Andrew Kan: From TubeBuddy to Salesforce to Building the Kan Do Creators Community

We're kicking off something new on the KDCC Blog: the Creator Spotlight series.

The idea is simple. We're going to sit down with creators, ask them real questions about their YouTube journey, and let their answers speak for themselves. No fluff, no scripts, just honest conversations about what it actually takes to build on YouTube.

We're starting this series with ourselves. It only felt right. Before we ask anyone else to open up about their journey, we should go first. So we're beginning with the KDCC team, and from there we'll be spotlighting creators from the community and beyond.

First up? Me.

Andrew Kan: From TubeBuddy to Salesforce to Building the Kan Do Creators Community

My name is Andrew Kan and if you're reading this blog, there's a good chance you already know a little about me. But I wanted to do this properly the same way every creator in this series will, by answering the same questions and putting it all out there.

I've spent 13+ years working professionally in the YouTube space. I've been on the MCN side at (Freedom! / Any.tv), then I spent 5+ years at TubeBuddy where I helped grow their channel from 6,000 to over 500,000 subscribers, led YouTube video strategy at Salesforce (Salesforce Careers), and now I run the Kan Do Creators Community with my co-founder Ike. There's also a project I can't talk about just yet, but it's coming.

Through all of it, one thing has stayed the same: I believe YouTube is where art and science meet. And I love helping creators and brands figure out how to make content that they and their audience will enjoy.

Let's get into it.

How did you get into the YouTube world?

I discovered YouTube in 2006. I was sitting in my middle school computer lab and one of my classmates mentioned this "new" website. The first videos I watched were from Ryan Higa, and from there I was hooked. I watched the rise of SMOSH, Fred, Ryan, and saw the first VidCon happen. Even then, I knew this was the space I wanted to be in.

I didn't know it would become a career. I just knew YouTube felt different from everything else. It was also what me and all my friends were watching, none of us had cable but all of us were on YouTube.

After 13+ years in the YouTube industry, what do most creators get wrong early on?

Creators make YouTube harder than it actually is. We get into our heads about our "audience" but in reality it's what we think they want.

Here's how I see it: the data is the story the audience is trying to tell us, and it's up to us if we choose to listen.

I've watched channels rise and fall over the years, and the pattern is always the same. The ones that keep their creative spirit while listening to the audience win again and again. The ones that ignore the data or ignore their instincts eventually stall out.

What's one mindset shift that changed everything for you?

During my first 4 years at TubeBuddy, I grew the channel solo. Just me. Editing, writing, everything. And honestly? That was a mistake. I was treating YouTube like a single player game.

It wasn't until we brought in a talented editor named Stacy that things really took off. She helped us go from 250,000 to 500,000 subscribers in a single year. Why? Because suddenly I had time to focus on the content itself. She elevated our editing and style while I could focus on what I call "Why You", which is why the audience should care about what you're making.

Most creators wait too long to get help. Just like I did. Life isn't a single player game, and neither is YouTube.

What's something about the YouTube ecosystem that most people don't understand?

Two things.

First, people don't realize that their audience's interests evolve, just like their own do. Too many creators keep pulling from the same well without innovating. I was guilty of it myself. But when I started understanding, changing, and evolving with my audience, that's when I was the happiest as a creator. YouTube gives you free tools to see this happening in real time. The Trends tab, Inspiration tab, A/B testing. We have more tools than ever to understand what our audience wants, and by using them we can change and evolve while keeping their interest.

Second, most creators are afraid to start a second channel. They want everything on one. I'd rather have two focused channels each doing one topic well than one overloaded channel splitting the audience.

You founded KDCC. Why? What was missing?

I founded the Kan Do Creators Community with my long time friend and collaborator, Ike. I brought Ike into the TubeBuddy fold years ago and she became someone I relied on to review my scripts and push the content further. She's incredibly talented and helped me with a lot when it comes to YouTube. She was amazing at support and is a very talented writer in her own right.

When TubeBuddy was acquired by BENlabs (formerly BEN Entertainment), a lot changed. Ike and I wanted to do our own thing, and we wanted to go back to the root of what we always believed: community first, and the rest follows.

That's how KDCC was born. It's a membership, consulting resource, and education hub for creators who want to grow on YouTube. And it's built by people who've actually done the work.

What has KDCC taught you that you wouldn't have figured out on your own?

That community and audience are two different things. And most creators confuse them.

Community is the audience that said yes and took the next step. The audience is the people you want to reach. They're separate. And when you understand that, everything changes. The people in your community already know you, like you, and trust you. They're far more likely to support you, give you feedback, and stick around.

Learning that distinction has shaped how we build everything at KDCC.

Best piece of YouTube advice you've ever received?

It came from Phil Starkovich, the former creator and founder of TubeBuddy. Phil was ahead of YouTube's shift from views to watch time before most people even saw it coming. He told me he didn't care about the view count. He cared about the experience, the time spent, the growth.

That's basically what YouTube would later call "Viewer Satisfaction." Phil was always early to the party, which is why he was such a strong leader for TubeBuddy. That advice rewired how I think about success on the platform. It's not about chasing a views number. It's about whether people actually got value from what you made.

Finish this sentence: "I Kan Do It because..."

I Kan Do It because it needs to be done. People need help, and when you know YouTube like I do, you have to find ways to help as many people as you Kan. That's what makes it sustainable.

I love YouTube. I've wanted to do this for a long time and I have the privilege to do so. I see success like an elevator, not a ladder. A lot of businesses see it as a climb where only a few people make it to the top. I don't see it that way. We can all rise together.

Where can people find you?

You can find me and the KDCC community across these platforms:

• YouTube: youtube.com/@andrewkan
• KDCC: kdcc.social
• Blog & Newsletter: blog.kdcc.social
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrewtkan
• Threads: @andrewkanfilm

What I Hope This Series Becomes

This Creator Spotlight series is about real people sharing real experiences. No gatekeeping, no fluff. Just creators talking about what they've learned, what they got wrong, and what they'd tell someone just starting out.

Next up, we'll be featuring more of the KDCC team. And after that, we're opening it up to creators in the community and beyond. If you're a creator with a story to tell, we want to hear it.

Here's what stood out from my own answers, and honestly, it surprised me to see it all written down:

Data tells a story. Your analytics aren't just numbers. They're your audience trying to communicate with you. The creators who listen are the ones who grow.

YouTube is not a single player game. The moment I brought on an editor at TubeBuddy, the channel went from 250K to 500K in a year. Most creators wait too long to get help.

Your audience evolves. Pulling from the same well without innovating is a trap. YouTube gives you free tools to understand what's changing. Use them.

Community and audience are different things. Community is the audience that took the next step. Understanding that distinction drives everything at KDCC.

Success is an elevator, not a ladder. We can all rise together. That's the whole point of the Kan Do Creators Community and the "If I Kan, You Kan Too" mission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Andrew Kan?

Andrew Kan is a YouTube growth strategist, creator educator, and the founder of the Kan Do Creators Community (KDCC). He spent 5+ years at TubeBuddy where he grew their YouTube channel from 6,000 to over 500,000 subscribers, then led video strategy at Salesforce before founding KDCC. He has over 13 years of professional YouTube industry experience.

What is KDCC (Kan Do Creators Community)?

KDCC is a creator education community founded by Andrew Kan and his collaborator Ike. It helps YouTube creators and brands grow through membership, consulting, and educational resources. The community was built on the principle of "community first, and the rest follows."

Did Andrew Kan work at TubeBuddy?

Yes. Andrew Kan spent over 5 years at TubeBuddy where he was responsible for growing their YouTube channel from approximately 6,000 subscribers to over 500,000 subscribers. He later brought that audience development expertise to Salesforce before founding KDCC.

What is Andrew Kan's YouTube channel?

Andrew Kan's YouTube channel is called Andrew Kan, available at youtube.com/@andrewk. He creates content helping creators and brands better understand their audience and make content that resonates.

Andrew Kan Channel: Andrew Kan Niche: YouTube Growth, Creator Strategy & Audience Development YouTube Experience: 13+ years including 5+ years at TubeBuddy (6K to 500K+ subscribers), Salesforce, and Freedom!/Any.tv Role: Founder, Kan Do Creators Community Find Andrew: YouTube · LinkedIn · Threads

Want to be part of a community of creators with real YouTube industry experience? The Kan Do Creators Community is a membership, consulting resource, and education hub built by people who have been in the trenches. Learn more about KDCC.