Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Hank Green
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Hank Green made an impact.
Hank Green is an American YouTuber, science communicator, novelist, comedian, and entrepreneur. Known for his educational YouTube channels like Crash Course and SciShow, co-created with his brother John Green (Vlogbrothers), Hank explains complex topics in engaging ways. He's also a social activist, musician, and active on platforms like TikTok. His work focuses on education, science communication, and fostering online communities, making him a prominent figure in online education and entertainment.
1994: Creation of the "Mars Exploration Page"
In 1994, Hank Green created his first web project, the "Mars Exploration Page", which gained some attention following the Mars Pathfinder Mission.
2007: Project for Awesome (P4A) Introduced
In 2007, Hank and John Green introduced the Project for Awesome (P4A), an annual charity project involving YouTube users creating videos to promote charities.
2008: DFTBA Records Co-Founded
In 2008, Hank Green and Alan Lastufka co-founded DFTBA Records, an e-commerce merchandise company initially focused on music by YouTubers.
2008: First Meetup with Nerdfighters and Album Release
In 2008, John and Hank Green had their first meetup with fans, known as "Nerdfighters". In November 2008, Hank released his first album of Nerdfighter-themed songs, titled So Jokes during a national tour with his brother.
2010: First VidCon Held
In 2010, the first VidCon, an annual conference based around online video, was held. It was founded by the Green brothers.
2011: Creation of 2-D Glasses
In 2011, Hank Green created "2-D" glasses, designed to allow comfortable viewing of 3-D movies in 2-D for those experiencing discomfort.
2011: Project for Awesome Raises Less Than Previous Year
In 2011, for the first time, the Project for Awesome raised less money than the previous year, marking a deviation from the trend of increasing funds.
January 2012: Creation of SciShow
In January 2012, Hank Green created the science YouTube channel SciShow, initially funded by YouTube, featuring videos focused on various scientific fields.
2012: Creation of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
In 2012, Hank Green and Bernie Su created The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a modern video blog adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
2013: Launch of Subbable
In 2013, the Green brothers launched Subbable, a monthly subscription-based crowdfunding platform to fund Crash Course and SciShow.
April 2014: Launch of SciShow Space
In April 2014, the spin-off channel SciShow Space was launched to cover space topics, hosted by Green, Reid Reimers, and Caitlin Hofmeister.
June 19, 2014: Alan Lastufka Resigns from DFTBA Records
On June 19, 2014, Alan Lastufka announced that he had sold his entire stake in DFTBA Records and resigned as president.
January 2015: Interview with President Obama
In January 2015, Hank Green interviewed President Obama at The White House as part of a group of YouTube creators organized by Google.
March 2015: Launch of Crash Course: Kids
In March 2015, Crash Course: Kids was launched as part of YouTube Kids, with Sabrina Cruz hosting a Science course for a younger audience.
March 2015: Patreon Acquired Subbable
In March 2015, Patreon acquired Subbable, integrating Subbable's creators into its platform and providing pledge matching funds to ease the transition.
March 2015: Premiere of SciShow Kids
In March 2015, SciShow Kids premiered, aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 6, and hosted by Jessi Knudsen Castañeda.
June 2015: Dear Hank & John Podcast Started
In June 2015, Hank Green and his brother John Green launched the weekly podcast "Dear Hank & John".
2015: Launch of NerdCon: Stories
In 2015, Hank Green launched NerdCon: Stories, a conference focused on storytelling media, with the first event held in Minneapolis.
June 2016: Internet Creators Guild (ICG) Founded
In June 2016, Hank Green founded the Internet Creators Guild (ICG), a nonprofit organization to represent online creators.
2016: EcoGeek Renamed Complexly
In 2016, Hank Green's LLC and production company EcoGeek was renamed Complexly, producing and managing YouTube shows, podcasts, and other projects.
2016: Second NerdCon: Stories Held
In 2016, the second NerdCon: Stories returned to the Minneapolis Convention Center, featuring many of its original guests.
March 2017: Launch of SciShow Psych
In March 2017, SciShow Psych launched, hosted by Green and Brit Garner, teaching about the human brain and providing psychology information.
September 25, 2018: Publication of "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing"
On September 25, 2018, Hank Green's debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, was published.
June 2019: Launch of Journey to the Microcosmos
In June 2019, Journey to the Microcosmos, hosted by Hank Green and produced by Complexly, was started to explore the microscopic world.
July 2019: Internet Creators Guild (ICG) Shut Down
In July 2019, the Internet Creators Guild (ICG) shut down due to a lack of financial stability and difficulty organizing without a physical presence.
September 2019: Hank Green Started Creating TikTok Content
In September 2019, Hank Green began creating content on TikTok, which led to significant success and recognition on the platform.
June 2020: Launch of Bizarre Beasts
In June 2020, Bizarre Beasts, hosted by Hank Green and Sarah Suta and produced by Complexly, was started to create videos about unusual animal species.
July 7, 2020: Publication of "A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor"
On July 7, 2020, Hank Green's sequel to his debut novel, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, was published.
July 26, 2020: A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor on Bestseller List
On July 26, 2020, Hank Green's sequel to "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing", titled "A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor", appeared on the New York Times Bestsellers list at number 6.
August 2020: TikTok Views and Revenue
As of August 2020, Hank Green had received an estimated $700 from 20,000,000 TikTok views in a month, averaging about 3.5 cents per 1,000 views.
November 2020: Awesome Socks Club Started
In November 2020, the Green brothers started the "Awesome Socks Club", a monthly subscription service where members receive socks designed by independent artists with post-tax profits going to Partners in Health.
April 2021: Hank Green Donates TikTok Revenue
In April 2021, Hank Green announced his decision to donate his TikTok Creator Fund revenue, exceeding $35,000, to the First Nations Development Institute.
2021: Project for Awesome Moved to Late February
In 2021, the Project for Awesome event was moved to late February, and a record $2,368,016 was raised.
January 2022: Hank Green Criticizes TikTok Creator Fund
In January 2022, Hank Green released a YouTube video criticizing TikTok's Creator Fund payment structure, highlighting the diminishing earnings for creators as the platform grows.
March 2022: Awesome Socks Club Membership
As of March 2022, the Awesome Socks Club had 45,000 members.
March 2022: Awesome Coffee Club Started
In March 2022, the Green brothers started the "Awesome Coffee Club", with an identical business model and goal as the Awesome Socks Club.
August 2022: Subscriber Counts for Awesome Clubs
In August 2022, Hank Green reported that the Awesome Socks Club had over 40,000 subscribers and the Awesome Coffee Club had over 10,000 subscribers.
September 2022: Interview with Monica Tranel
In September 2022, Hank Green interviewed Democrat Monica Tranel, who ran for Montana's 1st congressional district, in Missoula.
April 2023: Donations from Awesome Clubs Q1 2023
In April 2023, Hank Green announced that Q1 2023 donations from the Awesome Socks Club and the Awesome Coffee Club totaled $583,911.
April 2023: Launch of Sun Basin Soap
In April 2023, the Green brothers launched "Sun Basin Soap", their third charitable company.
June 2023: TikTok Following Milestone
As of June 2023, Hank Green had amassed over 7 million followers and over 563 million likes on TikTok, where he posts educational, humorous, and social commentary videos.
August 2023: Subscriptions Under Common Branding of "Good Store"
In August 2023, the subscriptions for Awesome Socks Club and Awesome Coffee Club were brought under the common branding of "Good Store".
2023: Stand-Up Comedy Routine About Cancer
In 2023, after his cancer diagnosis, Hank Green began developing a stand-up comedy routine about the disease, performing in Missoula starting in July and later in upstate New York in October.
2023: Hank Green Steps Down as CEO of Complexly
In late 2023, Hank Green stepped down as CEO of Complexly, the umbrella organization that produces and manages most of his YouTube shows and other projects.
May 2024: Interview with Pete Buttigieg
In May 2024, Hank Green interviewed United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
June 21, 2024: Release of "Pissing Out Cancer" Comedy Special
On June 21, 2024, Hank Green's comedy special titled Pissing Out Cancer was released on the streaming service Dropout.
2024: Awesome Coffee Club Rebrands to "Keats and Co."
In mid-2024, the Awesome Coffee Club rebranded to "Keats and Co." as they began selling tea as well as coffee.
2025: Return to Dropout as Guest Performer
Hank Green's return to Dropout was announced in 2025, as a guest performer on the second season of their panel show Smartypants.
