Big News, Big Thanks: Patreon Lands on Inc.'s 2024 Best in Business List

We’re thrilled to share that Patreon has been named to Inc.’s 2024 Best in Business list in the Business Model Strategy category! This recognition honors companies that have achieved significant milestones over the past year, and we’re named for our continued investment in the podcasting community.

In the words of Inc. editor-in-chief, Mike Hoffman,

“Inc. has been committed to recognizing America’s most dynamic businesses and honoring the great work they do. These businesses have had a profound impact on their industries, solving important problems and shaping the future of business in ways that will have lasting effects.”

For us, it’s a testament to the impact our products and platform have on our creators and fans— they’re the community builders who drive everything we do.

Despite there being 500 million podcast listeners globally and a market projected to reach $104.97 billion by 2028, oversaturation and fluctuating ad revenue still test podcasters’ ability to grow. We help the more than 40K podcasters on Patreon navigate these shifts to sustain their own media businesses. Over the last 18 months, we’ve continued to strengthen the creator-fan relationship by helping podcasters engage their audiences and earn income in meaningful ways, including:

• Sharing their media: Alongside our existing native audio and video tools to distribute shows on Patreon, we launched new initiatives to help podcasts distribute their works. With our Spotify integration, creators can incorporate their Patreon exclusive podcasts more seamlessly into their fans’ Spotify experience and promote their Patreon to a wider audience.
• Connecting with fans: As we welcomed free members onto Patreon to offer creators new ways to engage and energize fans, we’ve been building out experiences for them. We know the value of fellow fans connecting with each other around their favorite shows and hosts, and our community chats provide an exclusive space for fans to interact with each other, discuss the latest episodes, and show up for their favorite creators. We also partnered with several podcasts— exes and o’s, Bad Friends, and The Basement Yard, to name a few— for IRL fan events where members got to watch a live episode taping, and folks who couldn’t make it could access the recording on Patreon.
• Growing their business: We launched new tools to help podcasters earn income outside of traditional media models, and maintain better ownership of their communities. Creators can sell new or previously member-only posts and collections in Patreon shops, as well as offer discounts on memberships and shop purchases to continue growing a successful business.

“We’ve carved out a space for podcasters to focus on what matters most: deepening relationships with their fans and creating on their own terms,” said Paige Fitzgerald, our Chief Operating Officer. “This recognition from Inc. is further proof that putting creators and their businesses first is the right thing to do for Patreon’s ongoing growth.”

Creators are using Patreon to chart new paths, whether through free and paid memberships, exclusive live events, or commerce tools that give fans more ways to support their favorite shows.

This is an exciting moment, and we’re just getting started. To see the full list of Inc.’s 2024 Best in Business honorees, head over here. You can check out Patreon in the Winter issue of Inc. magazine— on newsstands beginning December 10th.

Here’s to the creators redefining industries and the fans who make it all possible. Let’s keep creating, innovating, and growing—together.