Medium is a single-purpose publishing tool, network, and ecosystem built to share the written word. The company positions itself as a focused place to read and write thoughtful, timeless content rather than ephemeral social updates. Medium has attracted hundreds of independent publications, including The Awl and Pacific Standard, that have agreed to go all-in on the platform. To support demand for its vision, Medium recently raised additional capital and said the funds would bolster resources for growth. Leadership changes accompanied the raise: Ben Horowitz (Andreessen Horowitz) and JLabs CEO Judy Estrin are joining the board, Greylock’s David Sze is stepping down, and Greylock’s Josh Elman will remain on the board. Spark Capital has been publicly identified as a lead investor in the latest financing. Medium is a publishing platform that aims to connect quality content and conversation. The company has experimented with several content models, including hiring its own journalists and launching mini-publications. Management says the new capital will be used to make Medium “the dominant pipeline for connecting quality content and conversation” and to continue executing on its vision. No top-tier publication has yet migrated to Medium, though the company believes changing dynamics in the space could shift that. Medium plans an event on October 7 to announce new features and partnerships. Ev Williams founded Medium and remains the company’s majority shareholder. Medium is a blogging platform known for its clean design and open access for writers. The service has been described in the article as the "thinking person's Thought Catalog." Co‑founded by former Twitter CEO Evan Williams, Medium aims to expand its content strategy and strengthen its technological underpinnings. With $25 million in new funding, the company has capital to invest in editorial efforts, potentially paying more writers or boosting copy oversight staff. The piece notes Medium faces competition from Svbtle, which recently opened to all and could pull writers and slow growth. Medium’s monetization strategy is not yet clear, and the company remains a nascent project despite the sizable funding.

Total raised

$132M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Apr 2016