Full-Time
Posted on 9/4/2025
Digital publishing platform with subscription monetization
$175k - $215k/yr
San Francisco, CA, USA
In Person
This position is based at the San Francisco headquarters.
Substack is a digital publishing platform that lets writers and creators publish and distribute content through newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and videos, while enabling monetization through subscriptions. Creators can set their own monthly fees (roughly $5–$27); Substack handles billing, payments, and technical administration, so creators can focus on producing content. The platform also includes a built‑in marketing network that helps grow subscriber lists by leveraging Substack’s user base. Substack monetizes by taking a percentage of creators’ subscription revenue, aligning its success with that of its creators. Compared with competitors, Substack combines direct-to-reader monetization with comprehensive administrative and marketing support in one platform, reducing friction for creators. Its goal is to help writers and other creators earn sustainable income directly from their audience by providing the tools to manage and grow subscriptions.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Series C
Total Funding
$200.2M
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
2017
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Company Equity
Beehiiv is launching podcast hosting and monetisation features as newsletter platforms compete for creator loyalty. The company aims to offer a unified service for publishing, audio, email and video, challenging independent podcasters' reliance on multiple platforms. Beehiiv is positioning itself against Substack by emphasising its flat-fee model over Substack's revenue-sharing approach. CEO Tyler Denk has criticised Substack's expansion into social networking and television as attempts to lock in creators, describing some moves as "dark". Substack has dismissed the competitive threat. Co-founder Hamish McKenzie said in February that he views Beehiiv as "fellow travelers" in empowering creators rather than competitors. The platform has largely ignored Beehiiv's criticism whilst expanding its own features. Both companies, alongside Patreon, are racing to build comprehensive creator platforms as the market consolidates.
Substack has launched the Substack Recording Studio, a built-in tool for creators to pre-record and publish videos directly on the platform. Available only on desktop, the studio supports solo videos and conversations with up to two guests, offering custom watermarks, screen sharing and auto-generated clips and thumbnails. The company said creators using audio or video in the past 90 days grew revenue 50% faster than those who haven't. Substack has been expanding beyond newsletters into multimedia, having introduced video uploads in 2022, livestreaming monetisation last year, and a $20 million Creator Accelerator Fund. The platform recently launched TV apps for Apple TV and Google TV, featuring a TikTok-style "For You" recommendation row, capitalising on growing demand for long-form video content on television screens.
Substack has launched a beta TV app for Apple TV and Google TV, allowing subscribers to watch video posts and livestreams from creators on the platform. The app features a TikTok-like "For You" row highlighting recommended videos, with access based on subscription tiers. The move represents Substack's continued push into video, following the launch of video posts in 2022, monetisation capabilities in 2024, and a TikTok-like feed in March 2025. Future updates will include audio posts, enhanced search features and in-app subscription upgrades. However, the announcement has drawn criticism from users. Top comments on Substack's blog post urged the platform not to abandon its focus on writing, with one stating: "This is not YouTube. Elevate the written word.
Nikki Macdonald's article discusses Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack, a newsletter subscription platform that recently raised $100 million. McKenzie, a former Tesla writer, aims to transform journalism by allowing writers to connect directly with readers. Despite concerns over Substack's hands-off moderation, McKenzie believes it offers a better model than social media. The article also touches on McKenzie's past experiences, including his time at Tesla and a personal tragedy that shaped his outlook.
Substack, the popular newsletter platform that empowers independent writers and creators, has officially rolled out in-app purchases (IAP) for its iOS app, allowing users to subscribe to paid newsletters directly through Apple's payment system.