How to Monetize Knowledge Through AI?

The creator economy market is valued at more than $250 billion and continues to grow at double-digit rates. Globally, there are over 200 million creators, yet only a small fraction meaningfully monetize their expertise. At the intersection of artificial intelligence and the knowledge economy, a new model is emerging. One of the leading players is Pick My Brain, founded by entrepreneur Sergey Verbitskiy.

From Unicorn to Personal AI

Verbitskiy, originally from Estonia and now based in Silicon Valley, has built multiple companies with annual revenues exceeding €10 million; one, he notes, reached unicorn status. After exiting, he launched his family office and began investing, but, as he emphasizes, he remains “an entrepreneur at heart.”

Three years ago — before the launch of ChatGPT — he asked how individual expertise could be turned into a scalable digital asset. The answer was Pick My Brain: a knowledge monetization platform where an expert’s content fuels the creation of a personalized AI assistant.

How Pick My Brain Works

Experts upload their interviews, articles, books, podcasts, and social posts. The platform transcribes and structures this material to build an AI profile.

The assistant is available 24/7, responds in any language, and always cites the original source, explains Verbitskiy.

The defining feature is customization: tone, style, and manner of communication. This ensures the assistant replicates the expert’s authentic voice rather than sounding generic.

Monetization models include:

• Membership subscriptions (from $10 to $100 and above);
• Paid Q&A sessions (from $100 to $10,000);
• Donations and appreciation-based support.

Pick My Brain generates revenue from expert subscriptions for advanced functionality (from €25/month) and a 20% commission on paid services within the profile.

Competitive Positioning in AI and Creator Economy

The platform operates at the crossroads of personalized AI tools (e.g., Character.AI, Delphi) and creator monetization services (Patreon, link-in-bio tools). Unlike more complex solutions, Pick My Brain is designed for simplicity and scalability: experts can set up a profile in minutes and integrate it into their existing digital presence.

We combine technology and authenticity. Any expert can start working with AI immediately, without technical hurdles, says Verbitskiy.

Growth Pipeline and Celebrity Impact

Pick My Brain focuses on experts with audiences above 100,000 followers — those who already have a strong content base and engaged communities. According to Verbitskiy, the pipeline includes both Russian and international creators, as well as ongoing negotiations with global celebrities.

To illustrate potential, he cites a hypothetical example: if just 0.3% of Kim Kardashian’s followers subscribed to her AI profile at $10 per month, the revenue could reach $166 million annually — “with minimal time investment from her team.”

The company also leverages an ambassador model: when experts share their Pick My Brain profiles on social media, their audiences join organically, reducing marketing spend and boosting credibility.

Market Benchmarks and Fact-Checking

Benchmark cases include Character.AI, reported in the media with a $2.5 billion valuation, and Delphi. It is critical to distinguish between verifiable market data and unconfirmed negotiations: celebrity deals should be referenced only as quotes until finalized.

Business Model and Fundraising

Until 2025, Pick My Brain was fully self-funded, with Verbitskiy investing more than €3 million of his own capital. The company is now conducting a €1.8 million pre-seed round, with commitments already secured from entrepreneurs with notable exits. The goal: accelerate scaling after achieving product–market fit and signal market validation for institutional investors.

According to Verbitskiy, the platform aims to reach $5 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in the coming years, driven by subscriptions, commissions, and high-profile partnerships.

Why Pick My Brain Matters

Social media algorithms bury content within days, forcing experts to repeat themselves. Pick My Brain solves this by structuring knowledge, preserving its longevity, and transforming it into a monetizable asset that operates without the expert’s constant involvement.

For me, this project has been the work of the past three and a half years. Its mission is larger than business: we are building the infrastructure that enables knowledge to work for people, concludes Verbitskiy.

If you'd like to dive deeper into the investment logic behind PickMyBrain — and hear CEO's vision firsthand — you can watch the full recording of our private session at the link below. Please note: the discussion is conducted in Russian. Link