Ben Thompson

Tech & CultureEconomics & PolicyMedia Criticism

Technology and business analyst who founded Stratechery in 2013, pioneering the subscription-based independent media model now widely replicated across the industry. Writing without corporate backing — after stints at Apple, Microsoft, and Automattic — Thompson delivers deep, framework-driven analysis of how technology reshapes markets, competition, and society. He originated Aggregation Theory, a widely cited model explaining how internet platforms capture value by controlling demand rather than supply. His Stratechery Daily Update is required reading in Silicon Valley, and he co-hosts the Dithering podcast with John Gruber. He is widely regarded as the most influential independent technology analyst writing today.

Known for

Founded Stratechery in 2013, one of the first subscription newsletters and a model widely copied by thousands of independent writers
Originated Aggregation Theory, a foundational framework explaining how internet platforms win by controlling demand — widely cited in tech and business
Co-hosts Dithering with John Gruber (Daring Fireball), a subscriber-only twice-weekly podcast covering technology and culture
Named to Fortune's Creator 25 list recognizing his influence as an independent analyst who shapes how the tech industry understands itself