Brian Camelio – Founder
Brian Camelio founded ArtistShare in 2001, creating a comprehensive platform model that others would later call crowdfunding. After identifying a critical market problem, he developed a scalable platform solution that transformed how businesses engage audiences, monetize through community relationships, and significantly reduce market risk by securing funding prior to product completion.
Originally built to address the music industry’s peer-to-peer file-sharing crisis, this innovation also became the blueprint for platforms such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon. Since then, models based on this original platform have collectively facilitated billions in funding across multiple industries.
Conceived in 2001 and patented, the innovation remains commercially viable more than 20 years later.
The Web Foundation selected ArtistShare for the official World Wide Web 30th anniversary timeline, recognizing its contribution alongside Google, Twitter, and CERN. Brian also provided insights to the Canadian Heritage Copyright Policy Branch during copyright reform research.
He has shared his expertise on platform innovation and digital transformation at leading universities worldwide, including the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and NYU Law School.
A Grammy Award winner, he demonstrates proven ability to guide complex initiatives to successful outcomes across multiple industries.
Brian combines documented market creation experience with cross-sector innovation expertise to help clients achieve competitive advantage through platform strategy and business model innovation.
“That is exactly what was playing in the mind of Boston musician Brian Camelio when he founded ArtistShare, the world’s oldest crowdfunding website for creative professionals, in 2003. Following the immense success of this brave new idea, other websites soon followed suit, and crowdfunding became a full-fledged industry.”
~ Forbes, 2016
“He realized that one thing that couldn’t be downloaded was the creative process itself. His concept, then, was to try to capture that process and sell it.”
~ The Big Moo, Seth Godin and The Group of 33 , 2005
Key Achievements
Industry Creation | Conceived and developed the technology in 2001 that would spark an entire industry. Patent application filed in 2002, granted in 2011. The technology remains valuable today.
Institutional Recognition | The Web Foundation selected ArtistShare as part of the official World Wide Web 30th anniversary timeline, alongside contributions from Google, Twitter, CERN, and Cambridge University.
Government Advisory | Provided insights to the Canadian Heritage Copyright Policy Branch during copyright reform research.
Creative Industry Excellence | Grammy Award winner and consultant on many projects that later received Grammy awards and nominations, demonstrating his ability to guide projects across technology and creative industries.