In a landmark move, Steven Bartlett, host of The Diary Of A CEO podcast, has made the largest deal of his career, becoming the co-owner of Stan Store, a revolutionary creator platform currently generating over $30 million annually. Stan Store simplifies the entrepreneurial journey, allowing anyone to launch their own business seamlessly through a single link in their bio – no complex websites required.
This partnership began with a relatable moment. Six months ago, Steven returned home to find his partner frustrated by the complexities of building a WordPress website for her breathwork business. Coincidentally, that same day, Steven received an email from John Hu, co-founder of Stan Store, introducing a platform designed specifically to alleviate these challenges.
Recognising the immediate value, Steven suggested his partner give Stan Store a try. Within minutes, she had her business up and running, saving significant time, money, and stress. This powerful experience underscored the tangible impact Stan Store could have on entrepreneurs worldwide.
Inspired by this personal success story, Steven travelled to Los Angeles to meet Stan Store founders John Hu and Vitalii Dodonov. After weeks of discussions, they finalised a substantial equity investment, officially making Steven a co-owner.
Since the announcement, the Stan Store team has been diligently expanding their capabilities, notably developing advanced AI tools designed specifically to help creators maximise their businesses.
With a mission to empower aspiring entrepreneurs with essential tools, knowledge, and community support, Steven Bartlett’s partnership with Stan Store is poised to significantly elevate the entrepreneurial landscape, already having generated over a quarter of a billion in revenue for its users.
Steven Bartlett’s Professional Bio:
Steven Bartlett is a distinguished entrepreneur, investor, host of the award winning podcast, The Diary of a CEO and founder of FlightStory, a global media and investment company, founded to inspire a happier, healthier humanity. He is also the youngest Dragon in Dragons’ Den history.
FlightStory is home to The Diary of a CEO podcast, and in just a few years, it has achieved remarkable success, ranking as the world’s second most downloaded host-led podcast, based on global downloads and YouTube views. In 2023, Bartlett released his second book, The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life, which became the fastest-selling personal development book since records began, in its home market.
Steven Bartlett’s private office functions as a comprehensive family office, overseeing his diverse investments in more than 60 companies and has invested in some of the fastest growing companies in the world.
FlightStory Studio operates global production studios in London, Manchester, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, positioning itself as a leader in the evolving podcast landscape.
More about FlightStory here.
Steven’s Business Career:
Social Chain AG
In 2014 he co-founded Social Chain, a social media marketing company based in Manchester, England, United Kingdom, along with Dominic McGregor,[17][18] In 2019 Social Chain and German online retailer Lumaland merged to become The Social Chain AG, listing on Xetra and the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange.[18] The listing valued the business at over $200 million.[19] In 2019, the Financial Times reported that Bartlett and Wanja Oberhof would jointly manage Social Chain AG, which was valued at €186M at the time that it merged with Lumaland.[20] In November 2021, Social Chain AG moved to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange‘s prime standard stock exchange reaching a valuation of $600 million. As of June 30, 2022, Social Chain AG (the holding company) consisted of 64 companies according to its half-year financial report.[21] Bartlett stepped down as CEO in 2020 because he did not agree on the direction of the company. [22][23][17]
Thirdweb
Thirdweb, a Web3 startup founded by Bartlett, raised $5m in seed investment, and an additional $24 million in 2022, nine months after going live. The Series A funding round valued the startup at $160 million.[27] The funding was led by Katie Haun’s $1.5 billion crypto fund, with participation from investors including Coinbase Ventures, Shopify, and Polygon. The company aims to simplify the process of building decentralized applications on the blockchain.[6]
Flight Story
Flight Story is a media and investment company founded by Bartlett. It comprises Flight Story Studio, a media production company, and Flight Story Fund, a $100 million investment fund. [28][29][30] The fund supports high-growth startups in blockchain, biotech, health, commerce, technology, and space sectors. The fund had a stated goal to invest in around 20 companies, offering small stakes at discounted valuations in exchange for support from previous founders who are limited partners in the fund. Flight Story produces five shows and is building commercial franchises around each show’s host, including book deals, speaking engagements, investment opportunities, and products.[32][33]