NMV 2022 Investments: Spring Cohort + Year-End Additions

For over a decade, New Media Ventures has invested in progressive startups tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our democracy—and 2022 was no exception. This year we welcomed ten innovative projects to our portfolio and made a follow-on investment in an existing partner. Together, these organizations are telling new stories, building advocacy movements, and catalyzing civic engagement.

Spring 2022 Cohort

Represent Justice (nonprofit)
Turns stories into action to change the justice system while building the capacity of system-impacted communities.
How you can help: Make a donation—especially to support their Ambassador Program for formerly incarcerated leaders.

Iconik (for-profit)
Builds technology that empowers people and mission-driven investors to exercise shareholder voting power and shift corporate accountability.
How you can help: Invest, or introduce them to impact-oriented wealth managers, advisors, asset managers, and HNWIs.

Stylebot (for-profit)
A virtual editing assistant helping professional writers produce accurate, ethical, and inclusive work—creating the next generation of reference tools.
How you can help: Invest or introduce them to mentors/investors with media, SaaS, and/or marketing experience.

The Gravel Institute (nonprofit)
Creates short, compelling videos to counter disinformation and bring progressive ideas to new audiences.
How you can help: Donate or introduce them to philanthropic funders.

Raheem – follow-on investment (nonprofit/tech)
Creators of PATCH, a free app that dispatches non-police rapid responders to provide care, resources, and de-escalation within minutes—no 911 required.
How you can help: Introduce them to partners and funders supporting alternatives to policing.

Year-End 2022 Additions

INTRVL (for-profit)
Advanced media optimization and audience research tools that make in-field media measurement more efficient and insightful—unlocking 2–3x improvements in media effectiveness.
How you can help: Invest (they’re raising) and introduce them to funders ahead of the 2024 cycle.

Gen-Z for Change (nonprofit, 501c4)
A collective of Gen-Z creators mobilizing civic participation and countering mis/disinformation where young people are—on social media.
How you can help: Donate, join as a major funder, and help recruit new staff; amplify their content.

New Disabled South (nonprofit, 501c3 & 501c4)
Building disability rights and disability justice power across the South through policy, advocacy, and organizing—centering multiply-marginalized disabled people.
How you can help: Donate, introduce them to funders, and connect partners across the progressive ecosystem.

Frame (for-profit)
A media company delivering immersive, visual journalism to help younger audiences go deeper on the biggest issues of our time, reaching 3M+ monthly uniques.
How you can help: Invest (raising a Seed+ round) and connect them with advertisers for new ad deals.

Bloc Media (nonprofit, 501c4)
An independent media effort elevating the progressive bloc in and outside Congress via podcasts, documentaries, explainers, and strategy memos.
How you can help: Fund their 501c4 work and help expand their podcast/video audiences.

The Center for New Data (nonprofit, 501c3)
Nonpartisan data science to protect democracy—tackling long lines, access disparities, and gerrymandering with big-data tools.
How you can help: Connect them with funders and help recruit staff and board members.