Curated & Edited by

🇺🇸 United States Cybersecurity & Trust The Product Alchemist 🎓 Distinguished Engineering & Leadership Alum 📍 San Francisco, CA

Hamish McKenzie

Co-Founder & Chief Writing Officer of Substack | Former Tesla Biographer

Personal Site ↗ YouTube Channel X / Twitter LinkedIn

“Writers shouldn’t have to beg social media algorithms for pennies. They should own their audience outright.”

— Hamish McKenzie

PSYCHOLOGICAL ARCHETYPE • The Product Alchemist

OPERATING DNA

Taste purist and design obsessive dedicated to crafting intuitive, emotionally resonant human-computer interfaces that feel like magic.

FOUNDER CHRONICLE

The Founder Journey

Otago English Literature to Technology Journalism

Born in New Zealand, Hamish McKenzie studied English literature at the University of Otago. He worked as a journalist in Hong Kong before moving to San Francisco to write for tech publication PandoDaily.

Lead Writer at Tesla

In 2014, McKenzie was hired by Elon Musk as lead writer at Tesla, later authoring "Insane Mode," the definitive account of Tesla’s breakthrough electric vehicle revolution.

Co-Founding Substack

Partnering with Chris Best and Jairaj Sethi, McKenzie brought deep editorial empathy to Substack’s design, recruiting marquee authors and advocating for the reader-supported publishing renaissance.

VENTURE PORTFOLIO

Companies & Brands Founded

Substack

Co-Founder & Chief Writing Officer of Substack

Official Site →

Substack makes it simple for writers and creators to publish directly to paying subscribers.

Founded: 2017

Stage: Series B

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

MEDIA & VIDEO CHANNEL

Hamish McKenzie on YouTube

Original founder video breakdowns, keynote presentations, and interviews documenting company growth and industry transformation.

Watch on YouTube ↗

CAPITAL ALLOCATION • ECOSYSTEM BETS

Ventures, Ecosystem & Angel Bets

Strategic ecosystem bets, enterprise divisions, and high-conviction ventures expanding the founder's industrial footprint.

Independent Press Fund

Journalism

★ Trustee

VERIFIED FACTS

Frequently Asked Questions about Hamish McKenzie

Who is Hamish McKenzie and what companies did they build?

Hamish McKenzie is a United States entrepreneur and Co-Founder & Chief Writing Officer of Substack | Former Tesla Biographer based in San Francisco, CA, United States. They are widely celebrated as the primary builder behind Substack.

What is Hamish McKenzie's net worth?

Hamish McKenzie's exact personal net worth is privately held and not publicly disclosed. Their primary financial value is tied to their equity in Substack.

What is Hamish McKenzie's leadership philosophy and operating archetype?

Hamish McKenzie embodies the The Product Alchemist archetype on Limitless Founders, characterized by high-conviction decision-making, operational discipline, and relentless execution across pivotal markets.

What startups and sectors has Hamish McKenzie backed as an investor?

Hamish McKenzie has deployed strategic angel capital into early-stage market challengers, with verified portfolio bets including Independent Press Fund.

What is Hamish McKenzie's core advice for ambitious founders?

Hamish McKenzie advocates for first-principles rigor, summarized by their defining thesis: "Writers shouldn’t have to beg social media algorithms for pennies. They should own their audience outright."

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