How to Find Creators to Collaborate With (And Actually Get a Response)

Collaborations are one of the fastest ways to grow as a creator. You tap into someone else's audience, they tap into yours, and both of you end up with content that's more interesting than what you'd make alone.

But here's the problem: finding the right person to collaborate with is harder than it sounds.

You can't just DM a random creator with "hey wanna collab?" and expect anything to happen. Most creators get dozens of these messages and ignore almost all of them. And even if someone does respond, there's no guarantee you're actually a good fit for each other.

This guide breaks down how to find creators who make sense for your content, how to check if they're actually a good match, and how to reach out in a way that gets responses — whether you're an established creator or just getting started.

Why Most Creators Struggle to Find Collaborators

Before getting into the how, it helps to understand why this is difficult in the first place.

The size gap problem. Creators with bigger audiences get flooded with collab requests. Creators with smaller audiences feel like they have nothing to offer. Both sides end up stuck — the big creators ignore everyone, and the small creators don't reach out at all.

The platform silo problem. Most creators only think about collaborating within their own platform. YouTubers look for other YouTubers. Streamers look for other streamers. But some of the best collabs happen across platforms — a podcaster interviewing a YouTuber, a TikToker doing a stream with a Twitch creator. Limiting yourself to one platform limits your options.

The "what would we even do?" problem. A lot of creators want to collaborate but have no idea what the actual collab would look like. So they never reach out because they don't have a concrete idea to pitch.

The discoverability problem. There's no central place where creators go to find each other. You're left scrolling through social media, hoping to stumble onto someone who might be a good fit. It's inefficient and exhausting.

Once you understand these problems, you can work around them.

What If You're Starting From Zero?

Most collaboration advice assumes you already have a channel. You've got videos, subscribers, something to show. But what if you don't?

What if you want to start a channel but don't want to do it alone?

This is something nobody talks about, but it's more common than you'd think. Maybe you've got ideas but hate being on camera. Maybe you can edit but don't want to be the face of a channel. Maybe you just know that having a partner would make the whole process more fun and sustainable.

The problem is there's no obvious place to find these people. You can't exactly post "looking for someone to start a YouTube channel with" on Twitter without feeling weird about it.

But this is a legitimate path. Some of the biggest channels started as partnerships:

Rhett and Link built a media empire together
The Try Guys started as a group
Countless podcasts exist because two people decided to make something together

Starting with a partner has real advantages:

You stay accountable. It's easy to quit when it's just you. When someone else is counting on you, you show up.

You fill each other's gaps. One person might be great on camera, the other great at editing. One brings ideas, the other brings structure. Partnerships let you cover more ground.

It's less lonely. Creating content can be isolating. Having someone to share the wins (and the frustrations) makes the whole journey better.

You grow faster. Two people promoting content, two networks, two perspectives. The math just works better.

The challenge is finding the right person. You need someone whose skills complement yours, whose schedule works with yours, and whose vision aligns with what you want to build.

This isn't something you figure out from a single DM exchange. It takes real conversation — what do you both want to create? How often can you commit? Who handles what? What happens if one person wants to quit?

These are the conversations that matter before you record a single video.

If you already have a channel and want to do one-off collabs, the rest of this guide covers that process in detail. But if you're looking for a creative partner to build something with from scratch, know that you're not alone — and there are ways to find your person.

Step 1: Get Clear on What You're Looking For

Before you start searching, figure out what kind of collaboration you actually want. This sounds obvious, but most creators skip it and end up wasting time talking to people who were never a good fit.

Ask yourself:

Do you want someone to appear in your content, or do you want to appear in theirs?
Are you looking for a one-time thing or an ongoing relationship?
Do you want someone in your exact niche, or someone in an adjacent niche?
Does audience size matter to you, or are you open to working with creators at any level?
Are you looking for a content collab, or more of a skill exchange (like a designer helping with thumbnails in exchange for a shoutout)?
Or are you looking for a co-founder — someone to build a channel with from day one?

Your answers shape where you look and who you reach out to.

For example, if you want to appear on podcasts as a guest, you're looking for podcast hosts in your niche who regularly feature guests. That's a very different search than looking for another gaming YouTuber to do a versus video with. And both are different from looking for a long-term creative partner.

Step 2: Where to Actually Find Creators

Here's where most people go wrong. They open Twitter, type their niche into the search bar, and scroll aimlessly. That works sometimes, but it's slow and random.

Better approaches:

YouTube search (for YouTube collabs)

Search for videos in your niche, but pay attention to the smaller channels. Sort by upload date to find active creators. Check channels with 1,000 to 50,000 subscribers — they're big enough to have real audiences but small enough to actually respond to you.

Look at who's making content similar to yours, but also look at adjacent niches. If you make videos about productivity, consider reaching out to creators who cover tech reviews, studying tips, or career advice. Your audiences probably overlap.

Podcast directories (for podcast guesting)

If you want to be a guest on podcasts, go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and search your niche. Make a list of shows that regularly have guests. Check their episode frequency — a show that publishes weekly needs more guests than one that publishes monthly.

Listen to a few episodes before reaching out. This helps you understand the show's format and gives you something specific to reference in your pitch.

Twitch and streaming platforms

Browse categories related to your content. Look at streamers who are live right now and check their viewer counts. The 20-200 concurrent viewer range is often the sweet spot for finding people who are active and engaged but not so big that they're impossible to reach.

Watch their streams for a bit. Get a sense of their personality and content style. This matters more for streaming collabs than almost any other format because the chemistry has to work in real-time.

TikTok and short-form platforms

Use hashtags and the search function to find creators in your space. Pay attention to engagement rates, not just follower counts. A creator with 50,000 followers and great engagement is usually a better collab partner than someone with 500,000 followers and dead comments.

Twitter/X

Follow creators in your niche and pay attention to who they interact with. Quote tweets, replies, and conversations reveal the actual community around your niche. Many collabs start from genuine interactions on Twitter before anyone sends a formal pitch.

Discord servers

Many niches have Discord communities where creators hang out. These aren't always easy to find, but when you do find them, they're goldmines. Creators in Discord servers are usually more accessible and more open to collaboration because they're already in community-building mode.

Creator collaboration platforms

Some platforms exist specifically to connect creators for collabs. These range from basic directories to more active matching services. The advantage is that everyone on these platforms is explicitly looking to collaborate, which removes a lot of the friction. This is especially useful if you're starting from scratch and looking for a creative partner — you need a place where that's a normal thing to ask for.

Step 3: How to Evaluate Potential Collaborators

Finding creators is one thing. Finding the right creators is another.

Here's what to check before reaching out:

Content quality. Watch or listen to their recent content. Is it good? Would you be proud to be associated with it? If their content is sloppy or low-effort, that reflects on you too.

Audience overlap. Their audience should care about what you do. If you make cooking content and they make gaming content, there's probably not enough overlap — unless there's a specific angle that bridges the gap.

Engagement. Check their comments and interactions. Do they respond to their audience? Is there actual discussion, or just spam and empty praise? High engagement usually means an active, loyal audience.

Consistency. How often do they post? Someone who uploads once every three months might not be reliable for a collab. Someone who posts daily might be so busy that adding a collab is a burden.

Vibe. This is subjective but important. Do you actually like them? Would you enjoy spending time working with them? Collabs require communication and coordination. If their personality puts you off, the process will be painful.

History. Have they done collabs before? Check their channel for past collaborations. If they've done several, that's a good sign — they understand the process and value working with others.

If you're looking for a long-term creative partner rather than a one-off collab, dig deeper. Look at their values, how they handle feedback, and whether their long-term goals align with yours. A co-founder relationship is more like a business partnership than a casual collab.

Step 4: How to Reach Out (And Actually Get a Response)

Here's where most creators blow it. They send generic messages that get ignored.

The key to getting responses is making it clear that you've done your homework and that the collab benefits both of you.

Where to reach out:

Email is best for YouTube creators (usually in their About section)
DMs work for Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok
Discord if you're both in the same server
Business inquiries page if they have one

What to include in your message:

Who you are. One sentence. Your name, your channel (or what you're trying to build), what you make or want to make.
Why them specifically. Reference something specific about their content. Not "I love your videos" but "Your video on [specific topic] made me think about [specific thing]." This proves you've actually watched their stuff.
The idea. Be concrete. Not "we should collab sometime" but "I think we could do a video where we [specific concept]." Give them something to react to. If you're looking for a creative partner, be upfront about that too — "I'm looking for someone to start a channel with" is a valid pitch if you frame it right.
What's in it for them. Why should they say yes? What do they get out of it? Be honest about your audience size (or lack of one), but also highlight what you bring — your skills, your unique angle, your commitment.
Easy next step. Make it simple to say yes. "If you're interested, I'm free to jump on a quick call this week" or "Let me know if you'd want to try this and I can send more details."

Example outreach message (for established creators):

Hey [Name],

I'm [Your Name] — I run a channel about [your niche] with about [X] subscribers.

I just watched your video on [specific video] and really liked how you explained [specific thing]. It actually gave me an idea.

I've been wanting to do a video about [topic], and I think it could work really well as a collab. The concept would be [brief explanation of the idea]. I think your audience would be into it because [reason], and mine would too because [reason].

If that sounds interesting, I'd love to chat more about it. Totally understand if your schedule's packed right now — just thought it was worth reaching out.

[Your name]
[Link to your channel]

Example outreach message (for finding a creative partner):

Hey [Name],

I'm [Your Name]. I've been watching your content for a while and really like your style, especially [specific thing].

This might be a different kind of message than you usually get, but here goes: I'm looking for someone to start a [type of channel/podcast] with. I've got [what you bring — ideas, editing skills, equipment, time, etc.] but I don't want to do it solo.

Your content and vibe made me think we might be a good fit. If you've ever thought about building something with a partner, I'd love to chat and see if our ideas align.

No pressure if it's not your thing — I know it's a bigger ask than a typical collab. But if it sounds interesting, let me know.

[Your name]
[Link to any relevant work or social profile]

What NOT to do:

Don't send a generic "hey let's collab" with no specifics
Don't write an essay — keep it short enough to read in under a minute
Don't pretend you're bigger than you are
Don't follow up aggressively if they don't respond
Don't take it personally if they say no or don't reply

Step 5: Following Up (Without Being Annoying)

A lot of creators don't respond to the first message. That doesn't mean they're not interested — they might have missed it, gotten busy, or meant to reply later and forgot.

One follow-up after 5-7 days is fine. Keep it short:

Hey [Name], just floating this back up in case it got buried. No pressure either way — just let me know if you'd be interested or if the timing doesn't work.

If they don't respond after that, move on. Don't send a third message. Respect their silence.

Step 6: Making the Collab Actually Happen

Once someone says yes, the work begins.

Set expectations early. Who's editing? Who's posting? When does it go live? How will you promote it? Get this sorted before you start creating.

Communicate regularly. Collabs fall apart because people stop talking. Keep the momentum going with regular check-ins, even if they're short.

Be flexible. Things change. Schedules shift. Ideas evolve. The creators who are easy to work with are the ones who adapt without drama.

Deliver on time. If you said you'd send something by Tuesday, send it by Tuesday. Being reliable makes people want to work with you again.

Promote their stuff too. When the collab goes live, promote it like you'd promote your own content. They're watching how much effort you put in. If you go all-out, they'll remember that for next time.

The Long Game: Building Relationships, Not Just Collabs

One-off collabs are fine, but the real value comes from ongoing relationships.

The creators who grow fastest through collaboration aren't just chasing individual collabs — they're building a network. They're the person who always comments on other creators' videos. They're in the group chats. They're sharing opportunities, giving feedback, and supporting others without expecting anything immediate in return.

This takes time, but it compounds. After a year of being genuinely active in your creator community, opportunities start coming to you instead of you having to chase them.

Finding Collaborators Doesn't Have to Be This Hard

The process outlined above works, but it's time-consuming. You're searching across multiple platforms, evaluating creators manually, sending cold outreach, and hoping for responses.

And if you're starting from scratch — looking for a creative partner to build something with, not just a one-off collab — it's even harder. Where do you even post that? How do you find someone who wants the same thing?

That's exactly why we built ONUNDI.

ONUNDI is a platform that connects creators across YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, podcasts, and more — all in one place. Whether you're looking for a guest spot, a content collab, a skill exchange, or a co-founder to build a channel with from day one, you can find them here.

Instead of hunting through social media and sending cold DMs, you can:

Discover creators who are actively looking to collaborate — or to build something new
Filter by platform, niche, and availability to find the right match
See what skills creators offer and what they're looking for — content collabs, guest spots, skill exchanges, or creative partnerships
Connect directly without the guesswork

Everyone on ONUNDI is there because they want to collaborate. No more wondering if someone's open to it. No more shouting into the void. No more feeling weird about asking if someone wants to start a channel together.

If you're serious about finding your next collab partner — or your first one — check out ONUNDI and start connecting today.