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Yehong Zhu’s story is a blend of journalism, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit. A Harvard graduate, she began as a business reporter at Forbes, uncovering market trends, before transitioning to Product Manager at Twitter, where she bridged media and tech.
Now, as the founder of Zette, a Silicon Valley startup tackling paywall fatigue, Yehong is reimagining how we access quality journalism. Backed by $3 million in funding, Zette is on a mission to make premium content simple to access and pay for — benefiting both readers and publishers alike.
🔗 Find Yehong on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter
Some takeaways from Yehong’s interview:
1️⃣ Solve real problems with innovation
Yehong tackled digital media’s toughest challenge, monetisation, by creating Zette, a win-win solution for publishers and readers.
2️⃣ Resilience drives success
Launching Zette during a global pandemic wasn’t easy, but Yehong’s adaptability and grit kept her vision on track.
3️⃣ Iterate, refine, repeat
Yehong champions an iterative approach in product development and pitching, ensuring continuous growth and market fit.
4️⃣ Think global, hire global
Building an international team gave Zette access to diverse skills and perspectives, fuelling its growth.
5️⃣ Leadership with balance
Yehong’s leadership style prioritises team well-being and sustainable practices, laying the foundation for long-term success.
📖 Yehong’s book recommendations
Anti-Fragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb — A deep dive into thriving amidst chaos, inspired Yehong’s resilience-first approach to entrepreneurship.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel — A must-read for creating groundbreaking startups, offering strategies for building value and innovation from scratch.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries — The ultimate playbook for efficient startup growth, with an emphasis on iteration, learning, and adaptability.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius — Timeless stoic wisdom to stay composed and focused during life’s challenges, a key principle in Yehong’s leadership.
The Enchiridion by Epictetus — Bite-sized stoic insights for balancing personal growth with professional purpose, a staple in Yehong’s philosophy.
In this episode we cover:
00:00 Introduction to Yehong Zhu
03:14 The Intersection of Media and Technology
07:50 The Birth of Zette During the Pandemic
10:43 Fundraising Insights and Challenges
17:22 The Importance of Resilience in Startups
23:09 The Future of Media Consumption and Paywalls
33:38 Subscription Fatigue and the Future of News
37:45 The Role of Google in the Publishing Industry
42:00 Challenges in User Adoption of Zette
46:13 AI's Impact on Search and Google's Future
50:57 The Entrepreneurial Journey and Personal Sacrifices
01:00:07 Books That Shape an Entrepreneur's Mindset
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