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How He Co-Founded A Viral News Company From Nothing
Andres Sanchez
December 19, 2024
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How Billy Carney Built Roca News into a Modern Media Powerhouse
This week on Beyond The Wealth, I sat down with Billy Carney, cofounder of Roca News, who left a lucrative Wall Street career to build a nonpartisan, Gen Z-friendly news platform that’s redefining how news is delivered.
Billy shared the triumphs, challenges, and breakthroughs behind his entrepreneurial journey, offering valuable insights for founders navigating the risks of launching something new—especially in a competitive industry like media.
The Origin of Roca News
Billy and his cofounders started with a simple yet powerful vision:
Deliver nonpartisan news in an era of political noise.
Make news engaging and accessible for younger audiences.
Starting from a cramped apartment-turned-office, the team faced an uphill battle with no initial revenue and a steep challenge in competing with legacy media giants. But with persistence and smart pivots, they built Roca into a multi-platform powerhouse with millions of followers across Instagram, newsletters, and YouTube.
“If you make good content and you’re persistent, it will work.”
3 Key Lessons from Billy Carney
Niche Before Scale
Start with a hyper-focused niche. Roca News didn’t tackle general news immediately—they honed their offering to stand out in a crowded market.
Iterate and Adapt
Early attempts to drive traffic to a news website failed. The breakthrough came when they pivoted to focus on Instagram-first content, meeting their audience where they were already engaged.
Focus on the Long Game
Like YouTube, Instagram content compounds over time. A single post can snowball into a massive following, provided the content is consistent and high-quality.
Billy’s Breakthrough Moment
The turning point came during the 2021 Reddit/GameStop saga.
The team shared a deep-dive explainer on Instagram, which went viral after being reposted by a major meme account.
That moment quadrupled their following and solidified Instagram as their primary growth engine.'
How Roca Monetizes
Roca’s success extends beyond its audience to smart monetization strategies:
A newsletter that attracts advertisers.
Strategic partnerships across Instagram, YouTube, and more.
Expansion into long-form video content, a growing favorite among advertisers.
“YouTube is the new TV. The long-term monetization opportunities there are unmatched.”
Takeaways for Founders
Start small: A niche audience is more valuable than a broad one when starting out.
Pivot with intent: Don’t cling to what’s not working. Test, adapt, and double down on what gains traction.
Think multi-platform: Leverage the unique strengths of platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and newsletters to grow both your audience and revenue.
"The riches are in the niches."
Work with Roca News
To advertise with Roca News or learn more:
Email [email protected]
Follow them on Instagram at @ridethenews
If this inspired you to explore opportunities in media or rethink your content strategy, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
- Andres Sanchez
Beyond The Wealth
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