Union Square Ventures
Union Square Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2003 that invests across stages from seed to growth in internet-enabled companies. It concentrates on the applications layer of the web, internet services, and mobile platforms that build large networks and benefit from network effects. The firm seeks opportunities where information technology enables scalable business models in sectors such as media, marketing, fintech, climate tech, cryptonetworks, healthcare, and IT-enabled services. Typical initial investments start around $1 million, with larger commitments in select Series A rounds and total checks often reaching up to $20 million per company. It aims to lead investments and maintains active involvement with founders. Primary focus markets include New York, San Francisco, London, and Berlin, reflecting a global footprint with network-driven growth.
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Past deals in Publishing
Paragraph
Seed Round in 2024
Founded in 2021, Paragraph is a Web3-native publishing platform that empowers creators, curators, and community builders by transferring ownership of communities back to them. It offers an all-in-one NFT membership-based publishing and newsletter platform, enabling web3 writers, DAOs, and NFT communities to monetize their content.
Recount Media
Series B in 2021
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.
Meet Cute
Series A in 2020
Meet Cute, Inc. is an entertainment company based in New York that specializes in creating and distributing short-form audio romantic comedies. Founded in 2019, the company offers a platform where users can write, produce, and voice act their own romantic comedy stories. Its flagship product is an audio platform that allows users to craft narratives that take audiences from initial encounters to happy endings in approximately 15 minutes. By focusing on original content in podcast form, Meet Cute aims to provide listeners with engaging stories that evoke happiness and hope, aligning with the enduring appeal of the romantic comedy genre.
Headgum
Seed Round in 2020
Headgum is a comedy-focused podcast network based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2015 by Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld. The company specializes in producing, curating, and promoting high-quality podcast content from various sources around the web. Headgum engages audiences through comic content, live shows, and videos, while also operating an online store to sell podcast-related apparel and accessories. Additionally, it connects podcasters with advertisers by selling host-read advertisements and automating many of the manual processes involved in campaign creation and development.
Recount Media
Series A in 2020
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.
Meet Cute
Seed Round in 2020
Meet Cute, Inc. is an entertainment company based in New York that specializes in creating and distributing short-form audio romantic comedies. Founded in 2019, the company offers a platform where users can write, produce, and voice act their own romantic comedy stories. Its flagship product is an audio platform that allows users to craft narratives that take audiences from initial encounters to happy endings in approximately 15 minutes. By focusing on original content in podcast form, Meet Cute aims to provide listeners with engaging stories that evoke happiness and hope, aligning with the enduring appeal of the romantic comedy genre.
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.
Scroll
Series A in 2018
Scroll operates as an online subscription service, headquartered in the United States, providing access to high-quality journalism content. Its mission is to deliver engaging, noise-free articles from diverse sources, aiming to pierce filter bubbles and foster a sustainable reading experience focused on meaningful content.
Mediachain
Seed Round in 2016
Mediachain is an open media library that utilizes blockchain technology to seamlessly connect media with its creators and relevant information. Founded in 2016 and based in Brooklyn, New York, the company operates as a protocol for registering, identifying, and tracking creative works online. It employs content identification technology to automatically link media to its origin and context, facilitating collaboration among creators, media organizations, and developers on metadata within a universal media library. Mediachain's decentralized architecture allows participants to maintain control over their data while expanding their reach. In April 2017, Mediachain became a subsidiary of Spotify USA Inc.
Wattpad
Series C in 2014
Wattpad is a digital entertainment company based in Toronto, Ontario, founded in 2006 by Allen Lau and Ivan Yuen. It operates an online social storytelling platform that connects a global community of over 65 million users who engage with original stories for more than 20 billion minutes each month. The flagship app allows users to read and write stories, fostering collaboration through comments and multimedia features. In addition to its main platform, Wattpad has developed Tap, a product offering short, chat-based stories in multiple languages. The company also includes Wattpad Studios, which collaborates with industry partners to adapt stories for film, television, digital, and print formats. Furthermore, Wattpad Brand Solutions provides advertising products aimed at engaging Millennial and Gen Z audiences.
Zemanta
Venture Round in 2013
Zemanta, established in 2007, is a global technology company specializing in programmatic advertising for native content. Headquartered in New York with offices across North America and Europe, Zemanta offers Zemanta One, a cross-channel media buying platform designed to promote and distribute marketing content. This platform enables large brands and digital agencies to automate, optimize, and scale their native advertising programs. Additionally, Zemanta provides content discovery and audience development tools for publishers, helping them reach new, engaged readers.
VHX
Series A in 2013
VHX Corporation is a technology company that specializes in video distribution, providing a platform that enables businesses to create custom video experiences across various connected devices. Founded in 2011 and based in Brooklyn, New York, VHX allows content creators, including filmmakers, educators, and fitness trainers, to sell their work directly to audiences from their own websites. The platform supports a diverse range of content types, including films, TV shows, and online courses, giving creators significant control over their distribution and customer data. With an end-to-end solution, VHX facilitates efficient marketing and revenue retention for its users. Since its launch, the company has successfully enabled publishers to generate substantial sales, serving over a million customers. VHX operates as a subsidiary of Vimeo, LLC.
HeyZap
Series B in 2012
Heyzap Inc. is a mobile advertising and developer tools company based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2009, it specializes in offering a range of services including mediation, publishing, and advertising solutions tailored for mobile developers. Heyzap's technology supports various platforms such as Android, iPhone, iPad, and Amazon Fire, allowing both established app producers and indie developers to effectively monetize their applications. The company's software development kit (SDK) enables users to discover apps while providing developers the means to maximize revenue through effective user acquisition and cross-promotion. In 2016, Heyzap became a subsidiary of Fyber GmbH, further enhancing its capabilities in the mobile advertising space.
Wattpad
Venture Round in 2012
Wattpad is a digital entertainment company based in Toronto, Ontario, founded in 2006 by Allen Lau and Ivan Yuen. It operates an online social storytelling platform that connects a global community of over 65 million users who engage with original stories for more than 20 billion minutes each month. The flagship app allows users to read and write stories, fostering collaboration through comments and multimedia features. In addition to its main platform, Wattpad has developed Tap, a product offering short, chat-based stories in multiple languages. The company also includes Wattpad Studios, which collaborates with industry partners to adapt stories for film, television, digital, and print formats. Furthermore, Wattpad Brand Solutions provides advertising products aimed at engaging Millennial and Gen Z audiences.
Wattpad
Series B in 2012
Wattpad is a digital entertainment company based in Toronto, Ontario, founded in 2006 by Allen Lau and Ivan Yuen. It operates an online social storytelling platform that connects a global community of over 65 million users who engage with original stories for more than 20 billion minutes each month. The flagship app allows users to read and write stories, fostering collaboration through comments and multimedia features. In addition to its main platform, Wattpad has developed Tap, a product offering short, chat-based stories in multiple languages. The company also includes Wattpad Studios, which collaborates with industry partners to adapt stories for film, television, digital, and print formats. Furthermore, Wattpad Brand Solutions provides advertising products aimed at engaging Millennial and Gen Z audiences.
Behance
Series A in 2012
Behance is an online platform established in September 2006 by Matias Corea and Scott Belsky, designed to enable creative professionals to showcase and discover work through multimedia portfolios. It caters to a wide range of creative fields, including graphic design, photography, illustration, animation, and more, allowing individuals to connect, collaborate, and share their talents. The platform supports creative networks for schools and organizations, facilitates portfolio distribution to various online galleries, and offers customization options through ProSite, a personal portfolio site builder. Behance serves as a vital resource for millions of users, providing a central hub for displaying and discovering creative work. Its operations are based in New York, United States, and it has gained significant traction, attracting millions of visitors monthly.
Wattpad
Series A in 2011
Wattpad is a digital entertainment company based in Toronto, Ontario, founded in 2006 by Allen Lau and Ivan Yuen. It operates an online social storytelling platform that connects a global community of over 65 million users who engage with original stories for more than 20 billion minutes each month. The flagship app allows users to read and write stories, fostering collaboration through comments and multimedia features. In addition to its main platform, Wattpad has developed Tap, a product offering short, chat-based stories in multiple languages. The company also includes Wattpad Studios, which collaborates with industry partners to adapt stories for film, television, digital, and print formats. Furthermore, Wattpad Brand Solutions provides advertising products aimed at engaging Millennial and Gen Z audiences.
Disqus
Series B in 2011
Disqus operates a comments and audience development platform that enables users to build communities from their website's audience. Its networked platform connects people across various communities, offering features such as social integration, user profiles, spam moderation tools, email notifications, and mobile commenting.
Zemanta
Venture Round in 2010
Zemanta, established in 2007, is a global technology company specializing in programmatic advertising for native content. Headquartered in New York with offices across North America and Europe, Zemanta offers Zemanta One, a cross-channel media buying platform designed to promote and distribute marketing content. This platform enables large brands and digital agencies to automate, optimize, and scale their native advertising programs. Additionally, Zemanta provides content discovery and audience development tools for publishers, helping them reach new, engaged readers.
HeyZap
Series A in 2010
Heyzap Inc. is a mobile advertising and developer tools company based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2009, it specializes in offering a range of services including mediation, publishing, and advertising solutions tailored for mobile developers. Heyzap's technology supports various platforms such as Android, iPhone, iPad, and Amazon Fire, allowing both established app producers and indie developers to effectively monetize their applications. The company's software development kit (SDK) enables users to discover apps while providing developers the means to maximize revenue through effective user acquisition and cross-promotion. In 2016, Heyzap became a subsidiary of Fyber GmbH, further enhancing its capabilities in the mobile advertising space.
Zemanta
Venture Round in 2009
Zemanta, established in 2007, is a global technology company specializing in programmatic advertising for native content. Headquartered in New York with offices across North America and Europe, Zemanta offers Zemanta One, a cross-channel media buying platform designed to promote and distribute marketing content. This platform enables large brands and digital agencies to automate, optimize, and scale their native advertising programs. Additionally, Zemanta provides content discovery and audience development tools for publishers, helping them reach new, engaged readers.
HeyZap
Seed Round in 2009
Heyzap Inc. is a mobile advertising and developer tools company based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2009, it specializes in offering a range of services including mediation, publishing, and advertising solutions tailored for mobile developers. Heyzap's technology supports various platforms such as Android, iPhone, iPad, and Amazon Fire, allowing both established app producers and indie developers to effectively monetize their applications. The company's software development kit (SDK) enables users to discover apps while providing developers the means to maximize revenue through effective user acquisition and cross-promotion. In 2016, Heyzap became a subsidiary of Fyber GmbH, further enhancing its capabilities in the mobile advertising space.
Zemanta
Seed Round in 2008
Zemanta, established in 2007, is a global technology company specializing in programmatic advertising for native content. Headquartered in New York with offices across North America and Europe, Zemanta offers Zemanta One, a cross-channel media buying platform designed to promote and distribute marketing content. This platform enables large brands and digital agencies to automate, optimize, and scale their native advertising programs. Additionally, Zemanta provides content discovery and audience development tools for publishers, helping them reach new, engaged readers.
Disqus
Series A in 2008
Disqus operates a comments and audience development platform that enables users to build communities from their website's audience. Its networked platform connects people across various communities, offering features such as social integration, user profiles, spam moderation tools, email notifications, and mobile commenting.
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