The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: The Future of Subscription Media, Why Startups Need To Stop Blaming Facebook and Google & How Founders Should Think Through Customer Acquisition Channel Dependencies with Alex Mather, Founder & CEO @ The Athletic
Jul 10, 2020
In this insightful chat, Alex Mather, Founder and CEO of The Athletic, discusses his transition from a pre-med background to leading a subscription-based sports media revolution. He shares lessons learned from scaling his team and evolving as a leader, influenced by becoming a parent. Alex reveals his approach to fundraising in 2016, the misconceptions investors have about media, and his vision for the future of the industry. He also addresses the competitive landscape, including platforms like Substack, and emphasizes the importance of authentic communication and innovative strategies.
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Strava to The Athletic
- Alex Mather was employee number seven at Strava, focusing on product.
- This experience made him passionate about subscriptions and led him to found The Athletic.
Focus and Inclusivity
- Focus on a few key objectives instead of pursuing every interesting idea.
- Prioritize inclusivity to broaden your target audience.
Rapid UK Expansion
- The Athletic leveraged its capital and agility to expand into the UK quickly.
- They hired 55 people in 119 days and gained over 100,000 subscribers in a year.
