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HearstLab
HearstLab provides cash investments and services to early-stage, women-led startups innovating across fintech, data analytics, health, transportation,...
HearstLab
HearstLab provides cash investments and services to early-stage, women-led startups innovating across fintech, data analytics, health, transportation, enterprise technology and media. Its mission is to close the gap in VC funding for women by helping founders build sustainable and highly scalable businesses.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
2015
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Additional offices
Palo Alto, CA · Santa Monica, CA
Principals
Eve Burton
Chairwoman, HearstLab and Executive Vice President, Hearst
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at HearstLab?
Eve Burton, Chairwoman of HearstLab and Executive Vice President of Hearst, oversees the fund. The firm deploys capital through a centralized team drawing on a Hearst-wide scout network; specific investment committee members beyond Burton are not publicly disclosed. The structure keeps authority within the parent company’s senior management.
Is HearstLab structured as a traditional venture capital fund?
No. HearstLab is a strategic corporate venture vehicle that invests directly from the Hearst Corporation balance sheet. It does not raise third-party funds, so it faces no LP liquidity timelines or capital-return pressure cycles that shape independent VC behavior.
Does HearstLab participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
HearstLab operates exclusively through direct Seed and Series A equity investments in operating companies. There is no evidence of fund-of-funds activity or LP commitments to external venture managers. The model is pure direct investing with hands-on operational support.
What is the relationship between HearstLab and the broader Hearst Corporation?
HearstLab is a wholly owned initiative of Hearst Corporation, one of the world's largest information, services, and media conglomerates, with over 375 businesses including Fitch Ratings, ESPN, and major real estate holdings. The Lab provides a pathway for the parent to invest in technologies and talent that can later integrate with or inform Hearst B2B data, healthcare, and media units.
What is HearstLab's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
HearstLab does not publicly detail its co-investment preferences, but its structure as a single-LP corporate vehicle means it can move at its own pace and term-rhythm without coordinating with external fund calendars. The firm’s international expansion relies on strategic partners within the Hearst network rather than traditional GP co-investment clubs.
Which sectors does HearstLab explicitly avoid?
HearstLab invests across enterprise technology, data analytics, fintech, healthcare, media, and transportation. Consumer social platforms, deep biotech requiring drug-discovery timelines, and capital-intensive hardware manufacturing do not appear in the portfolio and are inconsistent with the firm's emphasis on early-stage B2B companies with working products and market validation.
How does HearstLab source proprietary deal flow?
The firm leverages a formal HearstLab Scout network embedded throughout Hearst's 375-plus business units, including Fitch Ratings and global media properties. International deal flow is augmented by strategic partners in the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, combining on-the-ground presence with a centralized New York-based investment team.
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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