Here's a list of 11 news unicorn startups, including the well-known Reddit and BuzzFeed.
The News space is filled with successful companies that have raised millions of dollars in VC funding that came from some of the top investors in the world.
Many of these successes have turned into unicorns—private companies worth over $1 billion.
If you want to achieve it, these 11 companies can be your inspiration.
BuzzFeed is an internet media company delivering news and entertainment to a global audience.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1.70
B (
August 2015
)
Country:
United States
City:
New York
Started in:
2001
Founders:
Ankit Gupta, John Johnson, Jonah Peretti
Industries:
Advertising, Digital Entertainment, Internet, Journalism, News, Publishing, Social, Social News, Video
Number of employees:
1,000-5,000
Funding Amount:
$496,300,000
Number of funding rounds:
8
Number of investors:
15
DailyHunt provides a 24×7 mobile application that keeps you updated on the news from across the globe.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1.00
B (
December 2020
)
Country:
India
City:
Bangalore
Started in:
2007
Founders:
Umang Bedi, Umesh Kulkarni, Virendra Gupta
Industries:
Information Technology, Language Learning, Mobile, News, Operating Systems, Social Media, Social News, Software
Number of employees:
250-500
Funding Amount:
No Data
Number of funding rounds:
No Data
Number of investors:
No Data
Flipboard combines the functionality of a social news platform with a tablet app to create a magazine-like experience.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1.32
B (
July 2015
)
Country:
United States
City:
Palo Alto
Started in:
2010
Founders:
Evan Doll, Mike McCue
Industries:
Apps, iOS, Media and Entertainment, Mobile, News, Social
Number of employees:
100-250
Funding Amount:
$210,500,000
Number of funding rounds:
5
Number of investors:
19
Hupu provides news and commentary for sports fans. It is the premier destination where sports fanatics can congregate, discuss their favorite teams, and follow their favorite players.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1.10
B (
June 2019
)
Country:
China
City:
Shanghai
Started in:
2004
Founders:
Shawn Cheng
Industries:
Media and Entertainment, News, Social Media, Sports
Number of employees:
500-1,000
Funding Amount:
$337,927,040
Number of funding rounds:
5
Number of investors:
5
Lamabang is a Chinese ecommerce company that creates lifestyle products for modern mothers who are always on the go.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1.00
B (
March 2015
)
Country:
China
City:
Shenzhen
Started in:
2012
Founders:
Jin Zan
Industries:
E-Commerce, Fashion, Internet, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Shopping
Number of employees:
100-250
Funding Amount:
$130,000,000
Number of funding rounds:
4
Number of investors:
8
News Break is a technology company dedicated to building digital experiences for individuals and brands.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1
B (
January 2021
)
Country:
United States
City:
Mountain View
Started in:
2015
Founders:
Jeff Zheng, Xuyang Ren
Industries:
Apps, Artificial Intelligence, Journalism, Media and Entertainment, Mobile, News, Search Engine
Number of employees:
100-250
Funding Amount:
$151,400,080
Number of funding rounds:
5
Number of investors:
3
ONE Championship is Asia’s largest global sports media property with a unique vision for the martial arts industry.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1
B (
October 2018
)
Country:
Singapore
City:
Singapore
Started in:
2011
Founders:
Chatri Sityodtong
Industries:
Broadcasting, Media and Entertainment, News, Sports
Number of employees:
250-500
Funding Amount:
$336,000,000
Number of funding rounds:
3
Number of investors:
6
Reddit is a place for community, conversation, and connection with millions of users worldwide.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$6.00
B (
July 2017
)
Country:
United States
City:
San Francisco
Started in:
2005
Founders:
Alexis Ohanian, Steve Huffman
Industries:
Content, News, Social Bookmarking, Social Media, Social Network
Number of employees:
500-1,000
Funding Amount:
$919,049,748
Number of funding rounds:
8
Number of investors:
27
SmartNews is an app that brings curated news from trustworthy sources to your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1.20
B (
August 2019
)
Country:
Japan
City:
Tokyo
Started in:
2012
Founders:
Kaisei Hamamoto, Ken Suzuki
Industries:
Apps, Journalism, Media and Entertainment, Mobile, News
Number of employees:
100-250
Funding Amount:
$180,285,113
Number of funding rounds:
5
Number of investors:
16
Vice is a multi-platform media company. They make television, videos, magazines, and websites about the things that interest young people.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$5.70
B (
April 2011
)
Country:
United States
City:
Brooklyn
Started in:
1994
Founders:
Shane Smith, Suroosh Alvi
Industries:
Media and Entertainment, News, Publishing, Video, Video Streaming
Number of employees:
1,000-5,000
Funding Amount:
$1,470,000,000
Number of funding rounds:
7
Number of investors:
11
Yidian Zixun, a professional mobile news aggregator, provides users with concentrated and syndicated news feeds.
Details of the startup:
Valuation:
$1.40
B (
October 2017
)
Country:
China
City:
Beijing
Started in:
2013
Founders:
Jeff Zheng, Xuyang Ren
Industries:
Media and Entertainment, News, Social News
Number of employees:
500-1,000
Funding Amount:
$178,200,000
Number of funding rounds:
4
Number of investors:
2
