CEEAntenna Group backs global news startup Semafor
The global news startup Semafor has raised $30 million in new financing, valuing the company at about $330 million after its first profitable year, according to The Wall Street Journal. Among the new investors is Greece’s Antenna Group, marking a notable Greek presence in one of the media industry’s more closely watched growth stories.
Founded in 2022, Semafor targets senior business and policy leaders worldwide through newsletters, podcasts, and live journalism events. The company is led by Chief Executive Officer Justin Smith, formerly of Bloomberg Media, and was co-founded with journalist Ben Smith, previously editor of BuzzFeed News. Semafor generated about $40 million in revenue last year and roughly $2 million in EBITDA, its first year in the black, the Journal reported. About half of that revenue came from advertising, with the remainder driven largely by sponsorships tied to its live events, which the company describes as central to its newsroom and business strategy. More than 60% of the new funding came from existing backers, including Henry Kravis of KKR and David Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group, according to the report. New investors include Antenna Group, Belgian entrepreneur Thomas Leysen, and PSP Partners. The new capital will be used to expand Semafor’s World Economy annual CEO gathering in Washington, D.C., hire additional journalists, grow its U.S., Gulf, and business newsletters, and launch a China-focused CEO briefing. RELATED
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