Yehuda Niv is the CEO and Founder of Spines, the world’s first tech-driven book publishing platform. Years ago, Yehuda Niv authored a book and, in his search for a publisher, encountered a century-old industry ripe for disruption. He responded by founding Niv Publishing, a publishing house that empowers authors, which has since grown to become the largest publishing house in Israel, publishing 15% of the new books in Israel within a decade. Eleven years after establishing Niv Publishing, Yehuda recognized that the true innovation the publishing world needed was rooted in technology. This led to the creation of Spines. Spines simplifies the authorship journey so writers can focus on what they do best – telling great stories. The Spines platform revolutionizes every aspect of the publishing process, from proofreading, formatting, cover design, distribution and marketing. Authors simply need to upload their manuscripts, and within less than three weeks, they will be able to see their books published, optimized, and available to readers globally, at a fraction of the cost.
Company: Spines
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Yehuda Niv: I’m the CEO and Founder of Spines, the first AI-powered book publishing platform. My journey into publishing began years ago when, as an author myself, I sought a publisher and discovered an industry long overdue for transformation. This experience inspired me to establish Niv Publishing, a company dedicated to empowering authors. Over the past decade, Niv Publishing has grown to become Israel’s largest publisher, responsible for 15% of the new books in the country. Eleven years later, I realized that real innovation in publishing could only come from a technological approach, which led to the creation of Spines. With Spines, we’ve reimagined the publishing process using generative AI to streamline every step—editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, distribution, and marketing. Authors can simply upload their manuscripts, and in under three weeks, their books are published, optimized, and available to readers worldwide at a fraction of the usual cost. This platform allows writers to focus on their craft while we handle the rest, making the journey from manuscript to publication easier and more accessible than ever.
If you were in an elevator with Warren Buffett, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Yehuda Niv: In the world of publishing, traditional methods are still largely analog, and self-publishing authors face significant barriers—from high costs to limited marketing support—making monetization a real challenge. Spines is changing that. We’ve cut the typical publishing timeline from six months to less than three weeks and reduced costs by 30%, providing a fully integrated, AI-driven suite of services for every step of the publishing journey. Authors upload their manuscripts, and our platform automates everything—editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, audiobook creation, distribution, and even marketing.
Spines stands out for its exceptional growth, achieving over 1000% revenue growth year-over-year.
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, is an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle to keep talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued, and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are you adapting to the current shift we see?
Yehuda Niv: In building a publishing house with 400 employees, I learned that the key to employee satisfaction is empowerment. People want to feel that their work is meaningful and that they’re contributing to something important. Fostering a culture where each person’s role is valued and purpose-driven has been essential in keeping our team motivated and engaged.
Online business keeps on surging higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for the year to come and how are you capitalizing on the tidal wave?
Yehuda Niv: I see the ongoing surge in digital adoption as an incredible opportunity for the publishing industry. In the coming year, I expect online-first and AI-driven platforms to play a central role in simplifying and accelerating traditional processes across industries, and publishing is no exception. With remote work, virtual collaboration, and online sales channels becoming the norm, authors and publishers need tools that are both accessible and efficient.
At Spines, we’re capitalizing on this wave by further enhancing our AI-driven platform to make the publishing process faster, more affordable, and accessible from anywhere. We’re focused on streamlining every stage—from manuscript to market—with integrated AI tools that handle editing, formatting, cover design, and marketing, empowering authors to reach their readers globally without the traditional barriers. By continually refining our technology and adding new capabilities, we’re poised to help authors and publishers maximize their reach and success in this digitally-driven era.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Yehuda Niv: The biggest challenge I face isn’t from other publishers; it’s “the drawer.” Each year, around two million books are published in the U.S., but I estimate that only one in ten actually make it to publication. Many authors leave their work in a drawer, often after facing rejection from major publishers who accept only a tiny fraction of submissions—usually from well-known names. Others may have considered self-publishing, only to discover that it can take from 6 to 18 months, cost anywhere between $10,000 and $50,000, and require sourcing professionals for every stage of the process. This reality discourages countless authors, preventing unique voices and stories from reaching readers.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Yehuda Niv: I believe that empowering the people around me is essential. Many underestimate the immense responsibility that comes with running a company until they experience it firsthand. Having a team of talented, dedicated individuals has always been my priority, as surrounding myself with top performers enables us to overcome challenges together and drive the company forward.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Yehuda Niv: If I could choose any business superpower, it would be the ability to see the future. I’ve always been a disruptor—after experiencing the traditional publishing process as an author, I built my own publishing house. When I realized the industry needed technology to evolve, I founded Spines to revolutionize the entire publishing process. Now, with AI at the forefront in 2024, there’s incredible potential but also caution around its impact. Having foresight would allow me to confidently navigate these uncertainties, ensuring I’m always on the right path to achieve my goals and drive impactful change.
What does “success” in 2024 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision
Yehuda Niv: For me, success in 2024 means continuing Spines’ impressive trajectory with year-over-year revenue growth of 1,000%. We’re on track to publish over 2,000 titles by year-end—a significant leap from the 400 titles we published in 2023—and we’re projecting to reach 8,000 titles in 2025. This growth reflects our commitment to transforming the publishing industry and empowering more authors to share their stories with the world.
