Former Linus Tech Tips Employees Launch Independent YouTube Channels After Departures
In a significant shift within the digital content landscape, multiple former employees of the popular technology channel Linus Tech Tips have departed from Linus Media Group to establish their own independent YouTube channels. As the company expanded into a vast network of tech content, many on-camera hosts and writers cultivated dedicated followings, which they are now leveraging in their solo ventures.
Alex Clark Transitions from Linus Tech Tips to Zip Tie Tuning
Alex Clark exited Linus Tech Tips in June 2025 following a dispute related to a non-compete clause. During his tenure, Clark primarily contributed to writing and pre-production, assisting with technical builds and making occasional on-camera appearances. In a revealing video titled “Why Linus Tech Tips FIRED Us,” Clark detailed that management presented him with three options after he launched an automotive channel. He recounted, “Shortly after we launched the channel, I was pulled into a meeting with management in HR… and had three options.” These options included shutting down the channel, transferring it to Linus Media Group, or accepting severance and leaving. Clark chose to depart and now manages Zip Tie Tuning alongside a companion tech-focused channel called Zip Tie Tech.
Jake Tivy Explains His Decision to Leave Linus Tech Tips
Jake Tivy, who joined Linus Media Group directly after high school and later rose to writing team supervisor, cited evolving work dynamics as a primary reason for his exit. He expressed that the environment had changed, and projects no longer felt complete from his perspective. After leaving in August 2025, Tivy launched his independent channel, jakkuh. In his video “Why I left Linus Tech Tips,” he explained that the practice of handing off projects made it difficult to take pride in the final outcomes. Tivy stated, “It just made it hard to feel proud of the work I was doing.” He also discussed how company growth and structural shifts impacted his experience, and he is now focused on creating content at his own pace.
Jonathan Horst Returns with a New Channel After Mac Address
Jonathan Horst gained recognition as the host of Mac Address, the Apple-centric channel under Linus Media Group. When the channel was paused in late 2024, Horst confirmed his departure. In a post on X, he wrote, “It was an enormous privilege to work on Mac Address.” After a prolonged hiatus, Horst reemerged in February 2026 with a new independent YouTube channel named Thinking Different. He indicated that this project would explore a broader range of technology topics beyond Apple products, allowing him greater creative flexibility.
Emily Young Restarts Her YouTube Journey Independently
Emily Young also left Linus Media Group and has since revived her personal YouTube channel. While at LMG, she worked mainly as a writer and occasionally appeared on camera. In her video “I Left Linus Media Group, What do I do now?” she reflected on her experiences, noting that being on camera was never her primary objective. Young said, “I was still making the content… being on camera was never the point.” Since her departure, she has concentrated on producing videos independently and shaping her own creative direction.
These departures highlight a growing trend of content creators seeking autonomy and creative control, moving away from larger media groups to build their own brands in the competitive tech content space.
