Sam Yam

Sam Yam is the Co-Founder, President, and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Patreon, a platform designed to support creators and artists through membership subscriptions from their fans. He co-founded Patreon in May 2013 alongside musician Jack Conte, aiming to provide a sustainable income model for creators who often struggle with traditional revenue streams like advertising.13

Background and Education

Sam graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Stanford University, where he also met Jack Conte. He has a strong background in technology and entrepreneurship, having previously co-founded AdWhirl, a mobile advertising platform that was acquired by Google in 2010. Additionally, he has worked at notable companies such as Google, Yahoo, and Stanford’s StartX program, and he has been involved with Y Combinator as a Young Creator Entrepreneur (YCE) since 2017.125

Career at Patreon

Under Yam's leadership, Patreon has grown significantly, becoming a major player in the creator economy. The platform allows creators to earn income through direct support from fans, taking only a 5% cut of the earnings, which is considerably lower than many other platforms.46 Since its inception, Patreon has paid out over $3.5 billion to creators, reflecting its impact on the industry.3

Yam's role as CTO involves overseeing product development and engineering, ensuring that the platform continues to meet the needs of its users while fostering a strong community between creators and their patrons.12

Personal Insights

In addition to his work at Patreon, Yam has been involved in mentoring and advising startups, leveraging his experience to guide new entrepreneurs in the tech space. His commitment to empowering creators is evident in his ongoing efforts to innovate and improve the Patreon platform.124