Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation is a national foundation with deep local connections, dedicated to promoting informed and engaged communities, which it views as vital for a healthy democracy. The foundation invests in journalism, the arts, and the development of cities where its founders, John S. and James L. Knight, once published newspapers. Through its Knight Enterprise Fund, it provides early-stage venture funding specifically aimed at media innovation. By supporting early-stage companies at the intersection of media and technology, Knight Foundation seeks to enhance access to quality information, thereby contributing to the overall well-being of communities.

Alberto Ibargüen

CEO, Co-Founder and President

Raul Moas

Senior Director / Miami

Christopher Thompson

Program Director

Past deals in News

Amjambo Africa

Grant in 2025
Amjambo Africa is a nonprofit journalism organization that covers issues about diversity and immigration. It is Maine's most inclusive newsroom and publish content.

Report for America

Grant in 2024
Report for America is a service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

Indiegraf

Seed Round in 2024
Indiegraf is a Vancouver-based company that supports independent news outlets by providing essential resources and assistance. It develops tools aimed at empowering news entrepreneurs to address local news gaps. Indiegraf offers a range of products and programs designed to help media outlets achieve sustainability, including technology solutions, research, sales and growth services, as well as digital playbooks and templates. By equipping news businesses with these resources, Indiegraf enables them to expand their audience, enhance their growth, and increase their revenues, ultimately fostering a more vibrant and diverse media landscape.

Signal Akron

Grant in 2023
Signal Akron operates as a new non-profit news source. Signal Akron will have a 9-person editorial team producing high-quality journalism in numerous formats and across multiple platforms, and will be free to access.

Signal Cleveland

Grant in 2022
Signal Cleveland offers community members access to the news they require. It publishes authoritative, trustworthy daily journalism on a variety of topics, such as government, economy, education, health, safety, and resilience. Their website is chock-full of explainers and guides to help Cleveland residents navigate life in the city, and it serves as a growing civic tool for the city.

LION Publishers

Grant in 2022
LION Publishers is the nation's only membership organization for Local Independent Online News Publishers.

NewsMatch

Grant in 2021
NewsMatch provided the roadmap, tech support, and national exposure.NewsMatch is a testament to the critical role of local news and investigative journalism.

The Associated Press

Grant in 2021
The Associated Press (AP) is a prominent not-for-profit news cooperative based in New York, founded in 1846. It serves as a reliable source of independent news, supplying content to its members, international subscribers, and commercial customers. With a legacy of covering significant historical events, AP has adapted to technological advancements over the years, transitioning from traditional methods of news delivery to modern digital platforms. It operates a sophisticated digital photo network and offers a continuously updated multimedia news service, including a state-of-the-art television news service and one of the largest radio networks in the United States. The AP has received numerous accolades, including 51 Pulitzer Prizes since the award's inception in 1917, reflecting its commitment to quality journalism. With more than 3,700 employees and over 280 offices worldwide, the Associated Press continues to play a vital role in the global news landscape.

The Salt Lake Tribune

Grant in 2019
The Salt Lake Tribune is a prominent newspaper and online platform based in Salt Lake City, Utah, primarily focused on delivering news and information to its readers. Established in 1971, it has grown to become the largest circulated daily newspaper in the city. The publication offers a wide range of content, including breaking news, weather, traffic updates, and sports coverage, particularly emphasizing local events and the Utah Jazz. The Salt Lake Tribune aims to serve the public by providing timely updates on both local and global issues, ensuring that readers are informed about current affairs. Its commitment to quality journalism has been recognized with awards, including the EPPY award for Best Newspaper Website in 2012.

NewsGuard

Seed Round in 2018
NewsGuard is a company that addresses the issue of misinformation by employing trained journalists to evaluate the credibility of the most popular news and information websites in the United States. Its platform provides a news and content rating system that helps users differentiate between reliable and fraudulent sources. By licensing its ratings and Nutrition Labels to social media platforms, search engines, and other news aggregators, NewsGuard enables these platforms to enhance their offerings with trustworthy content, thereby promoting a more informed public. The company's focus on accountability and expertise ensures that users can access accurate information in an increasingly complex media landscape.

Blavity

Seed Round in 2017
Blavity, Inc. is a media-tech company founded in 2014 that focuses on creating an online community for multicultural creators and influencers, primarily serving Black millennials. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Blavity operates a network of brands that produce original content, videos, and unique experiences aimed at amplifying the voices of Black creators. The company's platform features curated multimedia content designed to enhance representation and awareness of issues affecting the African diaspora, particularly systemic racism. By partnering with content creators, Blavity helps them reach broader audiences and supports their endeavors, thereby fostering a vibrant community centered on cultural expression and social justice.

Mic Network

Series C in 2017
Mic Network Inc. is an online news platform based in New York, founded in 2011. The company focuses on delivering news tailored for a mobile and social media-savvy audience, primarily targeting millennials and society's changemakers. Mic Network provides coverage across various topics, including politics, business, culture, science, and the environment, aiming to inform, empower, and inspire its readers. With a monthly audience of 50 million, the platform emphasizes original reporting and diverse perspectives on significant issues, encouraging engagement and challenging conventional thinking. As of late 2018, Mic Network operates as a subsidiary of BDG Media Inc.

Blavity

Seed Round in 2016
Blavity, Inc. is a media-tech company founded in 2014 that focuses on creating an online community for multicultural creators and influencers, primarily serving Black millennials. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Blavity operates a network of brands that produce original content, videos, and unique experiences aimed at amplifying the voices of Black creators. The company's platform features curated multimedia content designed to enhance representation and awareness of issues affecting the African diaspora, particularly systemic racism. By partnering with content creators, Blavity helps them reach broader audiences and supports their endeavors, thereby fostering a vibrant community centered on cultural expression and social justice.

Blavity

Seed Round in 2016
Blavity, Inc. is a media-tech company founded in 2014 that focuses on creating an online community for multicultural creators and influencers, primarily serving Black millennials. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Blavity operates a network of brands that produce original content, videos, and unique experiences aimed at amplifying the voices of Black creators. The company's platform features curated multimedia content designed to enhance representation and awareness of issues affecting the African diaspora, particularly systemic racism. By partnering with content creators, Blavity helps them reach broader audiences and supports their endeavors, thereby fostering a vibrant community centered on cultural expression and social justice.

Mic Network

Series B in 2015
Mic Network Inc. is an online news platform based in New York, founded in 2011. The company focuses on delivering news tailored for a mobile and social media-savvy audience, primarily targeting millennials and society's changemakers. Mic Network provides coverage across various topics, including politics, business, culture, science, and the environment, aiming to inform, empower, and inspire its readers. With a monthly audience of 50 million, the platform emphasizes original reporting and diverse perspectives on significant issues, encouraging engagement and challenging conventional thinking. As of late 2018, Mic Network operates as a subsidiary of BDG Media Inc.

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.

Mic Network

Series A in 2014
Mic Network Inc. is an online news platform based in New York, founded in 2011. The company focuses on delivering news tailored for a mobile and social media-savvy audience, primarily targeting millennials and society's changemakers. Mic Network provides coverage across various topics, including politics, business, culture, science, and the environment, aiming to inform, empower, and inspire its readers. With a monthly audience of 50 million, the platform emphasizes original reporting and diverse perspectives on significant issues, encouraging engagement and challenging conventional thinking. As of late 2018, Mic Network operates as a subsidiary of BDG Media Inc.

Watchup

Seed Round 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.

Versa

Seed Round in 2014
Versa is a media technology company that focuses on promoting an informed and engaged public through innovative platforms. Its flagship offering, Featured Perspectives, is a unique technology-driven platform that allows organizations, executives, thought leaders, and advocates to provide real-time commentary and analysis on developing news stories. This feature not only generates premium revenue for publishers but also enriches the reader experience by offering high-quality opinions alongside news updates. Additionally, Versa has developed a platform dedicated to open political data, allowing users to access comprehensive information on politicians, groups, issues, and events globally. By facilitating easy access to key political data, Versa aims to engage individuals in political discourse and encourage informed participation in civic matters.

Beacon Reader

Seed Round in 2014
Beacon Reader allows readers a way to support and get access to high quality journalism. Beacon's approach is basically a form of crowdfunding. On Beacon Reader, readers browse through different authors and their projects on the site and if they find one they like, they can buy a subscription. There are different subscription levels but the basic price is $5 per month. The subscription actually gives them access to the full array of Beacon content, but the specific project that they support will get the “vast majority” of their payment. Currently, there are more than 70 journalists located in 30 countries on Beacon Reader.

Mic Network

Seed Round in 2013
Mic Network Inc. is an online news platform based in New York, founded in 2011. The company focuses on delivering news tailored for a mobile and social media-savvy audience, primarily targeting millennials and society's changemakers. Mic Network provides coverage across various topics, including politics, business, culture, science, and the environment, aiming to inform, empower, and inspire its readers. With a monthly audience of 50 million, the platform emphasizes original reporting and diverse perspectives on significant issues, encouraging engagement and challenging conventional thinking. As of late 2018, Mic Network operates as a subsidiary of BDG Media Inc.

Versa

Seed Round in 2013
Versa is a media technology company that focuses on promoting an informed and engaged public through innovative platforms. Its flagship offering, Featured Perspectives, is a unique technology-driven platform that allows organizations, executives, thought leaders, and advocates to provide real-time commentary and analysis on developing news stories. This feature not only generates premium revenue for publishers but also enriches the reader experience by offering high-quality opinions alongside news updates. Additionally, Versa has developed a platform dedicated to open political data, allowing users to access comprehensive information on politicians, groups, issues, and events globally. By facilitating easy access to key political data, Versa aims to engage individuals in political discourse and encourage informed participation in civic matters.

Mic Network

Seed Round in 2013
Mic Network Inc. is an online news platform based in New York, founded in 2011. The company focuses on delivering news tailored for a mobile and social media-savvy audience, primarily targeting millennials and society's changemakers. Mic Network provides coverage across various topics, including politics, business, culture, science, and the environment, aiming to inform, empower, and inspire its readers. With a monthly audience of 50 million, the platform emphasizes original reporting and diverse perspectives on significant issues, encouraging engagement and challenging conventional thinking. As of late 2018, Mic Network operates as a subsidiary of BDG Media Inc.

Watchup

Angel Round in 2012
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.
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