In an era of rapidly evolving media landscapes, innovative journalism startups are reshaping how we consume and engage with news. These trailblazing companies leverage technology, data, and creative storytelling to address the challenges facing modern journalism. From revolutionizing content delivery to empowering independent voices, here are the cutting-edge journalism startups that are redefining the future of news and information.
Best Journalism Companies to Follow
Every year, new startups pull to the forefront of their industry through exciting innovation and industry-disrupting business models. We’ve rounded up the most exciting journalism startups of 2024 that startup-lovers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs should follow.
Disclaimer: With so many exciting startups launching and growing worldwide, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups that are listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.
1. Vietcetera
- Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Founder(s): Hao Tran, Guy Truong, Anh Minh Do
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series A, $3.4 Million
- Investors Include: Z Venture Capital, East Ventures, North Base Media
You may not have heard of Vietcetera, but if you lived in Vietnam, it would be hard to miss. The company offers the people of Vietnam high-quality journalism across topics like business, news, culture, and lifestyle. It offers its written and video content in Vietnamese and English, but it targets the Vietnamese population where it thrives.
2. Fanatiz
- Location: Miami, Florida
- Founder(s): Mattias Larrain, David Belmar, Raúl Rivera
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Private Equity Growth, $92.8 Million
- Investors Include: 777 Partners, MEP Capital, Aliya Capital Partners
Fanatiz is a digital media company that focuses on bringing sports coverage to any device, any time, anywhere. Subscribers are able to watch global coverage and even customize the experience based on their favorite teams. People can find information on sports they wouldn’t normally be able to watch locally so that they can consume any content they prefer.
3. The Flip Side
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Founder(s): Annafi Wahed, Jihan Varisco, Lieke du Bois
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: Later Stage VC, $625,000
- Investors Include: Undisclosed
The Flip Side is a media startup seeking to combat political divisiveness through fair and balanced news reporting. Started as a newsletter post the 2016 election, The Flip Side gathers news from each side of the political spectrum to provide a balanced alternative to news consumption complete with a forum for healthy political discourse.
4. Puck
- Location: New York, New York
- Founder(s): Liz Gough, Max Tcheyan, Jon Kelly, Joe Purzycki
- Founded In: 2021
- Funding: Series B, $20 million
- Investors Include: Standard Investments, RIT Capital Partners, Forty North Media
Drawing its name from the Shakespearean character, Puck was created by veterans of the New York media industry and has a modern twist on the idea of journalism. It takes journalists and turns them into social media influencers by creating a holistic approach to media. While other news companies focus on creating content for articles, Puck News turns those articles into Zoom calls, live events, podcasts, and more.
5. Curio
- Location: London, England
- Founder(s): Srikant Chakravarti, Govind Balakrishnan, Ashish Mehra
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series A, $23.4 Million
- Investors Include: Khosla Ventures, Earlybird Venture Capital, Molten Ventures
Curio is an audio journalism platform that curates and narrates high-quality articles from leading publications. It offers users a personalized listening experience, allowing them to consume thought-provoking content while on the go. Curio’s mission is to make it easier for busy people to stay informed and engaged with the world through audio storytelling.
6. Minute Media
- Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
- Founder(s): Asaf Peled, Yuval Larom, Gili Bieman
- Founded In: 2011
- Funding: Series H, $194 Million
- Investors Include: BlackRock, Frontier Growth, Authentic Brands Group
Minute Media is a global technology and digital publishing platform that powers content creation and distribution for various brands and publishers. It owns and operates several sports and culture websites, including 90min, DBLTAP, and Mental Floss. Minute Media’s technology allows for efficient content creation, monetization, and audience development across multiple digital platforms.
7. Inkitt
- Location: New York, New York
- Founder(s): Ali Albazaz, Denis Stepanov, Linda Gavin
- Founded In: 2014
- Funding: Series C, $118 Million
- Investors Include: Khosla Ventures, CoastCap, Axel Springer
Inkitt is a data-driven publishing platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to discover and promote talented authors. It allows writers to share their work and receive feedback from readers while using algorithms to predict which stories have the potential to become bestsellers. Inkitt aims to democratize publishing by giving new authors a chance to be discovered based on reader engagement rather than traditional gatekeeping methods.
8. Substack
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Founder(s): Christopher Best, Hamish McKenzie, Jairaj Sethi
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: Series B, $95.3 Million
- Investors Include: Celesta Capital, Centre Street Partners, CLF Partners
Substack is a platform that allows writers to create and distribute newsletter-based publications directly to their readers. It provides tools for writers to monetize their content through paid subscriptions, offering a simple way to turn their writing into a sustainable business. Substack has gained popularity among journalists, authors, and thought leaders as an alternative to traditional media outlets by giving them more control over their content and a direct relationship with their audience.
9. Odyssey
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Founder(s): Brady Burns
- Founded In: 2009
- Funding: Series C, $41.9 Million
- Investors Include: Hyde Park Venture Partners, Charmides Capital, Columbus Nova
Odyssey is a social content platform that empowers young writers and creators to share their voices on various topics. It combines elements of social media and digital publishing, allowing contributors to reach a wide audience while building their personal brand. Odyssey’s model focuses on user-generated content — particularly from college students and young professionals — that covers a diverse range of subjects from politics and culture to lifestyle and entertainment.
10. Realm
- Location: New York, New York
- Founder(s): Molly Barton, Julian Yap
- Founded In: 2015
- Funding: Series A, $16 Million
- Investors Include: Graham Holdings, Rethink Impact, Jeremy Yap
Realm (formerly known as Serial Box) is a digital publishing platform that specializes in serialized fiction and audio storytelling. It offers original, episodic content that blends the experience of reading a book with the format of a TV series, allowing users to consume stories in bite-sized installments. Realm produces a variety of genre fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, and thriller, and often collaborates with established authors to create immersive narrative experiences in both text and audio formats.