
Josh Kaplan
CEO of Smooth Media, content operations and media entrepreneur
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Joined July 2025
Network
9.5K connectionsBTJMLR
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Summary
Josh Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur in the media space, co-founding Smooth Media and acting as a partner at The Publish Press. He specializes in building and scaling creator-led media businesses, offering services like fractional COO support, newsletter management, and advertising solutions. His work involves identifying and acquiring niche media outlets to expand his companies' reach. amediaoperator+2
Kaplan's expertise is deeply rooted in his experience at Morning Brew, where he spent several years in growth, product, and strategy roles. He was instrumental in expanding the company's offerings into various niche segments and new media formats, demonstrating a strong understanding of content diversification and audience engagement. substack
He is a proponent of the creator economy, assisting content creators in professionalizing their operations and monetizing their content. Through Smooth Media, he helps creators treat their craft as a business, providing the operational know-how to scale and optimize their ventures. beehiiv+2
Work
Education
Writing
Announcing Smoothβs Newest Service: The Fractional COO for Creators
May 1, 2023A blog post by Josh Kaplan outlining Smooth Media's new fractional COO service for creators, emphasizing that creators are businesses requiring operational support.
Growing the team and outlining what Smooth actually does
September 1, 2022A blog post co-authored by Josh Kaplan and Jenny Rothenberg detailing team expansion at Smooth Media and the company's organizational framework for its creator-led media businesses.
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