AI-Powered Statusphere Elevates Brands With $18 Million Funding Round

Forbes Business

by Sharon Edelson, Senior Contributor

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

AI-Powered Statusphere Elevates Brands With $18 Million Funding Round Kristen Wiley, founder and CEO of Statusphere, has announced a significant milestone for her company: an $18 million Series A funding round led by Volition. This investment underscores the growing demand for AI-driven solutions in influencer marketing, as Statusphere helps brands scale their partnerships with micro-influencers to achieve greater reach and engagement. Statusphere specializes in leveraging AI to identify and connect brands with micro-influencers who align perfectly with their target audience. By automating the process of discovering and activating these niche influencers, Statusphere enables businesses to streamline their influencer marketing strategies while maximizing ROI. The new funding will be used to expand the company’s capabilities, enhance its technology platform, and accelerate growth in key markets. The rise of micro-influencers has created a unique opportunity for brands to connect with highly engaged audiences in authentic ways. Traditional influencer marketing often focuses on macro-influencers with massive followings, but these partnerships can be costly and less targeted. Micro-influencers, on the other hand, tend to have smaller but highly dedicated audiences, making them more effective for

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Originally published on Forbes Business on 2/24/2026