The Social Radars Founder Mode: Chris Best, Founder & CEO, Substack
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Sep 4, 2025 
Join Chris Best, the founder and CEO of Substack, as he shares the platform's compelling origin story and his encounters with Elon Musk. He delves into the birth of a newsletter model aimed at empowering independent creators and contrasts the unique mindset of founders with that of hired managers. Chris reflects on the challenges of navigating digital landscapes, including censorship and changing social media dynamics, while emphasizing persistence and core values like free speech. Discover the diverse user base that makes Substack a vibrant space for podcasters and writers alike!
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Manifesto Led To A Working Prototype
- Chris and Hamish wrote a manifesto and built a simple blogging platform to host it instead of using someone else's software.
- That prototype attracted a writer who wanted paid newsletters, which sparked Substack's first real use case.
First Customer Made Instant Revenue
- Their first big customer, Bill Bishop, launched a paid newsletter and made ~ $100k his first day after moving to Substack.
- That early success convinced the founders they might be onto something and boosted YC interview confidence.
A Clear Long-Term North Star
- Substack's north star was a long-term vision: build a new economic engine for culture that empowers independent creators.
- That vision guided product choices and justified investments that short-term managers might abandon.