HackerNoon
HackerNoon is a technology publishing platform connecting 45,000+ contributing writers with 4M+ monthly readers across 200+ countries, offering free publishing tools, AI-assisted features, hackathons, and advertising services to technology professionals and businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersEdwards, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What HackerNoon does
HackerNoon is a technology publishing platform founded in 2016 by David Smooke (CEO) and Linh Dao Smooke (COO), operating under the legal entity ArtMap Inc. and headquartered in Edwards, Colorado. The platform serves as a community-driven publishing hub where 45,000+ contributing writers publish technology articles distributed to 4M+ monthly readers across 200+ countries, with content organized across categories including AI/ML, cybersecurity, Web3, business, and software engineering. Its underlying technology is a web-based publishing platform with a content management system, AI-assisted writing tools (including the Chowa collaborative editor with AI feedback and AI text-to-speech voices), RSS/blog import for crossposting, and Arweave-based decentralized storage for permanent content archiving. The platform extends to native iOS and Android mobile apps, the Terminal Reader developer-focused interface, and a weekly newsletter to 100K+ subscribers.
HackerNoon monetizes through four primary revenue streams: (1) display advertising and sponsored content with named partners such as MEXC, (2) hackathon sponsorship and management services for technology companies, with hackathon launch budgets ranging from $10,000 to $50,000+ per event and active prize pools exceeding $150K, (3) business blogging services, company directories, demographic-based advertising, and writing contests offered via business.hackernoon.com under the 'Hack Marketing' sub-brand, and (4) an AI Grants & Credits Search directory monetized through featured listings and affiliate/referral partnerships. The customer base is hybrid: technology professionals and writers are free, non-paying users, while paying customers are technology companies and startups seeking access to the developer audience through advertising, content marketing, and hackathon sponsorship. Writing on the platform is free for contributors, while business and hackathon services are quote-based with multi-year contract terms.
HackerNoon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HackerNoon
- Legal name
- ArtMap Inc.
- Website
- https://hackernoon.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- HackerNoon is a technology publishing platform connecting 45,000+ contributing writers with 4M+ monthly readers across 200+ countries, offering free publishing tools, AI-assisted features, hackathons, and advertising services to technology professionals and businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HackerNoon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Technology Publishing
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C) (MPAJADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- RSS/Feed Readers & Subscription Aggregators (MPACAKAD), Ghostwriting & Collaborative Writing Services (MPAJAJAI)
Keywords
Where HackerNoon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edwards
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HackerNoon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Advertising & Sponsorships: Display advertising and sponsored content on the platform. Site displays ads from partners like MEXC and sponsored company features. Business blogging services for companies.
- Hackathon Sponsorship & Management: Companies pay to sponsor or launch hackathons on the platform. HackerNoon provides distribution to 4M+ readers, submission management, and marketing services for hackathon budgets ranging from $10,000 to $50,000+.
- AI Grants & Credits Search: Curated database of AI grants and credits for AI innovators. Monetization through featured listings and referral partnerships.
- Business Blogging Services: Company directory, targeted advertising, demographic-based ad placement, and writing contests for businesses seeking tech audience reach.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free writer access |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Business advertising and services |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Hackathon launch options |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
HackerNoon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HackerNoon is a technology publishing platform that enables 45,000+ contributing writers to publish and distribute technology articles, newsletters, hackathons, and audio content to 4 million+ monthly readers across 200+ countries. The company provides free publishing tools, AI-assisted writing and audio features, collaborative editing, and paid B2B services including targeted advertising, hackathon management, and business blogging for technology companies.
Product overview
HackerNoon is a technology publishing platform built as a unified platform-plus-modules architecture. The core HackerNoon Platform enables 45k+ contributing writers to publish and distribute tech content to 4M+ monthly readers. Supporting modules include the HackerNoon Newsletter (delivered via iOS/Android apps), the Chowa Collaborative Editor (for multi-author writing), and the Terminal Reader (developer-focused reading interface). Content distribution features include RSS Feed Import for crossposting and the GPTZero AI Detection integration for transparency. Community engagement is driven through HackerNoon Hackathons (with $150K+ prize pools) and Writing Contests. Additional services include the AI Grants & Credit Search for AI innovators. Founded in 2016, the platform serves readers across 200+ countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hack Marketing: Business marketing services offered by HackerNoon for brands and partners to amplify their technology products
- Proof of Usefulness Hackathon
- Decentralize AI Hackathon
Products and services
- HackerNoon Publishing Platform Web-based technology publishing platform that enables individual writers to publish articles and businesses to advertise; serves developers, tech enthusiasts, and technology companies across 200+ countries.
- HackerNoon Newsletter Weekly email newsletter delivering curated technology headlines and top stories to subscribers across iOS and Android mobile apps.
- Chowa Collaborative Editor Multi-author collaborative text editing feature allowing multiple writers to co-author a single draft in real time, available on the HackerNoon publishing surface.
- GPTZero AI Detection Integration AI transparency integration that detects AI-generated content within articles to ensure credibility and preserve human-authored content on HackerNoon.
- HackerNoon Hackathons Platform Remote technology hackathon platform with $150K+ active prize pools across multiple hackathons including Proof of Usefulness and Decentralize AI, providing submission management and distribution to 4M+ readers.
- HackerNoon Writing Contests Blogging contests run on HackerNoon that reward trending technology topics with cash prizes and recognition for participating writers.
- AI Grants & Credit Search Curated database search service for AI grants and compute credits that helps AI builders and innovators find funding opportunities for AI software and computing resources.
- HackerNoon Mobile App Native iOS and Android mobile applications for reading HackerNoon articles, newsletters, and audio content on mobile devices.
- Terminal Reader Developer-focused reading interface providing HackerNoon tech beat news and trending stories in a terminal/code-like aesthetic at terminal.hackernoon.com.
- HackerNoon Business Services B2B services including company directories, demographic-targeted advertising, niche advertising placement, and business blogging for technology companies seeking access to HackerNoon's tech audience.
Quantifiable outcome
- 23,000+ reads on individual content marketing articles
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use HackerNoon
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HackerNoon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature6 records
HackerNoon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GPTZerocorePartnership to bring AI transparency and preserve what's human in tech publishing. GPTZero provides AI detection capabilities integrated into the HackerNoon platform.
- Bright DataminorHackathon partner for Proof of Usefulness Hackathon providing sponsorship support.
- StoryblokminorHackathon partner for Proof of Usefulness Hackathon providing sponsorship support.
- Neo4jminorHackathon partner for Proof of Usefulness Hackathon providing sponsorship support.
- AlgoliaminorHackathon partner for Proof of Usefulness Hackathon providing sponsorship support.
- NosanaminorPartner for Decentralize AI Hackathon providing compute credits and token rewards.
- ArweavecoreDecentralized storage partner for permanent content archiving. HackerNoon backs up entire content library on Arweave network.
- MEXCminorAdvertising partner displayed on site navigation with futures trading promotional content.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HackerNoon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dev.to (Forem): Open publishing platform for developers and technologists, operating on a similar community-driven model with thousands of contributors and a free writing flow. Direct comparable on audience (software engineers) and product (writing-first CMS with engagement features).
- Hashnode: Developer blogging and community platform with a freemium model targeting software engineers. Comparable in audience (devs/tech writers), product (writing CMS, newsletters), and monetization (company-sponsored content and talent solutions).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HackerNoon social profiles
Digital presenceHackerNoon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HackerNoon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
HackerNoon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HackerNoon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HackerNoon
What does HackerNoon do?
HackerNoon is a technology publishing platform that enables 45,000+ contributing writers to publish and distribute technology articles, newsletters, hackathons, and audio content to 4 million+ monthly readers across 200+ countries. The company provides free publishing tools, AI-assisted writing and audio features, collaborative editing, and paid B2B services including targeted advertising, hackathon management, and business blogging for technology companies.
Is HackerNoon a public or private company?
HackerNoon is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was HackerNoon founded?
HackerNoon was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HackerNoon based?
HackerNoon is headquartered in Edwards, United States, in the North America region.
How does HackerNoon make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Advertising & Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are hackathon Sponsorship & Management, AI Grants & Credits Search and business Blogging Services.
Who are HackerNoon's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dev.to (Forem) and Hashnode.
Does HackerNoon have an API?
No public API is recorded for HackerNoon.
What industry is HackerNoon in?
HackerNoon's product category is Technology Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAJ, Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C), with a secondary code of MPACAKAD, RSS/Feed Readers & Subscription Aggregators. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 2721.