Find Out When Substack Was Founded and Its History

Substack was founded in 2017 by Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie. It's a platform that allows writers and publishers to create and sell their own newsletters.

Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie had a vision to create a space where writers could connect directly with their readers and monetize their content.

Substack started as a small startup and has since grown into a popular platform with thousands of paid newsletters.

Substack was founded in 2017 by Chris Best, Jairaj Sethi, and Hamish McKenzie.

The idea for Substack was inspired by Ben Thompson's Stratechery, a subscription-based tech and media newsletter. This shows that the founders were looking for a way to create a platform that would allow writers to connect directly with their readers.

Substack quickly gained popularity among writers who were frustrated with traditional media's reliance on clicks and social media's echo chambers. This was particularly true for journalists, thought leaders, and creatives who wanted to produce quality work for an audience willing to pay for it.

By 2019, Substack had added support for podcasts and discussion threads among newsletter subscribers. This expanded the platform's capabilities and made it more appealing to a wider range of content creators.

By November 2021, Substack had more than 500,000 paying subscribers, representing over one million subscriptions. This was a significant milestone for the platform, demonstrating its growing popularity and success.

In January 2022, Substack began private beta testing of video functionality on its platform. This marked a new phase in the platform's development, as it sought to expand its offerings and capabilities.

In April 2023, Elon Musk spoke with Substack's leadership about purchasing the platform, but his offer was rejected. This was a notable event, as it highlighted the platform's value and the interest of major players in the tech industry.

By April 2024, Substack had partnered with Spotify to enable podcasters to distribute episodes on both platforms. This partnership marked a significant expansion of the platform's capabilities and its reach in the podcasting space.

In June 2024, Substack announced a year-long development initiative for TikTok creators called Creator Studio. This initiative demonstrated the platform's commitment to supporting creators and its willingness to adapt to changing market trends.

By March 2025, Substack had announced that it had 5 million paid subscriptions. This was a significant milestone, marking a major increase in the platform's user base and revenue.

Intriguing read: How Do Substack Subscriptions Work

Substack was founded on May 1, 2017, in San Francisco, California.

The company was founded by Chris Best, Jairaj Sethi, and Hamish McKenzie. They started as a newsletter platform and quickly gained traction.

Substack received its first seed funding round on May 1, 2018, raising $2 million. This helped the company grow and expand its features.

The first paid newsletter, Sinocism, was launched on October 18, 2017, by Bill Bishop on Substack. This marked an important milestone for the platform.

Substack has seen significant growth in paid subscriptions, with notable milestones including:

The platform has continued to evolve, with new features and tools being introduced regularly.

Substack's Evolution was a deliberate departure from the traditional content economy, where writers had to rely on clicks and social media for validation. This shift was a response to the increasing frustration among writers with the way traditional media was operating.

In 2017, Substack was founded by a visionary who recognized the need for a platform that would allow writers to own their lists and content, charge subscriptions, and interact directly with their readers. This was more than a business model; it was a rebellion against the status quo.

Substack quickly gained popularity among writers who were disillusioned with the hollow echo chambers of social media and the emphasis on clicks in traditional media. It also attracted thought leaders, analysts, and creatives who valued quality work and direct interaction with their audience.

The platform's human-driven, subscription-based model offered a refreshing alternative to the AI-generated content and clickbait that was flooding mainstream platforms. This approach resonated with readers who were tired of wading through a swamp of auto-generated articles.