The McClatchy Company is a prominent newspaper publisher in the United States, operating 30 daily newspapers across 29 markets, including notable titles such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, and The Sacramento Bee. Founded in 1857 by James McClatchy during the California Gold Rush, the company initially focused on California but later expanded its reach to the Northwest and East Coast through strategic acquisitions. McClatchy has established itself as the leading local news provider in its markets, offering a range of services that include print and digital publications, community newspapers, and direct marketing. The company delivers content through its own websites, mobile applications, and various digital platforms. In 2006, McClatchy became the second-largest newspaper publisher in the U.S. after acquiring Knight Ridder Inc., although it subsequently streamlined its portfolio by selling non-strategic newspapers. McClatchy filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 in 2020, highlighting the challenges faced by traditional media in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Its headquarters are located in Sacramento, California.
Accelerate360, LLC is a distribution, data, and media company based in Smyrna, Georgia, incorporated in 2019. It specializes in offering a range of services that include sourcing, distribution, program development, market research, merchandising, and marketing to retailers and consumer product brands. The company aims to provide comprehensive solutions that enhance the operational efficiency and market reach of its clients. As of November 2020, Accelerate360 operates as a subsidiary of A360 Media.
Stringr
Seed Round in 2018
Stringr, Inc. is an innovative company that operates an online marketplace for media content, allowing contributors to upload and license a variety of media formats, including videos and images, to media organizations. Established in 2013 and based in New York, Stringr combines video acquisition with a GenAI-powered remote production software solution, optimizing video workflows for its clients. The platform serves over 1,000 global broadcast news and online media customers and boasts a proprietary network of more than 140,000 videographers situated across the United States and internationally. Stringr offers the largest video news archive, featuring over 1.7 million videos, along with additional services such as daily live pool feeds and original stories. This comprehensive approach provides broadcasters with a diverse array of custom news videos, making Stringr a leading solution in the media production landscape.
ZergNet
Convertible Note in 2018
ZergNet is a content recommendation company that specializes in driving incremental traffic and unique visitors to its partners. By implementing its content recommendation module, ZergNet promotes digital content across a network of prominent publishing partners, including major media companies such as Conde Nast, NBC, and Viacom. The company's platform not only facilitates the publication of content but also offers tailored recommendations that enhance audience engagement. This enables digital publishers to monetize their platforms effectively while expanding their reach through the promotion of curated and relevant content. ZergNet's services significantly contribute to increased traffic, with larger partners seeing hundreds of thousands of new unique visitors daily, ultimately boosting their sales revenue.
Stringr
Seed Round in 2017
Stringr, Inc. is an innovative company that operates an online marketplace for media content, allowing contributors to upload and license a variety of media formats, including videos and images, to media organizations. Established in 2013 and based in New York, Stringr combines video acquisition with a GenAI-powered remote production software solution, optimizing video workflows for its clients. The platform serves over 1,000 global broadcast news and online media customers and boasts a proprietary network of more than 140,000 videographers situated across the United States and internationally. Stringr offers the largest video news archive, featuring over 1.7 million videos, along with additional services such as daily live pool feeds and original stories. This comprehensive approach provides broadcasters with a diverse array of custom news videos, making Stringr a leading solution in the media production landscape.
Offline
Venture Round in 2017
Offline is an O2O technology platform that gives people instant access to the events and experiences in their city, curated daily. Its platform identifies things to do in a city, editorialize them, and deliver them to users' pockets that allow users to fall in love with their city and their life. The company is driven by its mission is to help people fall in love with their city and their life. Offline Media was founded in 2012 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Herald-Sun
Acquisition in 2016
The Herald-Sun is a newspaper based in Durham, North Carolina, that has been serving the community since its establishment in 1889. The company provides a wide range of information across various categories, including business, entertainment, living, news, sports, obituaries, opinion, politics, classifieds, and advertisements. In addition to its print publication, The Herald-Sun also offers news content online and through mobile applications, adapting to the evolving media landscape. As of December 2016, The Herald-Sun operates as a subsidiary of The McClatchy Company.
Pie
Seed Round in 2016
Pie is a company based in San Francisco, California, specializing in the development of a 360 video application for iPhone users. The app allows individuals to easily create and share 360 videos and GIFs, either using a 360 camera or without one. Its user-friendly interface enables quick production and instant sharing of immersive content with friends and followers, catering to the growing demand for interactive and engaging media.
Topix
Series B in 2016
Topix is a technology company specializing in entertainment and news media, serving over 18 million engaged users monthly. The platform offers a diverse range of high-quality content, including topics related to celebrities, pop culture, health, and current events, with users spending an average of 13 minutes per session. By aggregating news from 74,000 sources, Topix provides access to more than 450,000 user-generated forums, fostering discussions and community engagement. Additionally, the company collaborates with major media organizations to enhance their online presence through forums and RSS feeds. With a focus on creating viral and shareable content, Topix categorizes news by topic and geography, catering to a wide audience, including millennials.
Moonlighting
Venture Round in 2016
Moonlighting, Inc. operates a freelance hiring platform that connects freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses for various short to long-term jobs and tasks. Established in 2012 and based in Charlottesville, Virginia, the company offers a mobile, on-demand application that facilitates a virtual marketplace for individuals and small businesses. This platform enables seamless communication between those seeking to hire and those looking for work, allowing for quick and efficient job fulfillment. Moonlighting also provides a blockchain-supported platform and a comprehensive suite of tools designed to empower independent workers globally. By enabling employers to post job opportunities and facilitating instant payment through chat, the company enhances the hiring process for both workers and employers.
WhereBy.Us
Seed Round in 2016
WhereBy.Us Enterprises Inc is a company that specializes in local content and engagement solutions, helping businesses connect with local customers. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, the company operates a community development platform that combines media and technology to foster connections within urban environments. It publishes several media brands, including The New Tropic in Miami and The Evergrey in Seattle, which produce original local journalism, curate daily newsletters, and organize experiential events. WhereBy.Us also offers insights through research and strategy consulting, enabling clients to deepen their understanding of local communities and enhance their engagement with residents. The company's platform serves five cities across the United States, effectively reimagining local media for a modern audience.
RadioPublic
Seed Round in 2016
RadioPublic is an innovative online platform that enhances the podcasting experience for both listeners and creators. It facilitates the discovery and engagement of new podcasts while providing tools for podcasters to connect with their audience and monetize their content. The platform includes features such as embedded web audio players, native podcast applications, and podcast marketing websites. By integrating these resources, RadioPublic supports podcasters in growing their audience and achieving success with their audio storytelling endeavors.
Moonlighting
Seed Round in 2015
Moonlighting, Inc. operates a freelance hiring platform that connects freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses for various short to long-term jobs and tasks. Established in 2012 and based in Charlottesville, Virginia, the company offers a mobile, on-demand application that facilitates a virtual marketplace for individuals and small businesses. This platform enables seamless communication between those seeking to hire and those looking for work, allowing for quick and efficient job fulfillment. Moonlighting also provides a blockchain-supported platform and a comprehensive suite of tools designed to empower independent workers globally. By enabling employers to post job opportunities and facilitating instant payment through chat, the company enhances the hiring process for both workers and employers.
Watchup
Series A in 2014
Watchup, Inc. is a technology company based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2012. It specializes in developing an innovative streaming news application that allows users to create personalized video playlists from a wide range of local, national, and international news channels. The app aggregates content from over 170 video news publishers, including major outlets like CNN and CBS, enabling users to customize their newscasts according to their interests. Watchup's application is available on various platforms, including Apple TV, iOS, Android devices, and Amazon Fire TV. The company has received recognition for its service, being named one of the Best Apps of the Year by Google Play and winning a Webby award in 2016. As of January 2017, Watchup operates as a subsidiary of Plex, Inc.
Engage3
Convertible Note in 2014
Engage3, Inc. is a retail intelligence company that specializes in providing mobile shopping solutions and competitive pricing data. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Davis, California, with an additional office in Scottsdale, Arizona, Engage3 connects consumers with retailers, manufacturers, and media companies to transform mass market promotions into personalized offers. The company offers several platforms, including MissionControl for managing competitive price shops and Vantage for optimizing consumer offers through data analytics and real-time auctioning. Additionally, Engage3 provides ShoppingScout, a personal shopping assistant that helps consumers find information on brands and retailers while managing their shopping experiences. By leveraging data science, Engage3 aids retailers and brands in enhancing their pricing strategies, ultimately serving manufacturers of consumer packaged goods, grocery and drug store retailers, publishers, and consumers.
Wanderful Media
Venture Round in 2014
Wanderful Media, LLC is a retail-focused mobile media company based in Los Gatos, California, with a development and operations office in Chico, California. Founded in 2011, the company specializes in providing shopping applications and mobile networks that engage consumers. Its primary products include Find&Save, which helps shoppers discover sales and receive cash back from local retail stores, and CoffeeTable, a platform for browsing shopping catalogs and purchasing products directly from retailers. Additionally, Wanderful Media operates the Wanderful Mobile Network, which utilizes location and historical data to effectively target audiences for retail advertising, and the Wanderful Regional Network, which offers extensive reach for media companies. Formerly known as ShopCo Holdings, LLC, the company rebranded in September 2012 and now operates as a subsidiary of OwnLocal, Inc.
Wanderful Media
Venture Round in 2012
Wanderful Media, LLC is a retail-focused mobile media company based in Los Gatos, California, with a development and operations office in Chico, California. Founded in 2011, the company specializes in providing shopping applications and mobile networks that engage consumers. Its primary products include Find&Save, which helps shoppers discover sales and receive cash back from local retail stores, and CoffeeTable, a platform for browsing shopping catalogs and purchasing products directly from retailers. Additionally, Wanderful Media operates the Wanderful Mobile Network, which utilizes location and historical data to effectively target audiences for retail advertising, and the Wanderful Regional Network, which offers extensive reach for media companies. Formerly known as ShopCo Holdings, LLC, the company rebranded in September 2012 and now operates as a subsidiary of OwnLocal, Inc.
Knight Ridder
Acquisition in 2006
Knight Ridder is an American media company that specializes in newspaper and internet publishing, along with advertising services. Founded in 1933 by John S. Knight, the company became a pioneer in the industry, notably launching its Viewtron system in 1982 as one of the first experiments with videotex. As of December 2005, Knight Ridder published 32 daily and 65 non-daily newspapers, serving approximately 8.1 million daily and 11.5 million Sunday subscribers. The company also manages its online properties through Knight Ridder Digital, which includes Real Cities, a national network of city and regional websites. Throughout its history, Knight Ridder has invested in various newspapers, technology companies, and television stations. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Knight Ridder operates as a subsidiary of The McClatchy Company.
Topix
Series A in 2005
Topix is a technology company specializing in entertainment and news media, serving over 18 million engaged users monthly. The platform offers a diverse range of high-quality content, including topics related to celebrities, pop culture, health, and current events, with users spending an average of 13 minutes per session. By aggregating news from 74,000 sources, Topix provides access to more than 450,000 user-generated forums, fostering discussions and community engagement. Additionally, the company collaborates with major media organizations to enhance their online presence through forums and RSS feeds. With a focus on creating viral and shareable content, Topix categorizes news by topic and geography, catering to a wide audience, including millennials.
StreamSearch.LIVE
Series C in 2000
THE COMPANY HAS RELAUNCHED AS STREAMSEARCH LIVE StreamSearch, patent pending, reinvents itself and sets out to create a new media platform leveraging live internet video transmissions. We intend to help define this infant industry. Founded in 1999, funded with $32 Million, now relaunched with the best of the old, an optimized new and a dash of futuristic. Many of the original team members, who went off to run ventures of their own, have rejoined the company in its rejuvenated mission. We have also set out to put the .LIVE extension on the map as the .com’s have become stagnant. “If It Moves, It’s .LIVE,” is our intention. LIVE has just begun and StreamSearch is uniquely positioned to be a dominant player in the space. Founded in 1999, StreamSearch established itself as, The Remote Control of the Web: the Internet’s most comprehensive source for audio and video. The Company had millions of LICENSED streaming and downloadable files in every category including entertainment, news, sports, music, movies and more, thereby creating a search engine for audio and video. It produced the Blair Witch 2 and Mission Impossible 2 online movie launches and so much more. The company had raised $32M from Rare Medium Group, Brentwood Venture Capital, Advantage Capital, SAC, Putnam, The McClatchy Company, Gannett Company, and Thomas Weisel Partners. It was headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The company grew to 250 employees and a $100M valuation. We became known for producing the first ever Film and Music Festival on the Net with the awards ceremony at the Playboy Mansion. This led to us producing the Sundance Film Festival online. “This Rudy “Never Quit” on his vision, that now has been updated to LIVE. We are beginning to assemble exactly the team to be a dominant player in the space. Exciting times!” Stay tuned! Rob Shambro
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