The global news and media industry includes a select group of high-growth private companies. Their focus ranges from AI-driven news aggregation to specialized sports content.
Japan's SmartNews leads the pack with a $2B valuation for its news discovery app. In the sports sector, ONE Championship has raised $565M for its combat sports promotion.
Below is the full list of 7 News unicorn startups at this time.
Top 7 Most Valuable News Unicorns
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Get the Sheet for $50SmartNews created a news discovery app that uses machine learning to deliver stories from thousands of global publishers. The app helps users find quality information from a wide range of sources, moving them beyond the typical filter bubble.
| Valuation | $2B (Joined August 2019) |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Kaisei Hamamoto, Ken Suzuki |
| Funding Amount | $410.3M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series F |
| Top Investors | SMBC Venture Capital, Dentsu, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Globis Capital Partners, Atomico |
Yidian Zixun developed a mobile news aggregator that delivers a personalized feed of articles and information. The platform uses an interest-based engine to curate content, helping users discover stories relevant to their tastes.
| Valuation | $1.4B (Joined October 2017) |
| Headquarters | Beijing, Beijing, China |
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Jeff Zheng, Xuyang Ren |
| Funding Amount | $178.2M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series E |
| Top Investors | Phoenix New Media, Long De Cheng Zhang Culture Communication, Dunhong Capital Management, Dyee Capital |
Substack offers a platform that helps independent writers launch and grow subscription-based newsletters. They provide the tools for writers to publish directly to their audience and earn an income from their work.
| Valuation | $1.1B (Joined July 2025) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Christopher Best, Hamish McKenzie, Jairaj Sethi |
| Funding Amount | $200.2M |
| Company Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Andreessen Horowitz, Y Combinator, Bond, VentureSouq, Quiet Capital |
Minute Media operates a portfolio of digital media brands, including FanSided and The Players' Tribune, focused on sports and culture. They also provide the underlying technology that powers content creation, distribution, and monetization for digital publishers.
| Valuation | $1B (Joined January 2024) |
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Asaf Peled, Gilad Beiman, Yuval Larom |
| Funding Amount | $260M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | BlackRock, Battery Ventures, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, Dawn Capital |
OneFootball operates a comprehensive digital platform dedicated to global soccer coverage. The app provides fans with live scores, breaking news, and video content for leagues and competitions worldwide.
| Valuation | $1B |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Berlin, Germany |
| Year Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | Lucas Cranach |
| Funding Amount | $442M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Liberty City Ventures, Earlybird Venture Capital, Union Square Ventures, Quiet Capital, Lakestar |
ONE Championship produces global combat sports events that showcase top-tier athletes in MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. They have established themselves as one of the world's largest martial arts organizations, recognized for high production value and massive global viewership.
| Valuation | $1B |
| Headquarters | Singapore, Central Region, Singapore |
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Chatri Sityodtong, Victor Cui |
| Funding Amount | $565M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Peak XV Partners, Qatar Investment Authority, Temasek Holdings, Guggenheim Investments, Sequoia Capital |
Jellysmack builds technology that powers the growth of video creators on social media. Their team partners with creators to optimize and distribute their content across new platforms, helping them reach a wider audience.
| Valuation | $1B |
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Michael Philippe, Robin Sabban, Swann Maizil |
| Funding Amount | $22M |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Partech, SoftBank Vision Fund, OneRagtime, Highland Europe, Broadway Video Ventures |