Maisie Williams, better known as Arya Stark to Game of Thrones fans, achieved fame and popularity from the HBO show. She is not only a gifted actor but also a creative genius. The actress is doing wonders in the field of tech with her innovative start-up company.
Williams co-founded her start-up with film producer Dom Santry back in 2017. The actress worked hard while filming for her role in the show, and attending the meetings for her company. Her platform aims to dissolve a big issue that hampers the growth of artists in Hollywood and promote inclusivity.
A stark contrast: Shift from Westeros to Tech
Maisie Williams is known for bringing the character of Arya Stark to life in Game of Thrones. But few fans know that the actress is equally talented in the tech field, where she has been making waves since 2017. While filming for her parts on the HBO show, the actress also made tweaks to her start-up plan.
When I was shooting, Dom and I would have to FaceTime at 11 p.m. So many huge decisions were made over FaceTime. When I finished the show, I went straight to the office, every day, until we launched our MVP.
She told AngelList in 2019 (as per Nicki Swift) that a lot of work for her platform was done during the shooting of the final season of GOT. Along with co-founder Dom Santry, she aimed to launch a platform for artists and creative enthusiasts.
We get how hard it is to break into the creative industry and we’re fired up to make it easier and better for everyone.
One issue that plagues new artists in Hollywood is the lack of networks and complicated connectivity. With her platform, Daisie, the actress wishes to eradicate this huge hurdle and make entry into the industry easier.
A platform for all: How Daisie might revolutionize the industry
With her start-up, Daisie, The New Mutants star aspires to change the way creatives connect and succeed in Tinsel Town. People may use the site, almost like social media, to connect and share their ‘projects’. The site states- ‘Daisie is where people find their people, get inspired, and make real progress together’.
This talent discovery app made immense growth; only on the 11th day of its release, Daisie gained 100.000 members. According to TechCrunch, it also acquired $2.5 million in seed funding in 2019. Founders Fund led the round, contributing $1.5 million among other investors.
Instead of [creators] having to market themselves to fit someone else’s idea of what their job would be, they can let their art speak for themselves.
The GOT actress spoke in an interview with TechCrunch about her motive when she first introduced Daisie. The app is creator-centric and thus eradicates the middleman in the industry. By removing the follower count system, the actress made sure to eliminate ‘popularity contests’.
As of 2024, the company’s profile shows the app is still functioning and ranked 36th amongst 1770 competitors (as per Tracxn). With several hurdles still in the way, the creators are trying their best to rectify them and help the members in any way possible. Hopefully, Williams’ dreams come true and her app manages to change the way artists get hired in the industry.
