Jairaj Sethi

Nah but seriously, check out Jairaj Sethi, this dude’s the real deal in the tech startup world. So, he’s the CTO and co-founder of Substack, the platform that’s totally shaking up how writers monetize their work. Basically, he jumped into this thing back in March 2018, right after rolling with YC’s W18 batch. That’s a legit stamp, YC doesn’t just take anyone, and that says a lot about his talent and vision.

Before all that, Jairaj was deep in the trenches at Kik Interactive, the chat app everyone used before TikTok and all that. Dude was there for almost six years, Head of Platform and Principal Developer, so he’s got serious chops in building expandable tech. That background gave him the skills and hustle needed to build something new, something independent, like Substack.

What’s wild is his backstory. He’s from Canada, studied math at Waterloo, smart guy, no doubt. But he’s not one to chase the spotlight. Nah, he’s pretty private, rarely making noise or being in the media. That’s kinda rare for someone at his level, but it kinda makes sense, he’s all about the work, not the clout. Still, he’s been advising other startups, like Untether Labs and Homecoming, showing he’s got that entrepreneurial mind and wants to help others grow.

His process screams one thing: he’s all about building tools that enable creators, giving them the freedom to make a living doing what they love. That’s why Substack’s such a big deal, it’s a platform for independent writers to thrive, not just publish. And Jairaj’s tech skills? They’re the backbone, making sure the platform is smooth, reliable, and expandable as hell.

Bottom line: Jairaj Sethi is one of those quietly genius founders who’s been through the trenches, knows how to build killer tech, and cares about enabling creators more than anything. His story’s about turning skills into something that actually changes the game, and he’s just getting started. No Cap.