Built on the belief that everyday people influence real decisions.

Hummingbirds exists to help brands grow through
authentic, place-based word of mouth — powered by
everyday people, not influencers.

A message from our founder

Hummingbirds started with a simple observation: people trust people more than ads.

Long before creator marketing became a $500B industry, I watched small businesses in Des Moines struggle to reach modern consumers — still buying billboards and radio ads while social media exploded around them.

Organic content was happening. Word of mouth was working. It just wasn’t being built with intention. I believed there had to be a better way.

So I started experimenting—asking friends to post about local businesses they genuinely cared about.

The impact was immediate and measurable: more foot traffic, more orders, stronger connection.

It was scrappy. Fully manual. And undeniable.

That’s when the question became impossible to ignore: 
What if community-powered marketing could scale?

Today, Hummingbirds supports creators and brands at meaningful scale—without losing the community-first approach that built it.

50K+
Registered users
75K
Pieces of UGC in
past 12 months
60+
Creator communities in major markets

Where we're going

We're building the future of word-of-mouth—intentionally. That means:

  • Discovery that's both intelligent and human

  • Tools that make sharing brands effortless

  • A creator community built for longevity, not churn

  • A platform designed to feel intuitive, useful, and trusted

This vision doesn't feel speculative. It feels earned.

Because when real people use their real voices, results follow.

What we believe

Community is our superpower.

Hummingbirds aren't users — they're real people shaping the world around them.

Persistence is our fuel.

Hundreds of no's. Years of education. Constant iteration. We kept going.

Authenticity wins — always.

Everyday people earn trust in ways ads never will.

Evolution is non-negotiable.

We honor our local roots while scaling nationally — never at the expense of community.

Care is a competitive advantage.

We lead with clarity, support, and respect — for creators, brands, and each other.

Humans matter most.

Wellbeing, curiosity, collaboration, and care shape this company as much as growth metrics.

Women-founded. Women-led.

As Iowa-based founders, we bring deep experience in community building, local marketing, and scaling technology companies—with care at the center.

Emily Steele

Meet Emily Steele

Co-Founder & CEO

A decade of experience building hyper-local brands and leading a people-powered marketing agency.

Emily Steele

Meet Charise Flynn

Co-Founder & COO

Two decades scaling tech companies, leading distributed teams, and raising venture capital.

Hummingbirds is
ultimately about trust

What started as everyday people sharing cookies on Instagram has grown into a platform reshaping how brands earn attention.

Now, you’re part of what comes next.

‍Welcome to Hummingbirds.