Substack CEO Chris Best: "You can't define success as 'no one is ever mad at us.'"
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The CEO of this app on the challenges that face early stage founders
Substack CEO Chris Best: "You can't define success as 'no one is ever mad at us.'" The CEO of this app on the challenges that face early stage founders a16z speedrun Feb 12, 2026 38 1 5 Share Chris Best is the CEO and cofounder of Substack, a platform you’re likely aware of. In a fireside chat with a16z speedrun GP Andrew Chen, Chris shares his founding story, discusses how to navigate controversy, and makes the case that having strong values matters more than pleasing everyone. Watch the full talk: Our top takeaways below 👇 1) Look for missionaries, not mercenaries Best traces Substack’s ori
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