The news industry is being reshaped by a variety of companies. These businesses range from modern content platforms to traditional media outlets.
For example, TelevisaUnivision has secured $1.7 billion in funding for its media operations. Meanwhile, platforms like Substack are empowering independent writers with over $200 million in backing.
Below is our list of 55 News startups worth keeping an eye on.
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Get the Sheet for $50Substack provides a platform for independent writers to publish newsletters and get paid directly by their readers. The service combines publishing, payment, and analytics tools, allowing creators to build a business from their writing.
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Christopher Best, Hamish McKenzie, Jairaj Sethi |
| Funding Amount | $200.2M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Andreessen Horowitz, Y Combinator, Bond, Quiet Capital, VentureSouq |
Minute Media operates a portfolio of digital publishing brands focused on sports and culture. Their proprietary technology platform powers the creation and distribution of content across their various fan-driven publications.
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Asaf Peled, Gilad Beiman, Yuval Larom |
| Funding Amount | $260M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | BlackRock, HSBC, Battery Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Dawn Capital |
Forbes provides news and information focused on business, investing, technology, and entrepreneurship through its magazine and digital platforms. The media brand is widely recognized for its influential lists and rankings, such as the Forbes 400 and 30 Under 30.
| Headquarters | Jersey City, New Jersey, United States |
| Year Founded | 1917 |
| Founders | B. C. Forbes |
| Funding Amount | $200M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Binance |
Medium builds an open publishing platform that gives a voice to writers, thinkers, and storytellers from around the world. The platform is known for its focus on quality content and a clean reading experience, connecting readers with fresh perspectives on a wide array of subjects.
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Biz Stone |
| Funding Amount | $163M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Andreessen Horowitz, SV Angel, LAUNCH, TCG, Obvious Ventures |
Plural offers a public policy intelligence platform for teams to discover and act on legislative changes. The software helps organizations manage their entire policy workflow, from tracking bills to collaborating on strategy.
| Headquarters | Washington, District of Columbia, United States |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Damola Ogundipe, Yemi Adewunmi |
| Funding Amount | $10M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Menlo Ventures, Techstars, M25, S3 Ventures, Boomtown Accelerators |
TelevisaUnivision creates and distributes Spanish-language content for a global audience across its television, digital, and audio platforms. The media giant owns a massive library of original news, sports, and entertainment content that powers its broadcast networks and the streaming service ViX.
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida, United States |
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta |
| Funding Amount | $1.7B |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Google, The Raine Group, Sopris Capital Associates, SOFTBANK Latin America Ventures, ForgeLight |
NPR produces and distributes multimedia news and cultural programming to a network of public radio stations across the United States. Their signature shows, like Morning Edition and All Things Considered, serve as a daily source of in-depth reporting for millions of listeners.
| Headquarters | Washington, District of Columbia, United States |
| Year Founded | 1970 |
| Founders | Fabian Pfortmüller, Guy Raz, Mike Starling |
| Funding Amount | $21.7M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Grant |
| Top Investors | Eric Schmidt, Imaginable Futures, Wendy Schmidt |
Penske Media Corporation manages a constellation of iconic digital media and publishing brands that reach millions of readers globally. This portfolio includes household names such as Variety, Rolling Stone, and WWD, covering everything from entertainment and music to fashion and art.
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2003 |
| Founders | Edward Hertzman, Jay Penske, Lee Caplin, Michael Ausiello |
| Funding Amount | $200M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | — |
TuneIn provides a streaming audio service that brings together live sports, news, music, podcasts, and radio stations from around the world. The platform is recognized for its vast library of content, giving listeners access to over 100,000 stations and millions of podcasts in one place.
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2002 |
| Founders | Bill Moore |
| Funding Amount | $146.6M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | General Catalyst, Sequoia Capital, IVP, True Ventures, GV |
Mediacom Communications operates as the 5th largest cable provider in the U.S., delivering high-speed internet, video, and phone services. The company primarily serves smaller cities and towns, acting as the leading broadband provider in many of its markets.
| Headquarters | Middletown, New York, United States |
| Year Founded | 1995 |
| Founders | Rocco B. Commisso |
| Funding Amount | $18.9M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Grant |
| Top Investors | Governor's Office of Planning and Budget |
45 Additional News Startups Worth Following
Those top ten companies are just the beginning. There's a whole ecosystem of founders building new things in media, analytics, and fintech, raising billions of dollars along the way.
Some of these companies are brand new, while others are established names that have been around for more than a century. Here are the other startups that are part of what makes the news industry so interesting right now.