# Nathan Barry

> Nathan Barry is the founder and CEO of Kit (formerly ConvertKit), a $45M+ ARR bootstrapped email marketing and creator platform serving 60,000+ creators. A former self-taught designer who dropped out of Boise State, Barry built ConvertKit from $0 to a $200M valuation without a dollar of venture capital, turned down a $200M acquisition from Spotify, wrote viral frameworks like 'The Ladders of Wealth Creation,' and is now building Kit as the operating system for the creator economy while also flying a Cirrus SR22T, farming, and investing in a historic ghost town.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
- **Organizations:** Kit (formerly ConvertKit), Paperboy, From Boise (newsletter), Cerro Gordo (investor)
- **From:** Boise, Idaho, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Dropped out (graphic design/marketing), Boise State University
- **Known for:** Built Kit (ConvertKit) from $0 to $45M+ ARR with zero venture capital, Turned down $200M acquisition offer from Spotify in 2021, Company valued at $200M in secondary sale (2022)

## Career timeline

- **~2006** — Taught himself web and graphic design; got parents to buy Photoshop Elements at age 15
- **~2007** — Landed $10,000 freelance web project at age 17 while still in high school
- **2008** — Dropped out of Boise State; freelancing full-time; went to South Africa for 5 weeks
- **2009** — Accepted full-time job at $50K/year; tasked with designing iPad app after iPad launch
- **2011** — Launched OneVoice app (AAC for nonverbal individuals) - earned $30,000+ profit in first 20 months; quit day job in October
- **2012** — Published The App Design Handbook - earned $36,297 on launch day; blog growing rapidly
- **2012** — December 31: Announced 'The Web App Challenge' - build SaaS to $5K MRR in 6 months
- **2013** — January: Secured convertkit.com domain for under $10; began building ConvertKit
- **2013** — Published Authority book on building a business through self-publishing
- **2013** — July: Hit only $2,480 MRR - challenge 'failed' on original timeline
- **2014** — Revenue slumped to $1,330/month; pivoted to direct sales - personally migrating customers from Mailchimp
- **2014** — October: Quit all other businesses to focus full-time on ConvertKit at ~$1,000/month revenue
- **2015** — Hit original $5,000 MRR goal - 26 months after setting it; rapid growth via direct sales
- **2018** — March: Acquired seva.com for $310,000 for planned rebrand; July: rebrand announced then reversed due to Sikh community concerns
- **2018** — July: Co-purchased Cerro Gordo ghost town for $1.4M (10 investors)
- **2021** — Turned down ~$200M acquisition offer from Spotify to stay independent
- **2022** — Company valued at $200M in secondary sale; ~$33.5M ARR
- **2023** — Acquired SparkLoop (newsletter referral platform); launched Creator Network; ~$41M ARR
- **2023** — September: Purchased Cirrus SR22T aircraft; began flight training
- **2024** — June: Announced ConvertKit rebrand to Kit; March: obtained private pilot license
- **2024** — October: Kit.com officially launches; 60,000+ paying creators; ~$46M ARR
- **2024** — Opened Kit Studios in downtown Boise; launched Creator Flywheels course ($107K initial revenue)
- **2025** — Targeting $50M+ ARR; expanding Kit Studios to Chicago and more cities

## Achievements

- Built Kit (ConvertKit) from $0 to $45M+ ARR with zero venture capital
- Turned down $200M acquisition offer from Spotify in 2021
- Company valued at $200M in secondary sale (2022)
- Served 60,000+ paying creators across 70+ cities worldwide
- Paid out $10M+ in profit sharing to team members
- Published The App Design Handbook earning $36,297 on launch day
- Published viral 'Ladders of Wealth Creation' framework read by millions
- Acquired Cerro Gordo ghost town as co-investor (2018)
- Obtained private pilot license (March 2024); owns Cirrus SR22T
- Successfully executed ConvertKit-to-Kit rebrand including acquisition of kit.com
- OneVoice app earned $30,000+ profit in first 20 months helping nonverbal individuals communicate
- Co-founded Paperboy newsletter growth agency with Sahil Bloom and Shane Martin

## Latest updates

- **2025-02** — Kit Studios expanded to Chicago
- **2024-11** — Launched Creator Flywheels course with $107K initial revenue; rebranded podcast to 'The Nathan Barry Show'
- **2024-10** — ConvertKit officially became Kit at kit.com; opened Kit Studios in downtown Boise
- **2024-06** — Announced ConvertKit rebrand to Kit publicly on Twitter/X
- **2024-03** — Obtained private pilot license; 235+ flight hours by year end
- **2023-06** — Acquired SparkLoop newsletter referral platform; launched Creator Network

## Links

- Website: https://nathanbarry.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjkvta4m0l5d8ehlt1TXHzA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanbarry/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nathan-barry
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-28