From Design Ebooks to Kit
He sold design ebooks. He built email software for creators. It nearly failed, then it took off.
Nathan Barry grew up near Boise, Idaho.
He lived with five siblings.
His parents read a lot.
They taught all six kids at home.
Childhood and Family
The family was cash‑strapped.
Dad ran a Christian bookstore.
Mom started several small businesses.
Parents pushed self‑reliance.
Homeschooling and Early Learning
Nathan was homeschooled from kindergarten.
He finished high school at 15.
He chose his own books.
He built wooden projects.
He launched model rockets.
College and First Jobs
He entered Boise State University.
First studied graphic design.
Later switched to marketing.
He left college at 17.
A big freelance web design job paid the bills.
He then worked as a freelance web and iOS designer.
He helped Unattended Media.
He helped Unity Media Group.
Founding ConvertKit
In 2013 he felt stuck with email tools.
He entered a Web App Challenge.
He promised $5,000 MRR in six months.
He used $5,000 of his own money.
The goal was missed.
The product peaked at $2,480 MRR.
He kept the side project alive.
In late 2014 Hiten Shah gave advice.
Nathan chose to double down.
He put $50,000 of his money into the company.
He hired a lead developer.
He switched marketing to professional bloggers.
He offered free “concierge migrations.”
He moved users from MailChimp to ConvertKit.
The hands‑on help built trust.
Growth, Setbacks, and Today
ConvertKit rebranded to Kit.
The company stayed bootstrapped.
It raised $1.8 million total.
A 2021 AngelList deal valued it at $200 million.
ARR grew to $52 million in 2025.
The user base hit about 49,000 in 2026.
Barry faced early revenue stagnation.
A rebrand called “Seva” cost $500 K and was rolled back.
Other early projects like Legend Themes and Fluent made little money.
He lives on a nine‑acre homestead near Boise.
His wife Hilary and three sons share the land.
He farms gardens and raises livestock.
He flies small planes.
He lifts weights, plays pickleball, and climbs rocks.
Kit now opens creator studios in Boise, Chicago, and New York.
Recent updates include Subscriber Signals and AI tools.
A partnership with Acast adds podcast hosting.
Nathan Barry still leads Kit as founder and CEO.
He keeps a philosophy of hospitality and generosity.
He supports global food and water charities.
Founding Story
Nathan Barry grew up near Boise, Idaho. He had five siblings. His parents homeschooled all six children. They ran a Christian bookstore and small businesses. Money was tight. The family taught him to be resourceful. He learned woodworking and model rocketry. He finished high school at 15. He went to Boise State University. He started in graphic design. He switched to marketing. He left college at 17 after a big freelance web design job. He later sold design ebooks and courses.
First Customers and Product
In 2013 Nathan started ConvertKit. He wanted a better email tool for creators. He entered a Web App Challenge. He promised $5,000 monthly recurring revenue (MRR) in six months. He used $5,000 of his own money. The early product did not hit the goal. The highest MRR was $2,480. He kept his ebook business alive. He later marketed ConvertKit to authors. The first users were bloggers who switched from MailChimp. He helped them move their lists for free. This “concierge migration” gave him real feedback.
Early Struggles
The side project stayed small. Revenue fell after the initial bump. Nathan considered shutting down. In late 2014 Hiten Shah gave him advice. He could close or fully commit. He chose to commit. He spent $50,000 of his own cash. He hired a lead developer. He changed the target to professional bloggers. The early months were hard. The product still lacked polish. Users complained about missing features. Nathan kept listening and fixing.
Key Turning Points
The concierge migrations built trust. Word spread among creators. In 2015 ConvertKit hit $5,000 MRR and kept climbing. The company rebranded to Kit in 2024. The rebrand added new tools like Subscriber Signals and AI features. The company opened creator studios in Boise, Chicago, and New York. These studios gave creators free recording space. The rebrand helped attract music marketers after buying FanBridge in 2021.
Growth and Real Numbers
Revenue grew fast after the pivot. In 2023 Kit earned $36.4 million ARR. In 2024 it rose to $43.8 million. In 2025 it reached $52 million ARR. The company served about 49,000 customers in 2026. The MRR hit $1.2 million early on and kept rising. The platform added AI tools and podcast hosting with Acast.
Funding, Acquisitions, and Outlook
ConvertKit stayed bootstrapped. It raised only $1.8 million total. In 2021 a secondary AngelList deal valued the company at $200 million. The firm bought FanBridge in 2021 to enter music marketing. It also bought SparkLoop for email referral tools. The company has not held an IPO. Nathan still runs the business as CEO. He lives on a nine‑acre homestead near Boise. He enjoys flying, weightlifting, pickleball, and rock climbing. He keeps the philosophy of hospitality in his work.
Setbacks
Nathan Barry started ConvertKit in 2013.
He wanted a better email tool for creators.
The first goal was $5,000 MRR in six months.
He missed that target.
The product peaked at $2,480 MRR.
Revenue then fell.
He kept ConvertKit as a side project.
His book and course business did better.
The early version did not attract professional users.
A rebrand to “Seva” cost about $500 K and failed.
He later returned to the ConvertKit name.
Criticism and Controversies
Some observers said his earnings disclosure about an iPad app sounded like bragging.
No lawsuits are recorded.
Critics noted that the early “Seva” rebrand confused customers.
Barry responded by reverting to the original brand.
He kept the company bootstrapped.
The company raised only $1.8 M total.
What Changed Recently
In late 2014 Barry chose to commit fully.
He invested $50 K of his own money.
He hired a lead developer.
He switched marketing to professional bloggers.
He offered free “concierge migrations” from competitors.
Those moves built trust and feedback.
The company grew fast after 2015.
In 2021 ConvertKit bought FanBridge and SparkLoop.
In 2024 the brand changed to Kit.
Kit added AI tools like Subscriber Signals and Kit MCP.
It opened creator studios in Boise, Chicago, and New York.
Where They Are Now (2026)
Nathan Barry is still the founder and CEO of Kit.
Kit serves about 49 000 customers.
ARR reached $52 million in 2025.
The company remains bootstrapped.
It has not gone public.
Barry lives on a nine‑acre homestead near Boise.
He flies a plane as a hobby.
He enjoys weightlifting, pickleball, and rock climbing.
He runs gardens and cares for livestock.
He supports global food and water charities.
Why the story matters
Setbacks teach perseverance.
Early failures can lead to smarter choices.
Customer‑focused service builds trust.
Bootstrapped growth can reach big numbers.
Innovation keeps a company relevant.
Never quit when the odds look low.
The Record
Founder: Nathan Barry
Company: Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Founded: 2013
Funding: $1.8 M total
2025 ARR: $52 M
Customers (2026): ~49 000
Timeline
2013 to Launch of ConvertKit.
2014 to Decision to fully commit; $50 K personal investment.
2015 to Introduced concierge migrations.
2021 to Acquired FanBridge and SparkLoop; secondary AngelList transaction valued at $200 M.
2024 to Rebranded to Kit; opened first creator studio.
2025 to ARR hits $52 M.
2026 to AI features released; studios opened in Chicago and New York.