MediaLabs lands eight-figure Series A to scale social commerce

MediaLabs said it raised a Series A investment from an international marketplace company at an eight-figure valuation to expand its TikTok Shop and creator-commerce operations. The Miami-based agency plans to use the money to deepen managed services, add AI tools and grow its network of more than 3,000 creators.

Why it matters: - MediaLabs is betting that social commerce needs more infrastructure to convert creator attention into sales at scale. - The new funding gives the Miami company room to expand services for brands selling through TikTok Shop and other creator-led channels. - The raise also signals continued investor interest in tools that connect creators, brands and direct response commerce.

What happened: - MediaLabs announced a Series A investment from an international marketplace company at an eight-figure valuation. - The company is based in Miami and works as a social commerce and UGC affiliate agency. - MediaLabs connects brands with a managed network of more than 3,000 TikTok Shop creators. - The company said the capital will support continued expansion across social commerce and its creator-commerce infrastructure.

The details: - MediaLabs plans to invest in managed services for brands operating on TikTok Shop. - The company also plans to further integrate AI into its operations. - AI efforts will focus on creator-brand matching, performance analysis and creative production. - MediaLabs previously launched an affiliate network in 2023. - The founding team tested its creator-led approach by launching SEDLAK, a blue-light glasses brand, in May 2024. - SEDLAK has sold more than 18,000 units through TikTok Shop. - MediaLabs now works across TikTok Shop management, affiliate management, creator campaigns, paid advertising and live commerce. - The company recruits, maintains and trains its own creator community. - MediaLabs says that gives brands access to creators who are already active in its ecosystem. - The company currently manages more than 3,000 active creators. - MediaLabs estimates that about 700 connected creators are generating roughly $10 million in monthly gross merchandise value. - The broader creator network is estimated to generate substantially more. - MediaLabs plans to use the new capital to expand its platform and services while keeping a founder-led operating model.

Between the lines: - The SEDLAK launch served as a proof point for MediaLabs' model before the company scaled the agency business. - The company's approach differs from a typical influencer agency because it owns and trains part of the creator pipeline. - That structure could make creator-brand matching faster and campaigns more consistent, especially as TikTok Shop becomes more competitive. - Co-founder Lukas Minkov said the company aims to help creators build durable careers, not just run one-off campaigns. - Aidan Castillo, VP of Client Success, said the funding will help MediaLabs build the infrastructure needed to turn attention into sales more reliably.

What's next: - MediaLabs plans to expand its platform, services and AI capabilities with the new funding. - The company is likely to lean further into TikTok Shop and live commerce as social commerce spending grows. - MediaLabs will continue operating from Miami under a founder-led model.

The bottom line: - MediaLabs is using fresh capital to scale a creator-commerce model it has already tested in-market, with TikTok Shop at the center of the strategy.