Startup Stories - Mixergy #2274 1440: $20+mil / year newsletter
20 snips
Apr 29, 2025 Tim Huelskamp, co-founder of 1440, a thriving daily newsletter with over 4 million subscribers, shares his journey from a failed startup to a booming business. He discusses innovative financing strategies that allowed 1440 to grow without traditional funding. The conversation also delves into the future of email newsletters and their role in attracting busy professionals seeking unbiased news. Tim reflects on the importance of user feedback and design choices in boosting retention and profitability, highlighting the balance between passion and sustainable growth.
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Broad Newsletter White Space
- Going broad instead of niche in newsletters fills a unique market for intellectually curious people wanting a shallow but wide knowledge of the world.
- Tim's insight is that many successful newsletters are niche, but there's a white space for a wide, fact-focused daily news digest.
Failed Prior Startup Lessons
- Tim Huelskamp shared how his prior business "When in Rome" failed due to upside-down unit economics and high customer acquisition costs.
- Despite good product-market fit, it was unsustainable to scale because customers were too expensive to acquire for the revenue generated.
Validate Newsletters Early
- Start small and iterate fast by sending early versions of your newsletter to friends for feedback.
- Use engagement metrics like open rates and organic growth as quick signals of product-market fit.