Inside

About Inside

Inside.com operates as a media company delivering news and insights through a network of email newsletters. The current iteration of the company was founded by serial entrepreneur and angel investor Jason Calacanis. This venture is distinct from the original Inside.com, a media and entertainment trade publication from the dot-com era that ceased operations in 2001.

Jason Calacanis began his career as a reporter covering the internet industry in the 1990s, founding the Silicon Alley Reporter to chronicle New York's tech scene. His entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding Weblogs, Inc., a blog network that was acquired by AOL. He is also a prolific angel investor with early stakes in successful startups like Uber, and is known for hosting the "This Week in Startups" and "All-In" podcasts. The creation of the new Inside.com was driven by Calacanis's desire to build a sustainable and profitable media business that is not solely reliant on advertising. The venture evolved from a previous mobile news app, also called Inside, after data showed low daily engagement, prompting a pivot to the email newsletter format.

The company's primary product is a portfolio of dozens of topical newsletters curated by human editors. These newsletters provide concise summaries of the most important news within specific industries, ranging from technology and venture capital to niche markets like cannabis and beer. The service targets a professional audience, with a significant portion of its readership holding director-level positions or higher, primarily in the United States. Revenue is generated through a diversified model that includes premium subscriptions, corporate partnerships, and advertising. The advertising options consist of in-newsletter ads and dedicated emails, which allow partners to send a full email explaining their product to Inside's readership. Premium subscribers receive more comprehensive content than free users. A unique aspect of their growth strategy is a Kickstarter-style model where readers can vote on which new newsletter topics the company should launch next.