Ted Buras Built the LinkedIn for Creators: What He Revealed

Emily Brown · 2026-09-13

Ted Buras didn't set out to build a networking platform. He just got tired of the chaos. After years working behind the camera, Buras stepped in front of it himself. That's when he hit a wall every independent creator knows too well: finding legit collaborators, vetting partners, and organizing shoots across social platforms that seem to change the rules every other week. So he built CollabGPS — a tool that's been called the "LinkedIn for content creators." He recently sat down with host Amanda Thickk on *In the Thickk of It* to talk about all of it. And honestly, the conversation went way deeper than the app. ### Why Creator Safety Keeps Coming Up If you've spent any time in the adult content space, you know the headaches. Shadowbanning that nobody explains. Verification hoops that feel designed to trip you up. And a constant pressure to stay professional while the platforms themselves act anything but. Buras gets into all of it on the episode — model releases, 2257 documentation, the works. These aren't just paperwork. They're the difference between building something sustainable and getting wiped out by a policy change you never saw coming. "We talked about why I built CollabGPS, what I learned when I stepped in front of the camera myself, and how becoming a dad changed the way I think about risk and the future," Buras said. ### The Personal Side Nobody Expects The interview doesn't stay in business mode for long. Buras opens up about becoming more comfortable with his sexuality later in life. About shifting from deeply risk-averse to actually betting on his own ideas. And about the balancing act of raising his six-year-old son while building something from scratch. That last part hits different when you realize how much of entrepreneurship is just managing fear. Becoming a parent, Buras says, rewired how he thinks about what's worth risking and what isn't. ### What's Next: Joystiq and Beyond CollabGPS isn't the only thing on Buras's plate. He also teased Joystiq, an LGBTQ-focused social and hookup platform he's developing. The pitch? An alternative to corporate-owned apps that actually puts community first — and directs part of its success back into the LGBTQ community. It's a vision that feels increasingly rare in a landscape dominated by platforms answering to shareholders instead of users. Here's what the episode covers: - The real frustrations that sparked CollabGPS - Shadowbanning and what creators can actually do about it - Why 2257 documentation matters more than most people think - Buras's plans to expand CollabGPS beyond adult content - The personal story behind Joystiq and its community-first model Whether you're a creator, a founder, or just someone trying to figure out how to build something that matters, this conversation has something for you. It's not often you hear someone talk this openly about the messy intersection of business, identity, and parenthood. You can catch the full interview on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and Spotify. For more on CollabGPS, check out CollabGPS.com or follow along on X, Instagram, and TikTok. Sometimes the best platforms come from the people who got fed up with the old ones. Ted Buras might just be proof of that.