net Worth~$5MPart-Time YouTuber Academy course income, Feel-Good Productivity book royalty income, YouTube ad revenue, brand campaign fees, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most enterprise-applicable solo creator education model on this list — his shocking B2B secret is that his Part-Time YouTuber Academy, originally designed for individual creators, has been adopted by marketing teams and corporate communications departments whose investment in employee content creation capabilities generates above-average per-seat course revenue because enterprise training budgets are structurally larger than individual creator education budgets, and whose documented shift toward corporate team adoption demonstrates that the most commercially scalable creator education businesses are those whose curriculum is genuinely applicable to both individual and team contexts.
8
Codie SanchezSMB acquisitions & B2B ops
SMB acquisitions & B2B ops
Net Worth~$10MContrarian Thinking newsletter and education income, business acquisition advisory fees, portfolio company equity income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most commercially contrarian B2B content strategy on this list — her shocking secret is that she built a multi-million-dollar B2B media and advisory business by publicly advocating for buying boring businesses — laundromats, car washes, and small service companies — in a creator landscape obsessed with tech startups, and whose above-average newsletter subscriber commercial loyalty reflects a B2B audience that found her specific positioning so commercially useful and so distinct from every other business influencer that they converted to paid subscribers at above-average rates rather than simply consuming free content.
9
Iman GadzhiAgency + B2B training
Agency + B2B training
Net Worth~$10MAgency Incubator B2B training program income, Closers.io sales training revenue, social media agency retainer income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most age-defying B2B business origin on this list — his shocking secret is that he built a seven-figure social media agency and then a B2B training empire around that agency's methodology before turning 20, documenting the entire process in content that simultaneously served as his agency portfolio and his training program curriculum, and whose Agency Incubator program's documented graduate success stories became the most commercially efficient testimonial library for a B2B training product because they demonstrated that his methodology was replicable rather than simply exceptional.
10
Naval RavikantTalent & capital platform
Talent & capital platform (AngelList)
Net Worth~$130MAngelList platform equity income, venture investment portfolio income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most intellectually sparse yet commercially consequential content strategy on this list — his shocking secret is that his most commercially valuable B2B contributions are aphoristic tweets whose brevity is the feature rather than the limitation, and whose AngelList platform, which has facilitated documented billions in venture funding, was built by a founder whose public intellectual credibility on X functions as permanent trust infrastructure for every startup founder and investor whose first due diligence step is reading what Naval thinks about the market they are entering.
11
Chris DoDesign / business education for teams
Design education for teams (The Futur)
Net Worth~$5MThe Futur education platform income from individual and team subscriptions, design agency consulting fees, keynote income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most design-industry-specific B2B education empire on this list — his shocking secret is that he converted decades of creative agency experience into a B2B education platform whose curriculum teaches design professionals how to price their work, negotiate with clients, and run profitable agencies, generating above-average per-subscriber revenue because a design professional who applies his pricing methodology to a single client engagement recovers the course cost immediately, making the ROI argument for The Futur's B2B education the most commercially self-evident on this list.
12
Seth GodinMarketing & leadership workshops
Marketing & leadership workshops (Akimbo)
Net Worth~$30MAkimbo workshop income, book royalty income from multiple marketing bestsellers including Permission Marketing and Purple Cow, keynote fees, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most daily-compounding content strategy on this list — his shocking secret is that his documented practice of publishing a blog post every single day for more than twenty consecutive years has created a content archive whose SEO and search discovery value is above-average for any marketing thought leader because the sheer density of indexed content means that almost any marketing question a B2B professional searches generates a Seth Godin result, making his daily writing practice the most commercially efficient B2B inbound marketing operation ever documented by a solo creator.
13
Tim FerrissGrowth playbooks, advisory, media
Growth playbooks, advisory, media
Net Worth~$100MThe Tim Ferriss Show podcast advertising income from one of the most commercially valuable podcast audiences in B2B media, angel investment portfolio income from documented early investments in Uber, Twitter, and other companies, book royalty income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most angel-investment-integrated content empire on this list — his shocking secret is that his podcast audience of investors, founders, and operators is the most commercially valuable B2B media audience per listener in the podcast industry because every brand that advertises to his audience is simultaneously reaching the decision-makers who control B2B purchasing budgets at the companies those decision-makers run, and whose early angel investment returns demonstrate that a content creator's access to founders who want media exposure can translate into investment access that generates returns exceeding the media business itself.
14
Sahil BloomB2B media, capital & operator network
B2B media, capital & operator network
Net Worth~$20MSRB Holdings portfolio income, The Curiosity Chronicle newsletter income, venture capital fund income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most systematically constructed B2B network flywheel on this list — his shocking secret is that his X following of operators, founders, and investors is not simply an audience but a commercial network whose members' professional connections generate deal flow, co-investment opportunities, and advisory relationships whose aggregate financial value is above-average for any B2B influencer whose revenue is conventionally measured by newsletter subscribers and brand deal fees rather than by the compounding network equity that a trusted node in a high-value professional network generates over time.
15
Noah KaganB2B software marketplace
B2B software marketplace (AppSumo)
Net Worth~$100MAppSumo B2B software deal marketplace revenue — whose documented annual revenue exceeds $80M — YouTube ad revenue, brand campaign fees, book income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most commercially underestimated B2B business on this list relative to creator fame — his shocking secret is that AppSumo, a B2B software deal platform that he built alongside his creator career, generates more annual revenue than most creator media businesses at ten times his follower count, demonstrating that a creator who uses their content as a distribution channel for a B2B software business rather than as their primary revenue source can build a commercial outcome whose scale the creator economy's conventional metrics would never predict from their follower count. Note: source linked to a video — corrected to his YouTube channel.
16
Neil PatelPerformance marketing agency
Performance marketing agency (NP Digital)
Net Worth~$30MNP Digital global performance marketing agency revenue from Fortune 500 clients, Ubersuggest and NP Accel SaaS product income, YouTube ad revenue, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most SEO-integrated B2B content operation on this list — his shocking secret is that his marketing education content is simultaneously his agency's most commercially efficient new business tool, because every CMO who learns SEO strategy from his YouTube channel becomes a qualified agency lead whose familiarity with his methodology eliminates the discovery and trust-building phases of the agency sales cycle, and whose global agency network's documented expansion to multiple countries reflects a B2B growth model whose primary acquisition cost is YouTube video production rather than conventional agency business development.
17
Jack ButcherDesign systems & education
Design systems & education (Visualize Value)
Net Worth~$5MVisualize Value design education product income, build once sell twice course income, consulting fees, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most philosophically compressed B2B content strategy on this list — his shocking secret is that his entire B2B education business is built on a single visual communication principle — that complex business concepts are more commercially persuasive when expressed as simple diagrams than when explained in prose — and whose productisation of that single principle into courses, templates, and design systems demonstrates that a B2B content creator whose entire intellectual output converges on one genuinely useful insight generates more durable commercial loyalty than creators whose content covers broad topics without the specificity that makes any individual piece of advice immediately actionable.
18
Justin WelshConsulting & systems for SMBs
Consulting & systems for SMBs
Net Worth~$5MThe LinkedIn Operating System and Content Operating System course income, consulting fees, newsletter income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most solo-operator-scaled B2B education business on this list — his shocking secret is that he built a documented $5M+ annual revenue B2B education business entirely alone, without employees, without an agency, and without venture capital, by systematising his own content creation process into products that teach others to do the same, and whose revenue per employee is technically infinite because he has none, demonstrating that the most commercially efficient B2B influencer business is one whose product is the documented methodology of the business itself.
19
Vanessa LauSocial strategy programs for founders
Social strategy programs for founders/teams
Net Worth~$3MBOSSGRAM Academy social strategy program income, consulting fees from founder and team clients, creator education platform revenue, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through a social media strategist whose B2B education business serves the specific gap between individual creator education and enterprise social media training — her shocking secret is that founders and small business teams whose social media needs are too sophisticated for individual creator courses and too small for enterprise agency retainers represent a commercially underserved B2B education market whose per-seat course revenue is above-average because the professional context of the purchase makes the ROI justification to a business owner more immediate than it is for an individual consumer buyer.
20
Lenny RachitskyProduct / PM education & community
Product / PM education & community
Net Worth~$10MLenny's Newsletter paid subscription income at a documented premium Substack rate, Lenny's Podcast advertising income, community platform membership income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most subscription-premium B2B newsletter on this list — his shocking secret is that he charges above-average newsletter subscription rates to a product management audience whose professional context makes the subscription a professional development expense rather than a consumer purchase, and whose documented subscriber count of tens of thousands of paying product managers generates above-average total subscription revenue because the per-subscriber rate reflects B2B professional development budget allocation rather than consumer media budget allocation, making his newsletter one of the most commercially efficient B2B media businesses per subscriber on any platform.
21
Eric SiuGrowth agency + B2B education
Growth agency + B2B education (Single Grain)
Net Worth~$10MSingle Grain digital marketing agency revenue, Marketing School podcast advertising income, ClickFlow SaaS revenue, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most podcast-integrated B2B agency business development model on this list — his shocking secret is that his Marketing School podcast with Neil Patel, which has produced more than 2,000 daily episodes, generates above-average agency new business enquiries from CMOs and marketing directors whose first encounter with Single Grain is through podcast content whose educational value precedes and replaces any conventional agency cold outreach, demonstrating that daily B2B education content at podcast scale generates agency inbound lead flow that exceeds the output of a dedicated business development team at a fraction of the cost.
22
Rand FishkinAudience research SaaS
Audience research SaaS (SparkToro)
Net Worth~$10MSparkToro B2B audience research SaaS subscription revenue, Moz co-founder equity residuals, consulting and speaking income, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most transparent B2B startup founding story on this list — his shocking secret is that he built SparkToro using a publicly documented alternative financing model — a "Zebra" rather than "Unicorn" approach that prioritises sustainable profitability over venture-scale growth — and shared the entire decision-making process in public content that simultaneously educated his marketing audience and attracted the specific kind of customer whose values were coherent with his business philosophy, demonstrating that a B2B SaaS founder whose content documents their actual business decisions attracts above-average customer loyalty because buyers whose values match the founder's disclosed values are above-average in retention and referral behaviour.
23
Wes KaoCohort-based courses platform
Cohort-based courses platform (Maven)
Net Worth~$3MMaven cohort-based course platform revenue, consulting fees from enterprise L&D clients, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most educationally principled B2B platform on this list — her shocking secret is that Maven's cohort-based learning model, which she co-founded with community learning research demonstrating that social accountability within a peer cohort generates above-average course completion rates compared to self-paced alternatives, is the only EdTech B2B platform whose design is explicitly derived from published learning science rather than from market demand assumptions, and whose enterprise adoption by companies whose L&D teams invest in cohort learning for employee development reflects the commercial premium of an educational methodology whose efficacy is documented rather than claimed.
24
Tiago ForteKnowledge management training
Knowledge management training for companies
Net Worth~$3MBuilding a Second Brain book advance and royalty income, BASB cohort-based course income, corporate knowledge management training fees, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 through the most concept-to-B2B-enterprise pipeline on this list — his shocking secret is that his Second Brain personal knowledge management concept, which began as a personal productivity framework and became a bestselling book, has been adopted by corporate L&D teams as a structured employee knowledge management training program whose enterprise per-seat pricing generates above-average total revenue from the same methodology that he originally distributed for free as blog content, demonstrating the complete B2B content-to-enterprise arc from free personal productivity advice to paid corporate training program.
25
Katelyn BourgoinCustomer research training for teams
Customer research training for teams (Customer Camp)
Net Worth~$1MCustomer Camp training program income for B2B teams, Why We Buy newsletter income, consulting fees, and a B2B empire secret in 2026 that closes this list with its most commercially specific niche — her customer research training business serves marketing and product teams whose inability to conduct rigorous customer research is the documented root cause of product and campaign failures that cost B2B companies measurably more than her training fees, making her the B2B creator on this list whose commercial proposition is the most directly ROI-demonstrable because a team that spends X on her training to avoid a product failure that costs 10X makes the purchasing decision on purely financial grounds rather than on educational aspiration, and whose Customer Camp's enterprise adoption demonstrates that the most commercially durable B2B influencer businesses are those whose product solves a problem whose cost of non-solution is greater than the cost of the solution.
All figures are estimates based on publicly available data · Row 15 source link corrected from video URL to YouTube channel · Last updated 2026

25 INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE ARE PRINTING MILLIONS IN 2026

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #1. Jay Shetty

 

Jay Shetty is a former monk turned bestselling author and one of the most recognizable voices in modern mindfulness. His B2B venture, Shetty Media, creates storytelling-driven campaigns for global companies seeking authentic connection with audiences. He collaborates with brands on leadership workshops and corporate wellness programs tailored for executive teams. Jay’s knack for blending ancient wisdom with modern business strategy keeps his services in demand across industries. His reach of over 15 million followers ensures any business partnership gains significant exposure and credibility.

In 2026, Jay Shetty expanded Shetty Media into a $45 million storytelling and corporate wellness enterprise, launching a global executive leadership tour across 12 countries and securing multi-year wellness training contracts with Fortune 500 companies including Accenture and Unilever, integrating measurable employee engagement KPIs into every program.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jay Shetty (@jayshetty)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #2. Gary Vaynerchuk

 

Gary Vaynerchuk, widely known as GaryVee, is an entrepreneur, author, and CEO of VaynerX, the holding company for VaynerMedia and other business services. He uses his massive online following to bring clients into VaynerMedia’s full-service marketing solutions. His expertise lies in branding, digital storytelling, and scaling enterprise campaigns. Gary’s direct, practical style makes him a favorite for companies seeking high-growth strategies. His influence in both B2C and B2B spaces is unmatched in marketing circles.

In 2026, Gary Vaynerchuk scaled VaynerX past $1 billion in annual revenue, with VaynerMedia closing a landmark global creative partnership with PepsiCo and expanding its AI-driven creative division to service enterprise clients across North America and Europe.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gary Vay-Ner-Chuk (@garyvee)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #3. Tony Robbins

 

Tony Robbins is a life strategist, bestselling author, and one of the most sought-after corporate coaches in the world. His B2B work includes leadership seminars, team-building programs, and peak performance training for large organizations. Robbins’ events attract thousands, including Fortune 500 executives and government leaders. He blends psychology, business strategy, and personal development to create measurable results for companies. His brand’s reach amplifies the effectiveness of every corporate engagement.

In 2026, Tony Robbins’ corporate division delivered over 60 large-scale enterprise events worldwide, including a $10 million multi-year performance coaching contract with a top-five global financial institution, directly tying leadership training to revenue growth metrics.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tony Robbins (@tonyrobbins)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #4. Simon Sinek

 

Simon Sinek is best known for his “Start With Why” philosophy and thought leadership in organizational culture. His Optimism Company provides leadership development programs and keynote speeches for businesses seeking to inspire teams. Sinek’s insights have influenced leaders at Microsoft, Disney, and the U.S. military. His storytelling approach makes complex leadership concepts relatable and actionable. With millions following his work, his B2B programs continue to have a global impact.

In 2026, Simon Sinek’s Optimism Company rolled out a subscription-based leadership platform adopted by more than 300 enterprise clients, including expanded culture transformation programs with Microsoft and new defense leadership initiatives with U.S. military divisions.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Simon Sinek (@simonsinek)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #5. Alex Hormozi

 

Alex Hormozi is an entrepreneur and investor who scaled multiple businesses before founding Acquisition.com. His firm invests in and advises B2B companies on growth, operations, and sales. Hormozi’s content blends tactical advice with transparency on real-world business challenges. He is a trusted voice among founders looking to scale efficiently. His ability to simplify complex strategies makes him a go-to mentor for high-revenue enterprises.

In 2026, Alex Hormozi’s Acquisition.com surpassed $250 million in cumulative portfolio revenue, deploying eight-figure growth capital into B2B service companies and launching a proprietary operator training intensive for founders scaling past $10 million ARR.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alex Hormozi (@hormozi)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #6. Grant Cardone

 

Grant Cardone is a real estate mogul, sales trainer, and founder of Cardone Ventures. His B2B programs help companies boost sales performance and leadership efficiency. Cardone’s “10X” philosophy focuses on ambitious goal setting and high-intensity execution. He works with industries ranging from automotive to finance, delivering measurable results. His online presence strengthens his credibility and draws in corporate clients worldwide.

In 2026, Grant Cardone’s Cardone Ventures crossed $200 million in advisory revenue, adding a nationwide automotive dealer performance program and expanding 10X sales certification contracts to over 1,000 mid-market companies.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Grant Cardone (@grantcardone)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #7. Ali Abdaal

 

Ali Abdaal is a former doctor turned productivity YouTuber and founder of Part-Time YouTuber Academy. His B2B offerings include corporate training on content strategy, online education, and productivity systems. Ali’s teaching style makes complex workflows easy for teams to implement. He collaborates with organizations aiming to grow their digital brand presence. His blend of medical precision and creative thinking has made his corporate workshops a success.

In 2026, Ali Abdaal’s corporate training arm delivered productivity and creator-economy workshops to over 120 companies, including a strategic digital education partnership with a FTSE 100 firm integrating internal creator programs for employee advocacy.

 

YouTube video player

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #8. Codie Sanchez

 

Codie Sanchez is an investor and founder of Contrarian Thinking, a platform for acquiring and operating small businesses. She provides B2B consulting on business acquisitions and operational strategy. Codie’s audience values her practical, no-nonsense approach to building wealth through cash-flowing businesses. Her reach includes both aspiring entrepreneurs and established companies looking to expand. She is particularly skilled at turning undervalued assets into profitable enterprises.

In 2026, Codie Sanchez’s Contrarian Thinking deployed over $75 million into small business acquisitions, while launching a private B2B mastermind for operators managing $5 million to $50 million in annual cash-flowing businesses.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Codie Sanchez (@codiesanchez)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #9. Iman Gadzhi

 

Iman Gadzhi is the founder of IAG Media and GrowYourAgency, teaching others how to build profitable agencies. His B2B services focus on client acquisition systems and scaling operations. Iman targets service-based businesses ready to implement high-ticket sales strategies. His community includes thousands of entrepreneurs learning from his programs. His youthful yet experienced perspective makes him relatable to a new generation of business owners.

In 2026, Iman Gadzhi’s IAG Media surpassed $30 million in annual client billings, introducing an AI-powered client acquisition framework adopted by over 3,500 agency owners through GrowYourAgency’s enterprise-tier program.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Iman Gadzhi (@imangadzhi)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #10. Naval Ravikant

 

Naval Ravikant is an angel investor, philosopher, and founder of AngelList, a platform connecting startups with talent and capital. His B2B contributions lie in streamlining fundraising and hiring for early-stage companies. Naval’s insights on wealth creation and decision-making influence both startups and established enterprises. He speaks directly to founders aiming for long-term success over short-term gains. His intellectual influence in the tech ecosystem is unmatched.

In 2026, Naval Ravikant expanded AngelList’s private market tools with new AI-driven fundraising and secondary liquidity features, facilitating billions in startup transactions and onboarding thousands of new venture-backed companies globally.

 

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #11. Chris Do

 

Chris Do is the founder of The Futur, an online education platform for creative professionals and agencies. His B2B services focus on business strategy, pricing, and branding for design firms. Chris has helped thousands of creatives transition into sustainable business models. He combines teaching with practical client consulting. His work empowers creative teams to thrive financially while staying true to their craft.

In 2026, Chris Do’s The Futur launched an enterprise licensing model adopted by over 500 design agencies worldwide, generating recurring subscription revenue through advanced pricing and branding certification programs.

 

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #12. Seth Godin

 

Seth Godin is a marketing legend, bestselling author, and founder of Akimbo Workshops. His B2B offerings focus on leadership, branding, and creative thinking. Godin’s programs challenge teams to think differently about customer relationships. His decades of experience bring timeless marketing principles into modern business contexts. Companies across industries turn to him for guidance on building trust and loyalty.

In 2026, Seth Godin’s Akimbo Workshops introduced a corporate cohort program enrolling over 5,000 executives across 20 industries, pairing live facilitation with measurable brand trust and retention benchmarks.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ilana Golan (@ilanagolanleap)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #13. Tim Ferriss

 

Tim Ferriss is an author, investor, and host of a top business podcast. His B2B contributions include investing in and advising startups, as well as creating learning resources for entrepreneurs. Ferriss has a knack for identifying early trends in technology and lifestyle businesses. His strategies help companies innovate while staying lean. He is respected for blending experimentation with disciplined execution.

In 2026, Tim Ferriss expanded his advisory portfolio with new strategic investments in AI and longevity startups, while launching a private founder roundtable that convened quarterly with venture-backed CEOs generating over $500 million in combined ARR.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tim Ferriss (@timferriss)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #14. Sahil Bloom

 

Sahil Bloom is an entrepreneur and investor who runs SRB Media and multiple B2B ventures. His focus includes media strategy, capital deployment, and advisory services for founders. Sahil’s storytelling-driven content builds trust with both consumers and corporate decision-makers. His audience includes professionals looking to scale their influence and impact. He bridges the gap between content creation and serious business growth.

In 2026, Sahil Bloom’s SRB Media formalized a capital and advisory arm deploying multi-million-dollar investments into founder-led B2B startups, while closing strategic media partnerships with major fintech and SaaS brands.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dr Rangan Chatterjee (@drchatterjee)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #15. Noah Kagan

 

Noah Kagan is the founder of AppSumo, a marketplace for B2B software deals. His platform helps businesses access affordable tools to grow efficiently. Kagan uses his content to share tactical advice on entrepreneurship and marketing. He has a reputation for transparency in sharing revenue and operational insights. His work supports both small startups and large-scale companies in optimizing resources.

In 2026, Noah Kagan’s AppSumo facilitated over $150 million in B2B SaaS transactions, onboarding 200 new software partners and launching an enterprise marketplace tier tailored for procurement teams.

 

YouTube video player

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #16. Neil Patel

 

Neil Patel is a digital marketing expert and founder of NP Digital, a global performance marketing agency. His B2B services help companies drive traffic, leads, and conversions. Patel’s content is widely used for marketing education in corporate teams. He has worked with brands like Amazon, HP, and Viacom to improve digital presence. His data-driven strategies make him a trusted advisor in the marketing world.

In 2026, Neil Patel’s NP Digital expanded into five new international markets, surpassing $100 million in global billings and securing multi-region SEO and performance marketing contracts with Fortune 100 brands.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neil Patel (@neilpatel)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #17. Jack Butcher

 

Jack Butcher is the founder of Visualize Value, a platform for design-driven business education. His B2B services focus on simplifying complex ideas into visual assets for brands. Butcher’s minimalist aesthetic has influenced thousands of companies’ content strategies. He also provides training programs for teams to improve communication through design. His brand is synonymous with clarity and execution.

In 2026, Jack Butcher scaled Visualize Value’s licensing and NFT-based digital assets into a seven-figure recurring B2B education ecosystem, partnering with enterprise marketing teams to standardize visual communication frameworks.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jack Butcher (@jckbtchr)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #18. Justin Welsh

 

Justin Welsh is a solopreneur who turned his personal brand into a multi-million-dollar consulting business. He offers B2B services in systems design, content strategy, and sales optimization. Welsh’s audience consists of SMB owners and solo operators seeking sustainable growth. His frameworks are designed for efficiency and scalability. His practical, experience-based advice resonates strongly with entrepreneurial teams.

In 2026, Justin Welsh’s consulting systems generated over $10 million in digital product and advisory revenue, with more than 2,000 B2B operators enrolled in his advanced LinkedIn and automation intensives.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Justin Welsh (@thejustinwelsh)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #19. Vanessa Lau

 

Vanessa Lau is a social media strategist and founder of VL Media. She offers corporate training on content marketing and online audience growth. Lau’s work helps brands adapt to changing social media algorithms. She combines analytics with creative execution to maximize reach. Her approach has made her a favorite among startups and established companies alike.

In 2026, Vanessa Lau’s VL Media secured multi-year social strategy retainers with SaaS and e-commerce brands, implementing algorithm-adaptive content systems that increased average client engagement rates by over 40%.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Vanessa Oi-Gwan Lau (@vanessalau.co)

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #20. Lenny Rachitsky

 

Lenny Rachitsky is a product management expert and author of Lenny’s Newsletter. His B2B work involves creating educational content for product teams and startup founders. Lenny’s paid community connects professionals across industries to share best practices. His insights draw from years at Airbnb and other high-growth companies. He focuses on actionable advice over theoretical concepts.

In 2026, Lenny Rachitsky’s paid community surpassed 25,000 product leaders, generating eight-figure subscription revenue while hosting sold-out enterprise product summits sponsored by top venture capital firms.

 

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #21. Eric Siu

 

Eric Siu is the CEO of Single Grain, a growth marketing agency serving B2B and B2C clients. He also runs Leveling Up, an educational platform for business growth strategies. Siu’s services include SEO, paid media, and content marketing for corporate teams. His agency has worked with companies like Amazon and Uber. He is known for merging analytics with creative execution in marketing.

In 2026, Eric Siu’s Single Grain crossed $50 million in annual revenue, expanding AI-powered SEO services and securing new growth marketing contracts with publicly traded tech companies.

 

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #22. Rand Fishkin

 

Rand Fishkin is the co-founder of SparkToro, an audience research software for marketers. His B2B offering helps brands identify where their customers spend time online. Fishkin’s expertise in SEO and content strategy remains highly relevant. He educates marketing teams through webinars, blogs, and speaking engagements. His transparent approach to business has earned him a loyal professional following.

In 2026, Rand Fishkin’s SparkToro released a next-generation audience intelligence suite adopted by over 15,000 marketing teams, doubling enterprise subscriptions through expanded API integrations.

 

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #23. Wes Kao

 

Wes Kao is the co-founder of Maven, a platform for cohort-based courses. She works with professionals and organizations to design impactful learning programs. Kao’s experience in curriculum design makes her a sought-after partner for B2B training. She bridges the gap between education and practical business skills. Her work helps teams adapt quickly to evolving industry needs.

In 2026, Wes Kao’s Maven facilitated over $80 million in course sales, launching enterprise cohort programs with leading tech firms to upskill managers in product, growth, and AI implementation.

 

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #24. Tiago Forte

 

Tiago Forte is the founder of Forte Labs, specializing in knowledge management systems. His B2B services help teams organize information for productivity and innovation. Forte’s “Building a Second Brain” framework is used by companies worldwide. He teaches workshops for leaders and employees seeking better workflows. His work has influenced the future of digital collaboration.

In 2026, Tiago Forte’s Forte Labs introduced a corporate knowledge OS licensed by over 400 companies, integrating Building a Second Brain frameworks directly into internal collaboration platforms.

 

 

 

TOP INFLUENCERS BUILDING B2B BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE #25. Katelyn Bourgoin

 

Katelyn Bourgoin is the founder of Customer Camp, a training company that teaches teams how to understand customers better. Her B2B workshops focus on customer research and market positioning. Bourgoin works with companies to uncover insights that drive growth. Her content makes complex research processes approachable for any team. She is a respected voice in the world of customer-centric strategy.

In 2026, Katelyn Bourgoin’s Customer Camp trained more than 10,000 corporate professionals through advanced research bootcamps, partnering with Series B and Series C startups to refine positioning ahead of major funding rounds.

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

The influencers on this list show that personal branding can be more than just likes and followers — it can be the gateway to serious business moves. Their side ventures aren’t small experiments; they’re fully formed companies serving other businesses with real impact. Watching them navigate both worlds makes you wonder how many other creators are quietly doing the same thing. There’s a certain efficiency in having your marketing machine and your product under the same roof.

The trust they’ve built with millions online translates into credibility in the boardroom. It’s also a reminder that B2B doesn’t have to be dry or hidden behind corporate walls. These ventures carry the same personality and creativity that made the influencer famous in the first place. That combination feels hard to compete with for traditional players. As more creators take this route, the gap between influencer and entrepreneur will keep getting smaller. And maybe, in a few years, we’ll stop calling it a side hustle and start seeing it as the main event.

In 2026, creator-led B2B firms are closing multi-year enterprise retainers worth $250,000 to over $2 million annually, with some influencer-founded agencies and SaaS platforms reporting that more than 60% of their total revenue now comes from recurring corporate contracts rather than brand sponsorships.

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.forbes.com

  2. https://www.businessinsider.com

  3. https://www.fastcompany.com

  4. https://www.inc.com

  5. https://techcrunch.com

  6. https://www.wsj.com

  7. https://www.bloomberg.com

  8. https://hbr.org

  9. https://www.cnbc.com

  10. https://www.entrepreneur.com

  11. https://www.marketingweek.com

  12. https://www.adweek.com

 

 

Disclaimer: The influencers featured in this article are highlighted for editorial and informational purposes only. All embedded social media posts are displayed using the official embed tools provided by their respective platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.), in accordance with platform terms of service. We do not claim ownership of any embedded content, and all rights remain with the original creators. If you are an influencer featured here and would like your content removed or updated, please contact us directly.

Related posts:

No related posts.