Launchd, a leader in talent, technology and brand partnerships, has announced its acquisition of influencer talent management agency Huume from IZEA. The move comes as the media landscape continues to shift away from traditional channels, with brands increasingly turning to creators and influencers for marketing, brand alignment and direct-to-consumer engagement.

By bringing Huume into its growing portfolio, Launchd is deepening its ability to connect talent and brands through content creation and influencer-led campaigns. It marks a strategic step forward in Launchd’s mission to amplify human influence for both commercial and community impact.

Founded by entrepreneur and digital creator Mikhailla Fitzgerald, Huume has built a strong reputation for managing impact-driven talent in the content creation space. Huume brings a high-touch approach to talent management, shaped by Mikhailla’s personal journey and a deeply engaged digital audience. It currently manages a portfolio of 43 influencers, including: Georgie & Zac, Tash Invests, Steph Pase, Katie Lolas and Tara Pavlovic.

The acquisition marks another milestone in Launchd’s mission to combine human creativity and evolving technology for talent, brands and rights holders, in setting the standard for smarter, performance-driven partnerships.

“We did our research and knew we wanted to approach IZEA about an acquisition of  Mikhailla and the Huume team, as they bring an incredible depth of value, creative instinct and emotional intelligence to the talent industry,” said Launchd CEO James Begley.

“These days, clients require talent across the sporting, entertainment and influencer landscapes. For us to best serve our client needs, we at Launchd realised that Huume adds capability in a segment that we didn’t have a presence in.”

Huume will be fully integrated into Launchd’s national operations, joining a portfolio of specialist companies including Pickstar, ICMI and W Sports & Media. With more than 70 team members across five Australian cities, Launchd is now one of the most comprehensive talent and technology businesses in the Southern Hemisphere for brands and rights holders engaging with athletes, creators and media personalities.

Fitzgerald, who founded Huume after personally exploring the talent space and building a close-knit motherhood creator community and accumulating followers through sharing her personal story of loss and resilience, said the acquisition reflects a shared vision.

“Huume was always about connection. Creating content that moves people, because it’s made by people who care deeply,” said Fitzgerald.

“To now be part of a larger vision at Launchd, one that values storytelling, talent, and community as much as we do, is incredibly exciting. We’re ready to help more brands build deeper, more human relationships with their audiences.”

Backed by institutional investors Altor Capital and a high-profile investor group including Adam Gilchrist, Lleyton Hewitt, and Cate Campbell, Launchd is scaling rapidly across Australia and New Zealand. Global expansion plans are already in motion.

The Huume acquisition further positions Launchd as a first mover in the emerging "influence as a service" category. Launchd combines technology, talent, and creative services to deliver end-to-end marketing results with measurable impact.