Tibo, a popular solo founder, squares off with beehiiv
The email service provider beehiiv is having a very public dispute with Tibo, a popular solo founder.
Last week, it was the newsletter platforms ConvertKit and beehiiv throwing marketing hands. This week, the ring is occupied by beehiiv and the indie hacking legend Tibo.
And these combatants are not pulling punches.
How in the world did it come to this?
Let's rewind and find out.
Hello Feather
The story begins back in April. April 23rd, to be precise. It was that day when Tibo received an email from beehiiv letting him know that his bill is going up.
Tibo, understandably, was anything but pleased. So, he began plotting, and on June 13th acquired the Notion blog builder Feather for $250,000.
From the very beginning, Tibo made his plans to scale Feather crystal clear: he would build a newsletter platform that completes with beehiiv.
Since then, Tibo has thrown shot after shot at beehiiv.
He's critiqued their marketing strategies:
He's insinuated that beehiiv is inflating their open rates.
He's pointed out that big players like beehiiv and Kit don't even send their own emails.
And, of course, he's lamented their pricing.
The ban hammer
It all came to head with beehiiv's decision to ban him, a ban that beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk defends as completely justified considering Tibo's behavior.
Don't tell that to Tibo though.
And, judging from the comments on Tibo's post (which, to be fair, are mostly fellow indie hackers), most people agree with him.
Although beehiiv wasn't completely supporter-less.
In any case, Tibo seems to be taking the ban in stride. Feather is getting ever closer to launching.
He's even back on his beehiiv shitposting grind.
Ultimately, beehiiv and Tibo are both winners in this beef. There's no such thing as bad publicity.
It's funny seeing people run to Tibo's defence, he even said that he would have banned himself as well if he was in their position 😂
Tibo doesn't need defending, both sides are being pretty reasonable, wishing them both good luck!
Curious question. Why are newsletter platforms are such a big thing. Ain't they just a website builder + email sending service rolled in one?
AFAIK, the early newletter platforms were email service providers that wanted to differentiate themselves from the overcrowded email space.
I didn't know this was going on.
I'm amazed with how bold it is to just see a pricing increase, and then jump into building a competitor. Is it really that easy to compete?
I thought Tibo is all-in building revid[.]ai. – Isn't he still doing that?
He's right for doing that! That price increase for Beehiiv is outrageous!
tibo has a decent following, this marketing stunt would give him some paying users
Amazing.
Nicely summarised ✨
I thought so too. Both were right at their place. A good marketing for both it seems ✅