While most OnlyFans alternatives compete on lower fees or looser content rules, one platform incubated at Harvard is trying a different pitch entirely: give creators a literal stake in the company. MintStars, founded in 2021 and developed through Harvard Innovation Labs, has quietly built a model where creators collectively own 20% of the business — split according to revenue, referrals and activity on the platform.
What is MintStars?
MintStars is a subscription-based content platform positioning itself as a direct OnlyFans competitor, currently reporting around 10,000 creators and 32,000 fans — a fraction of OnlyFans’ scale, but a meaningful test case for an alternative business model. The platform is led by CEO Daniel Sargent and team lead Allie Eve Knox, with backing from investors including P2 Ventures, Escape Velocity and AGE.
The co-ownership model, explained
The headline feature is equity. MintStars has structured creator co-ownership so that a 20% slice of the company is divided among creators based on a mix of factors, rather than sitting entirely with founders and investors. Cofounder Jessica Van Meir has previously argued this isn’t a radical experiment so much as a practical fix to a structural problem: creators generate nearly all the value on these platforms but typically hold none of the upside if the business itself grows in value.
It’s worth being clear-eyed about what this means in practice. Equity in a private company is illiquid, its value is speculative until there’s an exit or buyout, and the mechanics of how individual creators’ shares are calculated and vested haven’t been published in detail. This is a promising structure on paper, not a guaranteed payout.
How the fees compare
On day-to-day economics, MintStars says it takes a smaller commission than OnlyFans’ standard 20% cut, and shifts payment processing fees onto subscribers rather than deducting them from creator earnings. Smaller creators reportedly earn in the low hundreds of pounds monthly, while top accounts can clear five figures — a spread that will sound familiar to anyone who’s read the earnings breakdowns for larger platforms.
Should creators consider it?
A smaller platform means a smaller existing fan base to tap into, so MintStars is unlikely to replace OnlyFans as a primary income source for most creators any time soon. But as a secondary platform, it fits a pattern we’ve covered before: creators increasingly hedge platform risk by maintaining a presence on more than one site rather than relying on a single algorithm, policy team or payment processor.
- It’s a genuine alternative worth test-driving alongside, not instead of, an established platform.
- Treat the ownership stake as a long-term, uncertain bonus rather than a reason to migrate your whole business.
- Compare actual take-home fees against your current platform before committing meaningful time to building an audience there.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Anyone considering equity-based platform terms should review the specific contractual documents and, where the value involved is significant, speak to an independent financial adviser.
For a fuller breakdown of how the major platforms stack up on fees and payout terms, see our comparison of OnlyFans, Fansly and Fanvue, and our guide to why creators are diversifying beyond one platform in 2026.
