How I Built This with Guy Raz Substack: Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie
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May 12, 2025 
Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie, co-founders of Substack, aim to transform the writing landscape by enabling writers to connect directly with their audiences for financial support. They share their hurdles in launching the platform amidst skepticism, while also detailing their evolution from past ventures like Kik. Topics include the balance of creativity and technology, and the cultural shift in media during the COVID-19 pandemic that has empowered numerous independent voices. They also touch on strategic lessons learned and the unexpected nature of entrepreneurship.
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Early Skepticism of Substack
- Chris Best faced skepticism when pitching Substack's model of paid internet subscriptions for writers.
- People doubted anyone would pay for online content, reacting with blank stares or pity.
Building Kik Messenger
- Chris Best and Ted Livingston started by building a music app for BlackBerry but shifted to a messaging app.
- Their messaging app, Kik, quickly exploded and grew rapidly among users, especially teenagers.
Prepping Chris for TV Interviews
- Hamish McKenzie helped Chris Best prepare for media appearances at Kik, including nervous TV interviews.
- An 8 a.m. beer helped Chris loosen up for a Squawk Box interview, which went very well.