

Building Substack: Reinventing Culture through Subscriptions
350 snips Jan 9, 2025
Chris Best, co-founder and CEO of Substack, shares insights on redefining media through email, a tech from 1971. He discusses Substack's remarkable rise to over 3 million paid subscribers and the shift creators are making from traditional platforms to direct audience connections. The conversation touches on navigating the impact of AI in media, emphasizing the importance of human authenticity. Best reflects on lessons from his previous venture, Kik, and highlights how Substack empowers creators to achieve financial independence and thrive in a changing landscape.
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Initial Rejection
- Andrew Chen initially rejected Substack's offer to host his blog.
- Years later, he approached Substack, recognizing its success and becoming an investor.
Kik's Origin
- Chris Best co-founded Kik, a messaging app, with Ted Livingston while in college.
- Initially, they built a music player for BlackBerry, then pivoted to messaging.
System Design's Impact
- Building a large online system teaches you about human nature and system design's impact.
- The same users can experience a platform as heaven or hell depending on its rules and incentives.