New Jersey continues to emerge as a force in the national technology landscape, and one of the clearest examples is unfolding in Newark. Pocstock, a rising global content and data company headquartered in the city, has launched a groundbreaking partnership with Fanbase, the fast-growing social media platform known for empowering creators to earn from their work. Together, the two companies are embarking on a multi-year collaboration designed to reshape how artificial intelligence learns—and who benefits from that process.
The partnership, exclusive for the next three years, centers on a simple but transformative concept: creators on Fanbase can now earn money when their publicly shared content is used to help train pocstock’s AI models. Unlike traditional platforms where user content fuels algorithms without any direct compensation, this initiative establishes a system of transparency, consent, and value sharing. It creates a model in which people contribute to the future of AI and receive recognition and payment for doing so.
For pocstock, the alliance reinforces its mission to diversify the visual and cultural data that powers modern technology. For Fanbase, it aligns with its core philosophy—ensuring creators participate meaningfully in the digital economy they help shape. The collaboration also arrives as conversations about algorithmic fairness intensify. Bias in AI models continues to draw national concern, often resulting from datasets that exclude or underrepresent entire communities. Pocstock and Fanbase aim to counter that trend by prioritizing ethically sourced content from a diverse user base.
Steve Jones, founder and CEO of pocstock, emphasized that the partnership opens the door for creators to play a direct role in shaping the AI systems that influence modern culture. He noted that participants will be able to opt out if they choose, preserving autonomy while broadening opportunities for those who want to engage. Fanbase founder and CEO Isaac Hayes III echoed the sentiment, describing the collaboration as an extension of the platform’s dedication to cultural value, fairness, and creator empowerment.
The timing of the partnership aligns with rapid growth for both companies. Fanbase, now at 1.4 million users, saw a 35% jump in its community in 2023 and continues to expand its features, reach, and revenue channels. Pocstock, meanwhile, celebrated its fifth anniversary and the opening of its advanced Newark headquarters last year. The company has raised $1.6 million in seed funding, partnered with Audible through its Business Attraction Program, and launched a significant crowdfunding initiative to accelerate its mission of ensuring equity in stock photography, marketing, advertising, and AI training data.
Ahead of its latest crowdfunding deadline, pocstock has attracted more than $242,000 from over 160 investors, with an additional private fundraising round underway as it seeks up to $5 million in new capital by early 2026. Fanbase, already surpassing $4 million raised, is on track toward a substantially larger funding milestone as it scales its platform into new markets.
For New Jersey’s innovation economy, this partnership reflects the state’s growing role in the national dialogue around ethical technology and inclusive digital transformation. It showcases Newark as a thriving hub where tech-driven startups, social enterprises, and creative communities intersect to influence the future of AI, content creation, and user rights. Readers interested in the latest developments in AI, digital media, and the expanding tech ecosystem across the state can explore more coverage in our section on technology and tech innovation.
As AI becomes more deeply integrated into daily life—from the content people see online to the tools companies use to make decisions—New Jersey’s homegrown companies are demonstrating how innovation can align with fairness, representation, and creator-driven value. Pocstock and Fanbase’s partnership marks a meaningful step toward building AI systems that reflect the people they serve, while ensuring the future of technology is developed with communities, not just corporations, at the center.
