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Mic Network is a technology company.
Mic Network operates a digital news and media platform specializing in creating and distributing content for a young, engaged audience. The company’s core offering includes mobile-first articles, videos, and social media content that explores culture, politics, and identity. Its approach centers on delivering diverse perspectives and in-depth analyses on contemporary issues, tailored for consumption across various digital channels.
The company was co-founded in 2011 by Chris Altchek and Jake Horowitz, initially launching as PolicyMic. Their foundational insight stemmed from a recognition that millennials lacked a dedicated news source providing thought-provoking and relevant content that moved beyond traditional media narratives. They aimed to build a platform that directly addressed the interests and critical thinking of this demographic.
Mic primarily serves a readership of millennials and other forward-thinking individuals often described as "society's changemakers" who seek to stay informed and critically engage with the world. The company’s vision is to empower its audience by delivering journalism that not only informs but also inspires new ways of looking at complex topics, fostering a deeper understanding of societal shifts and individual roles within them.
Mic Network has raised $57.5M across 5 funding rounds.
Mic Network has raised $57.5M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Mic Network has raised $57.5M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Mic Network's investors include WPP, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, kyu Collective, Allison Goldberg, You & Mr Jones, James Clark, Advancit Capital, Axel Springer, Knight Foundation, Lerer Hippeau, Red Swan Ventures.
Mic Network is a digital media company that creates content tailored to millennials, focusing on news, policy, identity, technology, science, arts, style, music, and culture to spark conversations among younger audiences.[1] It produces engaging stories through its website (mic.com), advertising services that authentically portray brands, and a mobile app (MicCheck for iOS) for on-the-go access, reaching over 30 million people monthly with a team of editors, producers, reporters, designers, and engineers.[1]
The platform serves millennials by challenging traditional reporting with interactive features like a digital currency called “Mics,” earned through commenting to enable longer posts and greater influence, driving user engagement on public topics.[1]
Mic Network was founded in 2011 by Chris Altchek and Jake Horowitz, initially as PolicyMic, a nonprofit aimed at delivering fresh stories to inspire millennial conversations.[1] The idea emerged from recognizing the need for relevant, youth-focused narratives; their first story covered the escalating uprising in Tunis, which propelled the site into public view.[1]
After a year and a half, the founders raised $150,000, hired editors, and operated from a house in Harlem where they lived, building early momentum before evolving into a for-profit media entity with expanded coverage.[1]
Mic Network rides the wave of digital media fragmentation and millennial-driven content consumption, where younger demographics demand personalized, conversation-sparking narratives over legacy news.[1] Timing aligns with the 2010s rise of social media and mobile-first platforms, enabling rapid scaling from a Harlem house to millions of readers amid global events like the Arab Spring that its early coverage captured.[1]
Market forces favoring concise, identity-focused digital content—boosted by smartphones and apps—position it well against traditional outlets, while influencing the ecosystem by pioneering gamified commenting to boost interaction in youth media.[1]
Mic Network stands out by humanizing news for millennials through interactivity and relevance, with potential to expand via AI-driven personalization or video amid evolving digital consumption.[1] Trends like short-form content dominance (e.g., TikTok) and Gen Z overlap could shape its path, possibly through partnerships or global expansion, amplifying its role in narrative-shaping media.[1] As digital platforms evolve, Mic's focus on authentic youth voices positions it to influence broader cultural discourse, tying back to its founding mission of fresh stories that ignite change.[1]
Mic Network has raised $57.5M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $6.5M Series C Extension in June 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 2017 | $6.5M Series C Extension | WPP | |
| Apr 1, 2017 | $21.0M Series C | Lightspeed Venture Partners | Sequoia Capital, kyu Collective, Allison Goldberg, You & Mr Jones |
| Jun 1, 2015 | $17.0M Series B | Lightspeed Venture Partners | Sequoia Capital, James Clark, Advancit Capital, Axel Springer, Knight Foundation, Lerer Hippeau, Red Swan Ventures |
| Apr 1, 2014 | $10.0M Series A | Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital | |
| Oct 1, 2013 | $3.0M Seed | Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital |