Build a greetform that turns new newsletter subscribers into data, leads, and offers, https://greetform.com/
Ken Jee built Austin Founders Feed into a newsletter for Austin founders and entrepreneurs, growing it to approximately 6,500 subscribers by the time of this recording.
After years of creating data science content on YouTube, Ken is now focused on local media, newsletter growth, community-building, and AI-resilient businesses in Austin.
In this Local Media HQ interview, Ken walks through how Austin Founders Feed grew through Meta ads, organic community campaigns, founder interviews, sponsorships, and a local business directory.
He explains why partnered expert columns can outperform traditional ad placements, how the directory became a source of warm sponsorship leads, and why real-world relationships are becoming more valuable as AI makes content easier to commoditize.
Ken also shares his plans for the Austin Creator Brief, a newsletter agency for content creators, creator-focused events, and a potential physical space for Austin’s creator economy.
Ken’s guiding principle is that local media should create win-win relationships by investing in the community before asking for anything in return.
Chapters
00:00 The vision for a physical creator space in Austin
09:09 How Austin Founders Feed's business directory works
13:56 Why monetizing a newsletter requires sales
16:03 Ad break
16:54 Choosing sponsorships that create real value
21:48 Ken's advice for building and nurturing community
28:05 Using Luma to grow local events
30:06 Final thoughts on relationships, community, and AI
Guest Links
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjee/Austin Founders Feed: https://www.austinfoundersfeed.com/Austin Creator Brief: https://austincreatorbrief.com/AI Survival Guide: https://ai-survival-guide.beehiiv.com/The Growth Account: https://the-growth-account.beehiiv.com/
Work with me: https://www.localmediahq.com/
Discord: https://discord.localmediahq.com/
TJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1
TJ on X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23
TJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin
#LocalMedia #Entrepreneurship #NewsletterGrowth #CommunityBuilding #AustinFoundersFeed #CreatorEconomy #NewsletterMonetization #CommunityEvents #KenJee #LocalMediaHQ