Substack
Platform for writers & podcasters
- 1001+ employees
- B2C
- Publishing
- Digital Media
- The East Cut, San Francisco, CA
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Company mission
To give thinkers, writers, and creatives the opportunity to pursue their curiosity and make money at the same time.
62% employee growth in 12 months
Our take
Substack is an online platform for journalists and writers to manage subscription-based newsletters. It has attracted a range of users who wish to connect with their audiences in a different way to social media or ad-based models, and boasts more than 35 million subscribers.
For an industry that has seen a steady decline in its fortunes since the rise of digital, Substack is a breath of fresh air. It allows journalists to avoid the clickbait-heavy models that have dominated the last decade, and provides more freedom than its competitors. Users produce their newsletters on the site for free, charging an optional subscription fee of which Substack takes 10%.
The company continues to seek out ways to diversify its offerings, whilst securing funding rounds to expand its reach. It has also taken an outspoken approach to the AI-generated content that is taking over the internet. It already provides its users access to an AI-detection tool, and is exploring other features such as enabling users to opt out of seeing AI-generated content on their feeds altogether.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Benefits
- Company holidays and Winter shutdown - In addition to flexible time off, we honor 12 paid holidays annually on average. And we close the office between Christmas Eve and New Year's day to recharge each year
- Remote work support - All employees receive a generous allowance to customize their home offices
- Comprehensive health care - Substack covers 100% of premiums for employees and their dependents, and fully funds HRA plans
- Parental leave - We want employees to be fully present for the new members of their family, so we offer generous parental leave
- Flexible vacation and paid time off - You’re the best person to decide when you need a day—or a week—off to travel or decompress. Our flexible vacation policy puts you in control
- Phone & internet stipends - Many of our employees work from home or on the go. So we offer full time employees a monthly stipend to cover for phone and internet costs
Funding (last 2 of 7 rounds)
Jul 2025
$100m
SERIES C
Nov 2024
$10m
ANGEL
Total funding: $200.3m
This company has top investors
Leadership
Chris Best
(CEO & Co-Founder)After several software internships, they co-founded Kik Interactive in 2009, serving as CTO until 2017. At this stage, they founded Substack, and have served as CEO ever since.
Hamish McKenzie
(Chief Writing Officer & Co-Founder)Previously a journalist for several publications include The Independent and Time Out. Lead Writer for Tesla and Editorial Advisor to Kik Interactive.