Underdog Fantasy
Series A in 2021
Underdog Fantasy is an online daily fantasy sports platform that offers Pick'em games and esports projections. It provides a fantasy football application for drafting lineups, enabling users to compete and earn rewards through tournaments and authorized sports wagering. The company also operates a media network featuring former professional athletes, coaches, analysts, and up‑to‑date sports news.
Underdog Fantasy
Seed Round in 2020
Underdog Fantasy is an online daily fantasy sports platform that offers Pick'em games and esports projections. It provides a fantasy football application for drafting lineups, enabling users to compete and earn rewards through tournaments and authorized sports wagering. The company also operates a media network featuring former professional athletes, coaches, analysts, and up‑to‑date sports news.
Recount Media
Seed Round in 2019
Recount Media, Inc. is a media company based in New York that focuses on delivering political news through high-quality journalism and short-form video content. Founded in 2018, Recount Media publishes The Daily Recount, a flagship show that summarizes significant political events and distills television news into concise, engaging narratives. The company's approach emphasizes clarity and accessibility, aiming to inform viewers in under five minutes without compromising on substance. In addition to The Daily Recount, Recount Media also features curated content such as interviews and Recap 2020, which creatively remixes political news stories. By leveraging mobile apps and web platforms, Recount Media seeks to transform the way audiences consume news, prioritizing straightforward, honest reporting.
Dreams is a New York City-based company that specializes in a mobile-only television platform, focusing on a modern, mobile-first news experience. Founded in 2016 by Tom Bender and Greg Hochmuth, Dreams employs patent-pending computer vision technology to transform live television news into a vertical video format in real-time. This innovative approach allows for the creation of the first-ever live, 24/7 vertical video news channels. The Dreams app is available for free in the United States on both the App Store and Google Play, and it does not require any login or registration, making it accessible to a wide audience.
PandoDaily
Seed Round in 2013
PandoDaily is an online publication based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in technology news, analysis, and commentary, with a particular emphasis on Silicon Valley and startup companies. Founded in 2011, the company provides a range of content, including published articles, monthly events, live video streams, and an extensive video archive. Additionally, PandoDaily features PandoTicker, a service that delivers daily news updates related to the startup ecosystem. Through its various offerings, PandoDaily aims to inform and engage its audience on developments within the technology sector.
Ozy Media, Inc. is a media and entertainment company based in Mountain View, California, that focuses on delivering a diverse array of news and information to a curious audience. Founded in 2012, Ozy operates a daily news, magazine, and video streaming platform that features various programs designed to inform and engage its users. The content encompasses a wide range of topics, including emerging trends, influential figures, and innovative ideas, aiming to provide narratives that challenge conventional perspectives. With an audience of approximately 50 million, Ozy seeks to inspire and broaden viewpoints by presenting fresh narratives across multiple formats, including television, podcasts, and live events.
Newsle is a web application founded in 2011 and based in Mountain View, California. It specializes in aggregating news related to users' social connections, such as Facebook friends, LinkedIn contacts, and notable public figures. The platform employs a news discovery engine that allows users to track and receive updates on publicly available news articles concerning individuals in their social networks. By focusing solely on indexed public content, Newsle provides a tailored news experience that helps users stay informed about the activities and achievements of people they are connected with.
Stitcher, Inc. is a company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2007, that specializes in the development of a mobile application designed for news and entertainment. The Stitcher app allows users to discover a diverse array of radio shows, live radio stations, and podcasts, enabling them to stream content across various devices, including iPhones, iPads, iPods, Android devices, and desktops. The application features a broad network of original content covering numerous topics and offers a premium subscription service. This platform empowers listeners to easily discover, listen to, distribute, and create podcasts, enhancing their audio entertainment experience. As of 2016, Stitcher operates as a subsidiary of Midroll Media, LLC.
Visual Revenue
Seed Round in 2011
Founded in 2010, Visual Revenue, Inc. is a company that develops a real-time predictive analytics platform aimed at enhancing editorial decision-making in data-driven newsrooms. The platform provides tools that support human editors by delivering real-time recommendations and measuring social media success, thereby facilitating content discovery for media organizations. By reducing the complexity of content management, Visual Revenue enables publishers to engage their audiences more effectively while preserving their unique editorial voice. The company's focus is on empowering editors rather than replacing them, ensuring that editorial judgment remains central to the content creation process. In 2013, Visual Revenue was acquired by Outbrain.
Pulse is an elegant news reading application for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. It incorporates colorful panning story bars and fills them with content from your favorite sources. Pulse redefines news, giving you the opportunity to experience the news you desire from traditional sources, your favorite blogs and social networks all in one beautiful interface.
Pulse is developed by Alphonso Labs.
Sulia
Venture Round in 2010
**Sulia is a subject-based social network that connects you to the top social sources on subjects you care about.**
We all have interests that we're extremely passionate about. Whether it's our family, a sports team, breaking news, Hollywood gossip, a hobby, a career, or a political issue, we obsess over our interests everyday.
However, with an endless number of sources talking about an endless number of subjects, it's nearly impossible to find the best sources to follow to across your interests. And, even if you were able to identify the top sources, sifting through all of their content is maddeningly time-consuming.
We built Sulia to address these problems (which were driving us mad too).
Sulia’s subject-based structure of social channels connects trusted sources and enthusiasts on shared interests across thousands of subjects, including breaking news and events. How?
We use a combination of network managers and sophisticated algorithms to identify the best-regarded sources across thousands of subjects. We then dynamically filter content from those sources, regardless of where it's created (a blog, a social network, a media site, through Sulia's publishing system, etc.), into high-quality, realtime social channels. The result is streams of timely content from trusted sources that is always on-topic, readable, and relevant.
People use Sulia everyday to discover new sources and engage with their interests.
Sulia is backed by leading media and technology investors, including:
-- Firstmark Capital: Rick Heitzmann
-- Village Ventures: Matt Harris, Bo Peabody
-- IA Capital Partners: Roger Ehrenberg
-- Founder Collective: Chris Dixon
-- SV Angels: Ron Conway
-- Mark Gerson, Founder, Gerson Lehrman Group
Vox Media
Series C in 2010
Vox Media is a prominent media company that specializes in creating, publishing, and distributing online content tailored to young adults globally. Founded in 2012, it operates a diverse portfolio of brands, including SB Nation, which focuses on sports and fan communities; The Verge, a technology publication; Polygon, aimed at adult gamers; Vox.com, which covers news and interests; Eater, centered on food and dining; Racked, which focuses on shopping, beauty, and fashion; Curbed, dedicated to real estate and home; and Re/code, a tech business publication. Additionally, Vox Media encompasses Vox Creative, a division that develops marketing narratives for brands, and offers advertising services through Vox Advertising and the Concert advertising solution. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in New York City, Vox Media is committed to sustainable editorial practices and responsible industry leadership.
Wavii is an online platform that specializes in automatically generating status updates about celebrities, companies, politicians, and various trending topics. Utilizing proprietary Natural Language Processing technology, Wavii scans and analyzes news articles, blogs, and tweets across the internet to distill and de-duplicate information, effectively summarizing significant events such as political victories, relationship changes, acquisitions, or product launches. Users can follow specific topics of interest in a manner similar to how they follow friends on social media, making it easier to stay informed about the subjects that matter to them. Wavii is accessible through both web and smartphone applications, providing a streamlined way to consume news.
BuzzFeed, Inc. is a tech-driven media company that specializes in delivering breaking news, original reporting, and entertainment content across various digital platforms. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in New York, BuzzFeed engages a global audience with its diverse offerings, which include articles, quizzes, videos, and lifestyle content through well-known brands such as Tasty. The company also emphasizes investigative journalism through BuzzFeed News and produces original content for multiple formats via BuzzFeed Studios. Additionally, BuzzFeed Commerce focuses on social commerce products, licensing, and strategic partnerships. With a reach of over 200 million users, BuzzFeed aims to create shareable content that resonates across the social web.
Stitcher, Inc. is a company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2007, that specializes in the development of a mobile application designed for news and entertainment. The Stitcher app allows users to discover a diverse array of radio shows, live radio stations, and podcasts, enabling them to stream content across various devices, including iPhones, iPads, iPods, Android devices, and desktops. The application features a broad network of original content covering numerous topics and offers a premium subscription service. This platform empowers listeners to easily discover, listen to, distribute, and create podcasts, enhancing their audio entertainment experience. As of 2016, Stitcher operates as a subsidiary of Midroll Media, LLC.
**Sulia is a subject-based social network that connects you to the top social sources on subjects you care about.**
We all have interests that we're extremely passionate about. Whether it's our family, a sports team, breaking news, Hollywood gossip, a hobby, a career, or a political issue, we obsess over our interests everyday.
However, with an endless number of sources talking about an endless number of subjects, it's nearly impossible to find the best sources to follow to across your interests. And, even if you were able to identify the top sources, sifting through all of their content is maddeningly time-consuming.
We built Sulia to address these problems (which were driving us mad too).
Sulia’s subject-based structure of social channels connects trusted sources and enthusiasts on shared interests across thousands of subjects, including breaking news and events. How?
We use a combination of network managers and sophisticated algorithms to identify the best-regarded sources across thousands of subjects. We then dynamically filter content from those sources, regardless of where it's created (a blog, a social network, a media site, through Sulia's publishing system, etc.), into high-quality, realtime social channels. The result is streams of timely content from trusted sources that is always on-topic, readable, and relevant.
People use Sulia everyday to discover new sources and engage with their interests.
Sulia is backed by leading media and technology investors, including:
-- Firstmark Capital: Rick Heitzmann
-- Village Ventures: Matt Harris, Bo Peabody
-- IA Capital Partners: Roger Ehrenberg
-- Founder Collective: Chris Dixon
-- SV Angels: Ron Conway
-- Mark Gerson, Founder, Gerson Lehrman Group
Blekko is a search company established in 2007 by Rich Skrenta and a team that includes members from Topix and Netscape's Open Directory. The company specializes in offering a web search engine and a mobile application, as well as a social news platform designed to filter search results. Blekko allows users to search for content based on specific categories relevant to their queries, differentiating itself in the competitive search engine market. The company has attracted investment from Baseline Ventures and several former Google employees, highlighting its innovative approach to enhancing online search experiences.
Yardbarker
Seed Round in 2007
Yardbarker Media is a leading sports and entertainment media platform in the United States, attracting over 12 million user sessions monthly. Established in 2006, it offers a comprehensive online publishing platform that features articles, news, and information pertinent to sports. Yardbarker provides a space for sports fans, bloggers, and professional athletes to read, discuss, and engage with a variety of sports content, including articles, photos, and videos. The company also operates an online store that sells clothing and accessories for men, women, and children, alongside gift cards. Additionally, Yardbarker curates and sends out popular email newsletters, such as 'The Morning Bark' and 'Quiz of the Day,' to more than 370,000 daily subscribers, further enhancing its reach and engagement within the sports community.