A content creator has publicly alleged that Velo, the fast-growing social app gaining visibility through Product Hunt, failed to pay for sponsored content delivered as part of a brand partnership earlier this year.
According to the creator, who chose to remain anonymous, the agreement involved producing short-form promotional videos for Instagram and TikTok in exchange for payment to be issued immediately after publication. The creator says the content was delivered on time, approved, and posted according to the agreed campaign schedule.
The payment, however, allegedly never arrived.
The creator claims that after following up, representatives from Velo acknowledged the delay and stated that payment was being processed. Two weeks later, the invoice remained unpaid. Since then, the creator says repeated attempts to contact the company through email, Instagram direct messages, and TikTok have gone unanswered.
The creator also alleged that messages sent directly to Velo co-founders Ajay Kumar and Sourav Sanyal were ignored after the content went live.
“The sponsored posts remain live and continue benefiting the brand, while the invoice remains outstanding,” the creator said in a written statement shared online.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and there is currently no public indication that the experience reflects how Velo handles all creator partnerships. The creator emphasized that the account represents a personal experience rather than a broader accusation against the company as a whole.
Still, the situation has renewed discussion around a recurring issue within the influencer marketing industry: creators delivering content before securing stronger payment protections.
Industry professionals often advise creators to formalize partnerships through signed contracts, require partial upfront payment, and include clauses allowing sponsored posts to be removed if invoices are not paid within a specified period. Documentation of all communication, including payment assurances made after deadlines pass, is also widely recommended.
The creator behind the allegations encouraged others who may have had similar experiences with Velo to come forward privately and stated that efforts to resolve the matter directly with the company remain ongoing.
Velo has not publicly responded to the allegations, and neither Ajay Kumar nor Sourav Sanyal have issued public statements regarding the matter.
