How Do Morning Brew Founders Hire Top Media Talent?

TL;DR

Morning Brew founders Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief emphasize the importance of honest communication and objectivity in hiring top talent. They recruit writers who align with the brand's unique voice through specific skill assessments and leverage their passionate readership for recruitment. The founders also highlight the potential of social media for engagement and fundraising in building a multi-platform media company.

Transcript

a lot of partnerships you start to see them fall apart after a while um how have you guys evolved as partners over the years um because things typically change yeah i mean i would say that it's interesting because austin and i probably didn't not probably definitely didn't meet like most co-founders meet right like we didn't we didn't meet on uh on... Read More

Key Insights

• Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief met unconventionally and built a strong partnership by maintaining honesty and objectivity in their relationship.
• Morning Brew evolved from a simple newsletter to a multi-platform media brand with over three million subscribers, focusing on advertising as their primary revenue model.
• The founders emphasize the importance of hiring talented writers who can maintain the brand's unique voice, a challenging task due to the specific skills required.
• Morning Brew leverages its readership for recruitment, benefiting from a passionate audience interested in joining the team.
• Both founders are active on Twitter, finding it a valuable platform for engaging with their audience and other entrepreneurs, despite its addictive nature.
• Austin Rief launched a rolling fund through Twitter, leveraging the platform for fundraising and deal flow, highlighting the potential of social media in venture funding.
• The long-term vision for Morning Brew is to become a comprehensive media company that serves modern business leaders across multiple platforms and contexts.
• The founders are excited about the creator economy and the potential for new business models that support flexible, hybrid work environments post-COVID.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Alex and Austin meet and start working together?

Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief met in an unconventional way; Austin was a reader of the original Morning Brew and provided feedback on the product. Their partnership began as a project rather than a business, which allowed for a more relaxed approach to collaboration. They maintained a strong relationship through honesty, direct communication, and objectivity.

Q: What is the primary revenue model for Morning Brew?

Morning Brew primarily generates revenue through advertising across its various products, including the daily newsletter, B2B newsletters, and podcasts. The company focuses on providing high-quality content that attracts a dedicated audience, which in turn allows them to command high CPMs from advertisers.

Q: What challenges do the founders face in hiring for Morning Brew?

Hiring talented writers who can maintain Morning Brew's unique voice is a significant challenge. The brand requires writers with technical writing skills who can convey information in a quick-witted, conversational manner. This specific blend of skills makes finding suitable candidates difficult, and the company often recruits from its passionate readership.

Q: How do the founders utilize Twitter in their business strategy?

Both Alex and Austin are prolific on Twitter, using it to engage with their audience, network with other entrepreneurs, and even fundraise for ventures like Austin's rolling fund. They find Twitter valuable for its intellectual density and the opportunities it provides for connecting with smart, curious individuals.

Q: What is the long-term vision for Morning Brew?

The long-term vision for Morning Brew is to become a comprehensive media company that serves modern business leaders across multiple platforms and contexts. The founders aim to expand the company's reach and impact by providing content that addresses the biggest needs of business professionals, beyond just business news.

Q: What trends are the founders particularly excited about?

The founders are excited about the creator economy and the potential for new business models that empower individuals to create and work independently. They are also interested in the future of hybrid work environments and the businesses that will support flexible work arrangements post-COVID.

Q: Why did Austin Rief decide to launch a rolling fund?

Austin Rief launched a rolling fund to write larger checks for investments and leverage his Twitter presence for fundraising. The fund allows him to build in public, share his experiences, and engage with potential LPs. Despite the challenges of balancing fundraising and investing, Austin enjoys the process and the opportunities it presents.

Q: How does Morning Brew track revenue and manage operations?

Morning Brew uses standard startup tools like Google Sheets and Booster CRM to track revenue and manage operations. Despite the company's growth, they continue to rely on simple, effective tools that help them avoid overcomplicating processes and maintain efficiency in their business operations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Morning Brew's founders, Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief, discuss their unique partnership and how they grew the newsletter into a multi-platform media brand. They emphasize the importance of honest communication and objectivity in maintaining a strong co-founder relationship.

• The company generates revenue primarily through advertising and has expanded into various products, including B2B newsletters and podcasts. The founders highlight the challenges of hiring writers who can maintain the brand's unique voice and the benefits of recruiting from their passionate readership.

• Alex and Austin discuss their active presence on Twitter, which they use for engaging with audiences and fundraising. They share their vision for Morning Brew's future as a multi-platform media company and express interest in trends like the creator economy and hybrid work environments.