1440 News has become a rising star in the media landscape. What started as a newsletter sent to just 78 friends and family members has exploded into one of America’s fastest-growing private companies. The answer to who owns 1440 News is refreshingly simple – it’s an independent, employee-owned media company that has maintained its founding vision while expanding to reach millions.
As of November 2023, 1440 had over 3.2 million subscribers. The growth numbers tell quite a story – the company crossed the 3 million mark in late 2023, adding a million new readers in roughly a year. Their rapid expansion landed them at No. 79 on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list with a growth rate topping 5,500%. They also claimed the fourth spot among the fastest-growing private companies in the Midwest on the 2023 Inc. Regionals list.
Behind all this success stands a relatively small team – about 25 employees including the co-founders who still hold leadership roles. While 1440 has secured over $2.5 million in funding since its founding, the company remains primarily in the hands of its employees. Venture capital firms hold only minority stakes, allowing 1440 to preserve the independence that’s central to its identity.
This commitment to staying independent has helped 1440 build a solid reputation for impartiality in today’s polarized media world. Their approach clearly resonates with audiences and industry experts alike – in September 2023, they received the prestigious 1871’s Momentum Award, further validating their unique position in the news ecosystem.
Who Owns 1440 News?
Unlike traditional media outlets owned by large corporations or wealthy individuals, 1440 News operates with a different model. The company’s ownership centers around its three co-founders who still maintain active leadership roles. This independence sets 1440 apart in today’s media landscape.
Founders: Tim Huelskamp, Andrew Steigerwald, Pierre Lipton
1440 began in 2017 when three individuals with diverse backgrounds joined forces. Tim Huelskamp serves as CEO, bringing valuable venture capital experience from his previous role as Vice President at American Capital.
Andrew Steigerwald, a PhD scientist, takes on the crucial role of Editor-in-Chief. Pierre Lipton completes the founding trio as Chief Operating Officer—his achievements earned him a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
The team transformed what started as a modest newsletter for Steigerwald’s colleagues into a significant media operation. When you hear “1440,” it actually carries two meanings—it represents both the number of minutes in a day and the year the printing press was invented.
Ownership structure: Employee-owned with minor VC backing
1440’s ownership structure stands out in today’s media world. The company remains primarily employee-owned, with the founders and top management holding the majority stake. This arrangement gives the team real freedom to make editorial and operational decisions without answering to outside interests.
The company has secured over $2.5 million in funding since it started. However, venture capital firms like Cannon Capital and Mass Challenge hold only minority stakes in the business. Many digital media startups rely heavily on venture funding, but 1440’s limited external investment helps preserve its independent voice.
Beyond the three co-founders, several key executives also hold minority ownership positions:
- Aaron Enequist-Leiker (Head of Product and Design)
- Lauren Routt (Head of Social)
- Mike Rome (Chief Growth Officer)
- Amanda Black (Director of Brand Partnerships)
- Sony Kassam (Chief Content Officer)
- Mitchell Kapoor (VP of Product and Growth)
Clarifying ‘who owns 1440 newsletter’ vs. the company
When people ask who owns the 1440 newsletter, they’re really asking about the company itself. The newsletter is 1440 Media LLC’s primary product, produced and distributed by the same employee-owned company rather than being owned by a separate entity.
This integrated approach creates consistency throughout their operations. The employee ownership model also provides unique advantages for decision-making. As CEO Tim Huelskamp puts it, “We have the very rare privilege that if we want to launch a product, and it makes sense, and we all believe in it, we can go launch that product.”
Unlike media companies that must answer to external shareholders, 1440’s team can prioritize journalistic values rather than focusing solely on what investors want. This freedom shapes everything from their content choices to their growth strategy.
How 1440 News Was Built
The story of 1440 News started small in May 2017. Co-founders Tim Huelskamp and Andrew Steigerwald sent their first newsletter via a simple Google Doc to just 78 people – mostly friends and family members. They had a clear goal in mind: create a daily news briefing that would save readers from bouncing between dozens of different news sites.
From 78 subscribers to 4 million
Growth began organically through readers sharing with friends. By the second week, they’d reached 91 subscribers. The following week? 104. These modest but consistent gains validated their concept early on. The newsletter maintained an impressive 60%+ open rate from day one – a statistic they still achieve today.
The pace picked up significantly over time. The team added approximately 100,000 new subscribers monthly, reaching some impressive milestones along the way:
- 1.3 million daily readers by February 2022
- 3 million by November 2023
- 4 million by October 2023
The meaning behind the name ‘1440’
The name “1440” isn’t random – it carries two meanings that perfectly capture what the company stands for. First, it references 1440 as the year the printing press was invented, symbolizing how knowledge became accessible to everyday people. Second, there are exactly 1,440 minutes in a day, highlighting how the newsletter helps readers make each minute count by delivering news efficiently.
This clever double meaning came from co-founder Drew Steigerwald. The concept fully clicked for Huelskamp during a walk when he realized the minutes-in-a-day connection.
Bootstrapped beginnings and early growth
While largely bootstrapped, 1440 did secure some early revenue-based financing – $500,000 with a structure requiring them to pay back 5% of revenues until investors received 3x return. The team didn’t rush to scale, instead focusing intensely on refining their product during the first few quarters.
Their growth strategies evolved over time. Beyond organic word-of-mouth, they implemented cross-promotions with similarly-sized newsletters and eventually developed more sophisticated customer acquisition approaches. These tactics helped them grow consistently, even though advisors warned that their broad-focus approach to news wouldn’t work in today’s niche-driven media landscape.
Inside 1440’s Editorial Process
The secret to 1440’s rapid growth isn’t just about who owns it—it’s about how they approach news delivery.
At the heart of 1440 News’s success is an editorial process built to deliver factual information without bias. The founders have created what they call a “nutritional label for news”—a system that prioritizes objectivity above all else.
No opinion pieces or emotional language
If you’ve ever read 1440, you’ve probably noticed something missing—loaded language. The editorial team strictly avoids opinion pieces and emotional terms. You won’t find words like “shocking,” “outrageous,” or “devastating” that might influence how you feel about a story.
This approach extends to political descriptions too. Unlike many news sources, 1440 doesn’t use partisan labels such as “far-right” or “ultra-liberal” in their reporting. The reason is simple: they believe readers deserve news without unnecessary commentary.
Fact-checking and source curation
How does 1440 ensure balanced coverage?
The team draws from a diverse range of sources:
- Major news outlets (CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal)
- Alternative sources (Axios, Politico, The Hill)
- International perspectives (BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters)
Each morning briefing goes through multiple layers of fact-checking before it reaches your inbox. Stories must meet specific criteria regarding relevance, timeliness, and public interest. The team actively works against echo chamber reporting by confirming information across multiple sources with different political leanings.
Editorial team structure and workflow
Under Andrew Steigerwald’s leadership as Editor-in-Chief, the editorial operation runs with precision. The process starts with overnight editors tracking breaking news and compiling initial reports. Day editors then refine the content, focusing on clarity and accuracy.
Their workflow follows a consistent pattern:
- Story selection beginning around 3 AM
- Multiple editorial review rounds
- Final approval by senior editors
- Distribution to subscribers by 6 AM Eastern time
This streamlined approach enables 1440’s small team to produce high-quality content that millions of readers now rely on to start their day. The editorial process represents a return to news fundamentals—focusing on facts rather than opinions—that clearly resonates with today’s readers.
How 1440 Makes Money
Behind 1440’s rapid growth is a surprisingly straightforward business model. Their approach to generating revenue aligns perfectly with their editorial philosophy – clean, effective, and without unnecessary complications.
Primary revenue from advertising
Advertising makes up over 95% of 1440’s total income. Unlike many digital publications that cram their content with ads, 1440 takes a more measured approach. Their daily newsletter contains just two direct-sold advertisements, carefully positioned within the digest. This strategy preserves the reading experience while still driving significant revenue.
The numbers show how effective this model is. 1440 generates over $1 million in revenue per employee. With a team of approximately 15 people, that suggests annual revenue exceeding $15 million – impressive for a company that’s still relatively young in the media landscape.
What makes this work is their exceptional email engagement. The newsletter maintains a 60% open rate, far above industry averages. This translates to about 5 cents earned per opened email. When you do the math, that’s roughly 75 cents per subscriber monthly (based on sending 25 emails monthly with readers typically opening 15 of them). Advertisers clearly see the value – the average ad pulls in around 20,000 clicks each day.
Other income: donations, affiliate, events
While advertising is the main money-maker, 1440 has wisely diversified its revenue streams. Thousands of readers have opted to become premium subscribers at $10 monthly, largely because they believe in the publication’s mission. These reader donations may represent a small percentage of total income, but they provide a meaningful foundation.
The company takes a calculated approach to growth, investing about $1 million monthly on user acquisition through social media. This strategy helps them add approximately 260,000 new subscribers each month, fueling their continued expansion.
Ad vetting and brand partnerships
1440 stands apart from many media outlets by maintaining strict standards for the advertisements they accept. The team personally reviews all potential ads before publishing, ensuring they align with the same factual, straightforward approach that defines their news content.
Their advertiser mix is telling – about half come from financial services, with the remainder split between wellness brands and consumer packaged goods. This selection reflects their audience: intellectually curious readers from across the political spectrum who value substantive content.
The employee ownership structure gives 1440 a significant advantage here. Without pressure from external shareholders demanding ever-increasing profits, the team can prioritize ad quality over quantity, preserving their reputation for trustworthiness while building a sustainable business.
Conclusion
The story of 1440 News shows us what’s possible when a small team sticks to a clear vision.
From just 78 subscribers to over 4 million readers, this employee-owned media company has found a sweet spot in how Americans consume their morning news. Their independence isn’t just a business structure – it’s the backbone of their entire approach to journalism.
Unlike traditional news organizations controlled by media conglomerates or billionaire owners, 1440 remains primarily in the hands of its founders and employees. This ownership model gives them the freedom to focus on what matters most: delivering unbiased news rather than pleasing shareholders.
The company’s rapid rise tells us something important about today’s news consumers – people are hungry for straightforward information without the emotional language and political slant. Their “nutritional label for news” approach clearly connects with readers across the political spectrum who simply want to stay informed without the commentary.
Their business model is just as impressive as their editorial standards. Generating over $1 million in revenue per employee through carefully selected advertising shows remarkable efficiency. Pair that with their consistent 60% open rate, and you can see why their approach to news delivery works on multiple levels.
Though relatively new to the media landscape, 1440 has already changed how millions of Americans start their day. By honoring those 1,440 minutes we all have each day, they’ve earned their place in modern journalism – proving that sometimes, the simplest approach is exactly what readers want.
FAQs
Q1. Is 1440 News an independent media company?
Yes, 1440 News is an independent, employee-owned media company. It was founded by Tim Huelskamp, Andrew Steigerwald, and Pierre Lipton, and has grown from 78 initial subscribers to over 4 million readers while maintaining editorial independence.
Q2. How does 1440 News ensure unbiased reporting?
1440 News has a strict editorial process that prohibits opinion pieces and emotional language. They use diverse sources for fact-checking, avoid partisan phrases, and focus on delivering factual information without unnecessary commentary.
Q3. What is the significance of the name “1440”?
The name “1440” has dual meaning. It refers to the year the printing press was invented (1440), symbolizing the democratization of knowledge. It also represents the number of minutes in a day, highlighting the newsletter’s goal of efficient news consumption.
Q4. How does 1440 News generate revenue?
Over 95% of 1440’s income comes from advertising. They include two carefully vetted advertisements per daily newsletter. Additional revenue streams include premium subscriptions, reader donations, and affiliate partnerships.
Q5. What sets 1440 News apart from traditional news outlets?
1440 News distinguishes itself through its employee-owned structure, commitment to unbiased reporting, and efficient news delivery model. They’ve achieved rapid growth and high engagement rates (60% open rate) by focusing on factual, comprehensive news without political slant.