[JasonCEC]

>This article is about the rise of middleman agency platforms to connect brands to internet celeberties with a following.

I found the articles thesis more general, that many more individuals want to become paid influencers, and the lower acceptance rate of middleman agencies as proof that the supply of want-to-be influencers has increased.

>You want to help brands reach consumers.

I am the CEO of AFS, but my company works on flavor profile development of new and existing products - deep R&D of flavor, aroma, and texture optimization. This is far upstream of marketing and branding which we are uninvolved with.