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Thrillist
Thrillist, co-founded by Ben Lerer and Adam Rich in 2004, is an online travel and lifestyle media brand covering 18 US cities and international...
Thrillist
Ben Lerer and Adam Rich launched Thrillist in 2004 as an email newsletter covering local entertainment in New York. The site has since evolved into a travel and lifestyle media company, producing original articles, city guides, and itineraries for a national audience. As of 2023, Thrillist covers 18 US cities and publishes international destination guides. Thrillist generates revenue primarily through digital advertising and affiliate commissions from travel bookings and product recommendations. The company does not deploy capital, make direct investments, or manage assets for external parties. Its content strategy focuses on experiences, local neighborhoods, and practical travel planning — not financial services. The company maintains editorial offices in New York, Berlin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silver Spring, Denver, Newton, and Wilton. It employs writers, editors, and production staff; the total headcount is not publicly disclosed. No philanthropic foundation, operating company, or investment vehicle is listed under the Thrillist brand. Thrillist is structurally a media publisher, not a family office or investment firm. Its only capital allocation is editorial — commissioning stories and maintaining a digital platform. The firm does not have a stated investment posture, AUM, or deal flow.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2004
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Additional offices
Berlin · Los Angeles · San Francisco · Silver Spring · Denver · Newton · Wilton
Principals
Ben Lerer
Co-Founder
Adam Rich
Co-Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who controls investment decisions at Thrillist?
Thrillist is not an investment firm and does not make capital allocation decisions. The company is a digital media publisher. Editorial direction is set by its editorial leadership; business operations are managed by co-founders Ben Lerer and Adam Rich, but no investment committee or CIO role is publicly identified (per firm website).
Is Thrillist a family office or asset manager?
No. Thrillist is a media company, not a family office. It does not manage capital, deploy investments, or offer wealth management services. The firm's sole operating model is publishing travel and lifestyle content supported by advertising and affiliate revenue.
What investment stages does Thrillist target?
Thrillist does not target any investment stages. The firm is a media publisher and has no disclosed investment portfolio, fund commitments, or direct deal activity.
Which sectors does Thrillist explicitly avoid?
Thrillist does not publish an exclusion list for investments because it does not invest. Its editorial coverage avoids topics unrelated to travel, food, and local experiences; but this is a content choice, not an investment mandate.
How is Thrillist related to other Lerer family entities?
Ben Lerer is co-founder of Thrillist. He is also the founder and managing partner of Lerer Hippeau, a venture capital firm, and was previously CEO of Group Nine Media. However, Thrillist itself is structurally separate from these investment vehicles. No formal ownership or capital link between Thrillist and Lerer Hippeau is publicly disclosed (per firm website).
Where does Thrillist generate its revenue?
Thrillist earns revenue through digital display advertising and affiliate commissions on travel bookings and product purchases referred from its content. The company does not charge subscription fees or manage any investment funds (per firm website).
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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