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Yehong Zhu’s story is a blend of journalism, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit. A Harvard graduate, she began as a business reporter at Forbes, uncovering market trends, before transitioning to Product Manager at Twitter, where she bridged media and tech.

Now, as the founder of Zette, a Silicon Valley startup tackling paywall fatigue, Yehong is reimagining how we access quality journalism. Backed by $3 million in funding, Zette is on a mission to make premium content simple to access and pay for — benefiting both readers and publishers alike.

Some takeaways from Yehong’s interview:

1️⃣ Solve real problems with innovation

Yehong tackled digital media’s toughest challenge — monetisation — by creating Zette, a win-win solution for publishers and readers.

2️⃣ Resilience drives success

Launching Zette during a global pandemic wasn’t easy, but Yehong’s adaptability and grit kept her vision on track.

3️⃣ Iterate, refine, repeat

Yehong champions an iterative approach in product development and pitching, ensuring continuous growth and market fit.

4️⃣ Think global, hire global

Building an international team gave Zette access to diverse skills and perspectives, fuelling its growth.

5️⃣ Leadership with balance

Yehong’s leadership style prioritises team well-being and sustainable practices, laying the foundation for long-term success.

In this episode we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Yehong Zhu

03:14 The Intersection of Media and Technology

07:50 The Birth of Zette During the Pandemic

10:43 Fundraising Insights and Challenges

17:22 The Importance of Resilience in Startups

23:09 The Future of Media Consumption and Paywalls

33:38 Subscription Fatigue and the Future of News

37:45 The Role of Google in the Publishing Industry

42:00 Challenges in User Adoption of Zette

46:13 AI's Impact on Search and Google's Future

50:57 The Entrepreneurial Journey and Personal Sacrifices

01:00:07 Books That Shape an Entrepreneur's Mindset