The Long Story with Simon Owens cover image

The Long Story with Simon Owens

How Tim Burrowes helped build Mumbrella into a $7 million media brand

Aug 21, 2024
Tim Burrowes, co-founder of the renowned media brand Mumbrella, discusses his journey from traditional journalism to digital innovation. He shares how Mumbrella quickly gained traction with a lively comment section and industry events that raked in millions. Tim explains the strategic decisions behind selling the brand and dives into his latest venture, Unmade, emphasizing the power of Substack and an email-first approach. He also addresses the current challenges of launching media companies in a saturated market, highlighting the need for unique content and audience engagement.
56:04

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Tim Burrowes co-founded Mumbrella in response to frustrations with print media's neglect of online publishing, rapidly building it into a major industry platform.
  • After selling Mumbrella, Burrowes launched Unmade, focusing on unique content and leveraging a newsletter model to adapt to a competitive media landscape.

Deep dives

Frustration with Traditional Media

Tim Burroughs discusses his early career in journalism, highlighting his frustration with traditional print media’s approach to digital publishing. He noted that during the mid-2000s, many journalists faced a similar discontentment as their employers prioritized print while neglecting online growth. This dissatisfaction motivated him to co-found Mumbrella in 2008, aiming to create a platform that embraced digital content with a focus on the media industry. His experience in various types of journalism, including local newspapers and B2B publications, equipped him with valuable skills to launch a successful online venture.

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