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Group Nine Media Inc.
Group Nine Media is a digital media holding company that merged with Vox Media in 2022, operating brands like The Dodo, Thrillist, and NowThis.
Group Nine Media Inc.
Group Nine Media was founded in 2016 by principals including Ben Lerer and Kenneth Lerer, backed by Discovery Communications and others. The firm operated as a holding company for a portfolio of digital-native media brands, targeting millennial and Gen Z audience. The firm's strategy centered on acquiring and scaling digital media properties, with a focus on video, social distribution, and vertical content. Its portfolio included The Dodo (animals), Thrillist (food, drink, travel), NowThis (news), and Seeker (science). The firm generated revenue primarily through advertising, branded content, and licensing. In 2022, Group Nine Media merged with Vox Media, forming a combined entity that houses over a dozen editorial brands including Vox, New York Magazine, The Verge, SB Nation, Eater, and The Strategist (per Vox Media, 2022). Total professionals and AUM are not publicly disclosed. The firm had offices in Berlin, San Francisco, New York, Silver Spring, and Denver before the merger. No recent operational events have been publicly disclosed for Group Nine Media as a standalone entity. The structural differentiator is its aggregation model: Group Nine Media built a network of independent content brands under a single holding company, centralizing sales, technology, and operations while preserving editorial autonomy.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Germany
City
Berlin, San Francisco, New York, Silver Spring, Denver
Corporate office
Berlin, Germany
Additional offices
San Francisco · New York · Silver Spring · Denver
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What transaction merged Group Nine Media with Vox Media?
Group Nine Media merged with Vox Media in a deal announced in December 2021 and closed in 2022. The combined entity operates under the Vox Media name and houses over a dozen editorial brands including Vox, New York Magazine, The Verge, and SB Nation (per Vox Media, 2022).
Who were the principals behind Group Nine Media?
Group Nine Media was founded by Ben Lerer, Kenneth Lerer, and others. Ben Lerer served as CEO. The firm was backed by Discovery Communications and other investors (per press reports).
What editorial brands did Group Nine Media own before the merger?
Group Nine Media's portfolio included The Dodo (animals), Thrillist (food, drink, travel), NowThis (news), and Seeker (science). After merging with Vox Media, these brands became part of the larger Vox Media portfolio (per Vox Media).
How did Group Nine Media generate revenue?
Revenue came primarily from advertising across its owned platforms, branded content via in-house studio Group Nine Creative, and licensing of its content. The firm's network attracted over 100 million monthly users and 1 billion monthly video views (per Vox Media).
What is the current status of Group Nine Media as an entity?
Group Nine Media no longer operates as a separate company. Its brands and operations were folded into Vox Media following the 2022 merger. The groupninemedia.com domain now redirects to Vox Media's website.
Did Group Nine Media operate as a single family office or an operating company?
Group Nine Media was structured as a digital media holding company, not a family office. It was an operating business with no disclosed wealth-management or investment-office functions.
What investment stages or sectors did Group Nine Media target?
Group Nine Media did not operate as an investment firm. Its strategy involved acquiring and scaling digital media properties. No disclosed investment criteria or portfolio-company stage preferences exist.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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