Twenty-six years ago. I started working as a video editor for a straight boy jerk off website. Back then, internet connections were starting to get faster, allowing for videos to be streamed or downloaded (slowly).. Over the years, the company grew, the sites increased in number and my job evolved – content management, 2257 record keeper, assistant accountant, customer service… Over those years I saw how the industry evolved. I saw how much harder it was to find quality models as more and more people found success in filming their own content. I knew more and more people doing it and finally I started asking the question: “How do you find people to film with”?
The answers varied – but the one thing that was consistent was that for those just starting out, it took far more work and luck to find partners to collab with then it should. Heck, even some more popular people still had trouble. That’s when I started searching for a site or app that specialized in connecting these people. I found nothing. I was confused. Why? I decided that this was something I wanted to create for the content creator community. It took a lot of time to convince myself to take the risk, but I believed in it and ultimately said “Let’s do it”.
Fast forward to January 2026. My idea has taken shape and is in active development. I knew I wanted to launch this idea – this brand – at a convention and the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo sounded like the perfect place to do that. Ironically, I had never been to or was involved with the industry in this way. It just wasn’t something the company did. I didn’t know what to expect – what the convention was going to be like, the people, the reactions to my platform. I was going in blind but hopeful the idea would resonate with people.
The CollabGPS booth was set up the morning of the start of the convention. I was fortunate to have a couple good friends offer to come and help me out. I was intending to do it on my own, but I know having them there helped make the experience so much more manageable and positive.
Over those 4 days I was completely overwhelmed with the reaction to my platform. It wasn’t just the reactions themselves, but the people behind them… Coming up and talking to me – offering support, feedback, hugs, and even a couple “I’m so proud of you” moments. The biggest group on the show floor who seemed excited were the women. They really seemed to want something like this. To make their lives easier and provide a safer way for them to find partners to collab with. I had guys excited too – and a couple mentioning that if I brought the women “the men will follow”. I realized how much power and influence women in this industry have and I was thankful I tried to design my platform with everyone in mind (especially women). It really felt good to know that not only was this something they wanted, they liked my take on it. It was my goal from the beginning to approach this concept with the fact that sex workers are workers. That to the content creator community, this is their profession. Sure, many may do it casually, but to a lot of people it becomes their main source of income, or an important secondary income. I didn’t want to focus on the sex part of it – I wanted to focus on the idea that this is a profession just like any other. I came away from the convention now knowing what an incredible community this is. Full of positive, uplifting and supportive people. Everyone wants everyone to succeed and are willing to help make that a reality. I really do believe in CollabGPS and the possibility of building that
exact kind of community for content creators- to come together, collab and create more content which ultimately helps everyone. That’s the beauty of collaboration. I can’t wait to get the platform out there and work on bringing everyone together.
Ted (pictured here with Teddy!)
Owner
CollabGPS
