James Lee Wen, the Founder and CEO of UnPress, stands as a visionary force in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. UnPress, a groundbreaking participatory distribution platform, is redefining how news and information reach the public. This isn’t just another app or service— UnPress is charting a new course for journalists, independent writers, and communities, empowering them to tell their stories in a democratized, financially sustainable way.

Before UnPress, James had already made his mark in the fields of aviation compliance, technology, and business innovation. His career began with a focus on operational leadership, where he developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by industries navigating constant change. His ability to see beyond the status quo and his passion for innovation eventually led him into consulting, where he began to explore emerging technologies and digital strategies. These experiences would become the foundation for what he would later build with UnPress.
In 2020, while the world was gripped by uncertainty, James launched UnPress in Austin, Texas, backed by his family’s family office. His vision was clear: to create a more inclusive and equitable media landscape. His leadership has driven UnPress to build a cutting-edge infrastructure for news distribution—one that gives unprecedented control back to the journalists and communities who create content. By prioritizing their needs, UnPress enables these creators to monetize their work sustainably, while providing readers with a wide range of diverse, high-quality, and unbiased news.

James’s unwavering commitment to strengthening independent journalism, upholding ethical standards, and promoting diversity is the cornerstone of his work. With UnPress, he is not merely adjusting the course of news distribution—he’s transforming it. Under his guidance, the future of journalism is becoming more participatory, transparent, and accessible to all, ensuring that truth- telling is protected and elevated for generations to come.