Beyond the Newsletter: The Preppy Family's Dreamy Week at the First-Ever Newsletter Marketing Summit in Venice!
- Danielle Symone
- Mar 23
- 6 min read
Ciao Preppy Fam!
Your girl Danielle here, your resident email marketing enthusiast and the slightly sleep-deprived but absolutely buzzing organizer of something truly magical that happened last week. For months, it's been all hands on deck here at The Preppy Family getting ready for our first-ever Newsletter Marketing Summit – and let me tell you, setting the stage for this in the breathtaking city of Venice, Italy, took the experience to a whole new level! It exceeded every expectation I had!
Bringing together 521 incredible founders, creators, executives, and fellow marketers under the enchanting Venetian sky was an absolute dream come true. But honestly, the most surreal part for me was finally meeting so many of my mentors and online friends in person for the very first time. It felt like a family reunion of the sharpest minds in the business, all set against the backdrop of those iconic canals!
One of the highlights? Getting to interview the one and only James Altucher on stage. For those who don't know, James's insights were actually a huge catalyst for me dropping out of college and taking the leap into entrepreneurship. Hearing him share his journey building $100M+ paid newsletter businesses firsthand was truly inspiring, and I can honestly say I wouldn't be where I am today without his books and podcast. Interviewing him in such a stunning location made it a full-circle moment I'll cherish forever.
We also had the privilege of hearing from the pioneers of the newsletter-first media model: Alex Lieberman (co-founder of Morning Brew and StoryArb) and Sam Parr (co-founder of The Hustle and Hampton). Their insights into how they built their empires and their vision for the future of media, shared in the heart of Venice, were absolutely gold.
Then there were Tim Huelskamp (CEO of 1440) and Erika Burghardt (VP of marketing at 1440), who have built the largest and most engaged newsletter in the world (a mind-blowing 4.4 million subscribers with 55%+ open rates!). They generously pulled back the curtain to reveal metrics and tactics that had never been shared publicly before. My notebook was overflowing with ideas inspired by their session and the beauty of our surroundings!
The brilliant Steph Smith (host of the a16z podcast) blew us all away with 10 practical AI tools and research tactics that I'm already itching to implement to take our content here at The Preppy Family to the next level. Imagine brainstorming these strategies while sipping espresso in a Venetian cafe!
And a huge shoutout to Chenell Basilio (founder of Growth In Reverse), who broke down the exact growth levers that top newsletter creators are using to smash through the 50,000 subscriber mark. Her actionable advice, shared in such an inspiring setting, was a game-changer for so many attendees.
Last but certainly not least, Jay Clouse (founder of Creator Science) delivered an opening talk that was so impactful, the CEO of a $50M+ media company actually came up to me afterward, completely unprompted, and said, "That was the best presentation I've seen at any event." Talk about setting the bar high, especially in a city renowned for its artistic excellence!
Honestly, the whole week was an absolute blast. The energy in the room (and the charming Venetian streets!) was electric, the conversations were stimulating, and the connections made were invaluable. The numbers speak for themselves: 73 attendees shared 5-star reviews and video testimonials, and there were over 200 posts buzzing about the event across LinkedIn, X, and Instagram. Dozens even took the time to write detailed recaps of their key takeaways. It was truly heartwarming to see the impact the summit had, amplified by the magic of Venice.
However, amidst all the excitement of gondola rides and incredible insights, I realized something important: the Newsletter Marketing Summit is a bit of a misnomer. It's not just "a newsletter conference."
From the very beginning, our vision was to create an event focused on empowering founders and marketers to build sustainable, profitable, and independent businesses using owned audiences. And what better place to foster independent thinking than in a city built on its own unique foundations?
Think about it: owned audiences = channels where you have a direct relationship with your audience, free from the whims of an algorithm. Right now, that primarily includes email (of course!), SMS, your website, podcasts, and even good old physical mail.
So while newsletters are a crucial piece of the puzzle, they're not the only piece. And I get the confusion – "newsletter" is right there in the name! But I'm confident that after a few more events, perhaps even in another equally inspiring location, our mission will become crystal clear.
Here's why this distinction is so important:
The founders and marketers who will truly thrive in the future will be those who master multiple owned audience channels, not just email newsletters. That's why only about 50% of the content at the summit specifically covered newsletters.
We had incredible sessions like Chris Hutchins sharing the best podcasting growth hacks, Ryan Hashemi explaining how to drive $50 million in business with YouTube, Steph Smith and Sam Parr breaking down the art of building thriving communities, and even Neville Medhora revealing a surprisingly effective client acquisition strategy using physical mail! Imagine soaking in this knowledge while overlooking a picturesque Venetian canal!
The Newsletter Marketing Summit also isn't solely a "media" event. It's just as much about marketing as it is about media creation. Hence the name: Newsletter Marketing Summit.
Our plan is to continue having a balanced speaker lineup, with roughly 50% being media founders, executives, or creators, and the other 50% being top-tier marketers. This year, it was fantastic to see that around 25% of our attendees didn't have traditional media businesses but were leveraging media and newsletters to fuel the growth of other business models. That's exactly the kind of diverse and innovative community we're building, and Venice provided such a unique backdrop for these connections to flourish.
Here's why our focus on both marketing and media is key:
Attracting Top Marketers (and Sponsorship Dollars!): By focusing on marketing, we attract the best in the business. And who do marketers work with? Media brands and creators! This creates incredible opportunities for our media-focused attendees to connect with potential sponsors and partners. We had some of the largest newsletter advertisers at our inaugural event in Venice, and we're aiming for 40-50% of attendees to be marketers actively looking to collaborate with media brands and creators next year. Imagine the revenue-generating possibilities sparked in the heart of Italy!
Empowering Media Founders as Marketers: Let's face it, as a media founder or creator today, you have to be a great marketer to win. It's becoming increasingly challenging to cut through the noise, "de-platform" your audience from social media, and nurture those direct, owned relationships. Organic audience growth is tougher than ever. Marketing isn't a separate function; it's an essential skill that every successful media founder, journalist, and creator needs to master. The best in the game are often the best marketers, and Venice certainly inspired some masterful thinking!
The Importance of Productization: The most successful media companies and creators aren't solely relying on sponsorships. They're building products and services to sell directly to their engaged audiences. While sponsorships can be a valuable revenue stream, relying on them alone, especially when you're starting out, is a risky game. The economics of a startup media company simply don't work as well without a product offering. Content is king, but even with a loyal audience, you need smart marketing to sell those products – perhaps even handcrafted goods inspired by the beauty of Venice!
So, while the name might still raise a few eyebrows, the Newsletter Marketing Summit in Venice was so much more than just a conference about email. It was a gathering of forward-thinking individuals who understand the power of owned audiences and the critical intersection of media creation and strategic marketing, all set against the unforgettable beauty and inspiration of Venice.
I'm incredibly proud of what we built in Venice, and I'm already buzzing with ideas for next year. Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, and supported this vision. The energy and passion in those stunning Venetian venues were truly contagious, and I can't wait to see the amazing things we all build together.
Stay Preppy (and keep building those owned audiences, wherever you are in the world!),
Danielle Symone
Email Marketer, The Preppy Family
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