Horizon Fund
Investing in groundbreaking startups
leading media’s transformation
The Horizon Fund is a revolutionary way to use the power of philanthropic venture capital to support and scale innovative high-potential media companies, reach new and diverse audiences with valuable media content, build institutional and cultural resilience, and fight the growing distrust and misinformation fueled by disruption in the media industry.
We imagine a global ecosystem of public-interest media ventures focused on society’s greatest challenges and opportunities. We imagine a future where every person has free access to unbiased and fact-based journalism. A future where media consumers have digital tools that easily discern fact from fiction. A media landscape that celebrates diverse voices and fully embraces their lived experiences. A world where we can cut through the noise and focus on the facts needed for society and democratic institutions to tackle the challenges – and opportunities – of the future.
The Horizon Fund will invest $10 million in ventures that will revolutionize the media industry in the coming decade.
Investment Focus
Accurate News and Information
Growing distrust of the media threatens the foundation of society and our democratic institutions, especially in moments of crisis. Horizon Fund investments will include media/tech ventures that provide equitable access to accurate news, increase media literacy, and break down barriers between audiences and factual information.
Renewed Civic Engagement
Social media has created nearly infinite ways to connect communities as well as pull them apart. Horizon Fund investments will include media/tech ventures that bridge diverse and disparate communities, share trustworthy information, promote civil discourse, and give audiences new tools to gain insight from others.
New Distribution Channels
Every day, billions of people access media content on digital platforms that did not exist a decade ago. Horizon Fund investments will include media/tech ventures forging new distribution channels and digital platforms, revolutionizing the many new ways media content is delivered around the globe.
The Horizon Fund invests primarily in companies raising their early stage and first institutional round of financing as well as follow-on investments in companies demonstrating market traction. Funds are also used for periodic accelerator programming aimed at advancing the work of portfolio media companies and raising the long-term value of the fund.
Commitment to Equity
Glen Nelson Center is committed to promoting racial and gender equity in media and strives to be an anti-racist venture. We also recognize that to remain relevant and accomplish our public service mission, we must embrace the demographic shift occurring in our communities and invest in founders and startups that represent that change.
As one part of this commitment, Glen Nelson Center will set aside 51% of available investments, awards and resources for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ and female-founded ventures on an annual basis. Dedicated funds unspent at the end of each fiscal year (ending June 30) will roll into the pool for the following year.