• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers

1

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers

Business Lessons From the YouTube Star Who Just Sold His App for $25 Million

By
Nina Zipkin
Nina Zipkin
and
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Nina Zipkin
Nina Zipkin
and
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 9, 2016, 8:00 PM ET
The 6th Annual Streamy Awards Hosted By King Bach And Live Streamed On YouTube - Inside
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 04: Internet personality Casey Neistat accepts the First Person award onstage the 6th annual Streamy Awards hosted by King Bach and live streamed on YouTube at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 4, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for dick clark productions)Mike Windle—Getty Images for dick clark productions

This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.

In the past two weeks, YouTube star and filmmaker Casey Neistat has not only stopped producing his nearly two-year-old daily vlog—he also sold his video-sharing app Beme to CNN in a deal reportedly valued at $25 million.

Beme’s guiding principle was authenticity. Users would film videos lasting several seconds, but they weren’t able to edit or even see the footage before sharing it. The recipient of the message could then film themselves reacting to it. All of the videos in question would instantly disappear, a bit like those on Snapchat.

The app, which launched in July 2015 and has been downloaded more than 1 million times, will officially shut down on Jan. 31, 2017. And while Beme itself will no longer be around, its team of 12 will staff a new company affiliated with CNN, with its exact mission around digital storytelling to be announced.

Neistat, 35, is also the co-creator (along with his brother) of an HBO docuseries and was an independent film producer before launching his YouTube channel in 2010. After six years, during which he’s created well-received ads for brands such as Google and Mercedes and attracted more than 5.8 million subscribers, here are five lessons from his entrepreneurial hustle.

1. No job is too small.

Neistat dropped out of high school as a teenager to take care of his son. Long before anyone knew about his films, he washed dishes in restaurants and took on an assortment of odd jobs to support his family and his moviemaking efforts.

2. Get out of your own way.

The filmmaker urges entrepreneurs not to overanalyze each move or fight what their instincts are telling them. “Thinking is the thing that prevents people from acting,” Neistat has told Entrepreneur. “Thinking is the thing that gums up the process of productivity. Your instincts are there to keep you alive. You can trust them, especially when it comes to entrepreneurship.”

For more on YouTube CEO, watch this Fortune video:

3. Consistency is key.

Neistat made sure that his vlog subscribers had a new video to watch at 8 a.m. every day. If your audience or customers know that they can count on you, they will be more inclined to come back and to tell others about their positive experience.

4. When opportunity knocks, go big.

Neistat points to the short film he made for Nike’s Make It Count campaign as a turning point in his career. He took a big leap, and instead of making a standard commercial, he took the budget allotted to make the FuelBand advertisement and spent it on a 10-day trip around the world. The filmed account of his adventure yielded more than 22 million views.

More from Entrepreneur:
• How YouTube Sensation Casey Neistat Succeeded in Making Ads for People Who Hate Ads
• Entrepreneurs Should Stop Doing This, Say Casey Neistat and Gary Vaynerchuk
• 6 Super Simple Tricks for Closing Way More Sales

5. Be true to yourself.

Neistat has told Entrepreneur that taking on a partnership or project for brand is a balancing act. By taking on a side gig, he didn’t want to alienate his audience of fans who were excited to see his video pop up in their feeds every morning.

“It’s a really frightening position to be in,” he said, “because you have this big fat check in front of you and oftentimes you can be asked to compromise your value or your integrity to pay the rent.”

But he advised that as long as you hold onto your voice and your vision, you can’t go wrong.

About the Authors
By Nina Zipkin
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Entrepreneur
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., left, and US President Donald Trump during a dinner with tech leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. US President Donald Trump said he would be imposing tariffs on semiconductor imports "very shortly" but spare goods from companies like Apple Inc. that have pledged to boost their US investments. Photographer: Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Big TechDonald Trump
How Trump’s ‘unusual’ brokerage account traded around his own market-moving decisions—selling hyperscalers and buying energy stocks during the war
By Eva RoytburgMay 15, 2026
7 hours ago
Berkshire triples Alphabet stake and buys Delta stock while dumping Amazon in Greg Abel’s first quarter as CEO
InvestingBerkshire Hathaway
Berkshire triples Alphabet stake and buys Delta stock while dumping Amazon in Greg Abel’s first quarter as CEO
By Josh Funk and The Associated PressMay 15, 2026
7 hours ago
SpaceX said to plan public IPO filing as soon as Wednesday
Big TechIPOs
SpaceX said to plan public IPO filing as soon as Wednesday
By Anthony Hughes, Bailey Lipschultz and BloombergMay 15, 2026
7 hours ago
America’s productivity boom started before AI, and a Stanford economist who decoded the Great Resignation says working from home is the reason why
Future of Workremote work
America’s productivity boom started before AI, and a Stanford economist who decoded the Great Resignation says working from home is the reason why
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 15, 2026
10 hours ago
A man stands looking out over his front porch where a sign reads, "No data centers."
EnvironmentData centers
Startups are installing tiny data centers in people’s homes to reduce strain on the beleaguered electrical grid
By Sasha RogelbergMay 15, 2026
11 hours ago
deep-sea mining equipment
EnvironmentChina
China dominates the minerals that power AI. But one company claims there’s enough supply on the ocean floor to last for hundreds of years
By Jake AngeloMay 15, 2026
13 hours ago

Most Popular

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
3 days ago
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
Success
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
By Preston ForeMay 13, 2026
3 days ago
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
Travel & Leisure
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
By Catherina GioinoMay 12, 2026
4 days ago
The airplane fuel shortage is a myth propagated by airlines who want to cancel unprofitable flights, says private jet CEO
Energy
The airplane fuel shortage is a myth propagated by airlines who want to cancel unprofitable flights, says private jet CEO
By Jim EdwardsMay 14, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 15, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 15, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 15, 2026
18 hours ago
Top economist says $39 trillion national debt leaves government worse prepared for recession than ever
Economy
Top economist says $39 trillion national debt leaves government worse prepared for recession than ever
By Eva RoytburgMay 14, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.