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Steven Bartlett

Thought Leader

Steven Bartlett is a British entrepreneur, author, and media personality best known for co-founding Social Chain, a social media marketing agency he built into a publicly listed company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by the time he was in his mid-twenties. His work at Social Chain placed him at the intersection of social media, content marketing, and brand advertising, giving him deep operational insight into how brands reach audiences at scale in the digital age. He stepped down as CEO of Social Chain in 2021 and has since focused on building Flight Story, a marketing and communications company, and Thirdweb, a Web3 development platform. Beyond his operational roles, Bartlett has become one of the most prominent voices in entrepreneurship and marketing through 'The Diary of a CEO,' a podcast that consistently ranks among the top business podcasts globally. The show has attracted major advertisers and brand sponsorships, making Bartlett himself a significant node in the creator economy and podcast advertising ecosystem. His understanding of audience engagement, content monetization, and brand-safe environments gives him credibility as a practitioner of modern digital advertising. In 2021, Bartlett joined BBC's Dragons' Den as its youngest-ever Dragon, further elevating his public profile and investment portfolio. He is also the author of 'Happy Sexy Millionaire,' a bestselling book that reflects his personal brand philosophy. His influence on social advertising strategy, creator monetization, and brand marketing makes him a notable figure in the broader digital advertising landscape.

Latest · · Sep 15

Last updated Oct 14, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Role
CEO & Founder
Company
Flight Story
Based
London, United Kingdom
Boards
1
Connections
1

AI-drafted from public sourcesno sources yet

Years in industry
12 years

Bio

Steven Bartlett is a British entrepreneur, author, and media personality best known for co-founding Social Chain, a social media marketing agency he built into a publicly listed company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by the time he was in his mid-twenties. His work at Social Chain placed him at the intersection of social media, content marketing, and brand advertising, giving him deep operational insight into how brands reach audiences at scale in the digital age. He stepped down as CEO of Social Chain in 2021 and has since focused on building Flight Story, a marketing and communications company, and Thirdweb, a Web3 development platform. Beyond his operational roles, Bartlett has become one of the most prominent voices in entrepreneurship and marketing through 'The Diary of a CEO,' a podcast that consistently ranks among the top business podcasts globally. The show has attracted major advertisers and brand sponsorships, making Bartlett himself a significant node in the creator economy and podcast advertising ecosystem. His understanding of audience engagement, content monetization, and brand-safe environments gives him credibility as a practitioner of modern digital advertising. In 2021, Bartlett joined BBC's Dragons' Den as its youngest-ever Dragon, further elevating his public profile and investment portfolio. He is also the author of 'Happy Sexy Millionaire,' a bestselling book that reflects his personal brand philosophy. His influence on social advertising strategy, creator monetization, and brand marketing makes him a notable figure in the broader digital advertising landscape.

Expertise & education

Expertise

Social Media MarketingBrand AdvertisingContent MonetizationCreator EconomyPodcast AdvertisingAudience EngagementDigital Marketing StrategyInfluencer Marketing

Education

  • No degree — dropped out of Manchester Metropolitan University

Speaking topics

Entrepreneurship and building companies from zeroSocial media marketing and brand strategyThe creator economy and podcast monetizationPersonal branding and audience buildingMental health and performance

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Co-founded Social Chain at age 21, scaling it to a publicly listed company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
  • Became the youngest Dragon in BBC Dragons' Den history at age 28
  • Grew 'The Diary of a CEO' podcast to over 100 million downloads globally
  • Published bestselling book 'Happy Sexy Millionaire' (2021)

Awards

Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 EuropeGQ Entrepreneur of the Year (nominated/recognized)

Publications

  • Happy Sexy Millionaire (2021, Hay House)