Jimmy's Jobs of the Future Hamish McKenzie | The Future of Media & Substack with its Co-Founder
Sep 9, 2025
Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack and a media entrepreneur, dives into the platform's transformative impact on publishing. He discusses Substack's impressive growth with over 5 million paid subscriptions, the shift to multi-format content including audio and video, and the vital role AI may play in future media. Hamish also touches on the challenges of scaling in the UK, the importance of creator control over income, and how Substack aims to reshape journalism and free expression in a rapidly evolving landscape.
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Substack's Scale And Economic Impact
- Substack has grown to more than 5 million paid subscriptions and tens of millions of active subscriptions.
- Over 50 publishers now make more than a million dollars a year on the platform.
UK Market Strength And Subscription Framing
- The UK is Substack's second-largest market with many successful local publishers.
- Paying subscriptions are framed as votes for culture, not tipping, which supports ongoing creator income.
Founders' Bootstrap And Rapid Funding
- Hamish funded early Substack months partly from an inheritance passed through his family.
- The founders then entered Y Combinator and raised a seed round before later taking a large, rapid a16z investment.
