New Media Ventures (NMV)

Aaaand we’re back! Our team spent the last two weeks resting and recharging. Peep everyone spending time with their loved ones! Can’t wait to share more of our plans for the new year soon! Phillip Sanders Jessica Salinas Inbar Sharon Carlos Emmanuel Salinas Abigail Leung

This month, we’re opening up our exclusive portfolio webinar to our wider network and would love for you to join us. The founders of Social Currant will host a short briefing and conversation on the current state of the creator economy and social media platforms post-election. Social Currant is a platform + managed service that matches progressive organizations with creators on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube. After the conversation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions so come ready! RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gG6MxQgt

Today we're excited to share an important leadership transition announcement. After three remarkable years, Carlissia N. Graham is transitioning from her role as President of New Media Ventures. Under her leadership, we've: 📈 Made 45 new investments 🚀 Launched our first accelerator program 📍 Expanded into local media, especially in the South and swing states We're thrilled to welcome Jessica Salinas and Phillip Sanders, whom many of you know and love, as our new Co-Presidents starting in the new year! With 4 years of experience co-leading NMV's investments, they're ready to take us into this next season and our team and board have full confidence in them. Carlissia will continue shaping our future as a Board Director for both NMV and NRV. We're grateful for her visionary leadership and thrilled to keep working together in a new capacity. New Rising Ventures Abigail Leung Carlos Emmanuel Salinas Inbar Sharon

Last week, our Chief Investment Officer, Jessica Salinas, attended AFROTECH — a vibrant gathering of Black innovators in tech, media, and culture. The conference featured dynamic conversations on the future of storytelling, media, and cultural representation. Some of the most memorable events and conversations: 🎤 State of Black Media: Alfred Liggins III, CEO of Urban One, Inc, discussed the challenges facing Black media in a shifting media landscape, emphasizing the importance of representation and authentic storytelling. Moderated by Morgan DeBaun, CEO of Blavity Inc. , the session explored strategies for elevating Black voices and protecting the critical role of Black media in shaping the cultural narrative. 🤖 AI & Storytelling: Colin Kaepernick shared his vision for leveraging technology to transform storytelling, in conversation with Brian Dixon, Managing Partner at Kapor Capital. Drawing from his experiences with Lumi, he emphasized the importance of ownership and authenticity in the creator economy, while addressing challenges like algorithm bias.  🎶 Music & Technology: will.i.am discussed the intersection of culture, music, and tech, highlighting the importance of representation and innovation in building a more inclusive future. He also shared his thoughts on how AI will make us more human, not less. 🌟 Collide Connect: Hosted by Collide Capital, this networking event brought together visionaries pushing the boundaries of innovation and equity. 🤝 AfroTech Founder Circle Startup Brew: As a proud VC Partner of the AfroTech Founder Circle, NMV joined an exclusive Founder & VC Mixer, fostering connections and collaborations with trailblazing entrepreneurs shaping the future. Photos also featuring: Haywood Perry III Alphonzo Terrell Olamide Anyanwu

Last month, NMV President Carlissia N. Graham joined Brady Walkinshaw, Founder & Publisher of Noisy Creek, for an inspiring conversation on how innovative social venture models can support for-profit local media. Hosted by New Media Ventures, The Schmidt Family Foundation, and The Fund for Alternative Journalism, the evening featured light bites, great company, and impactful discussions on the future of local journalism. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

We are thrilled to announce the founding Board of Directors of New Rising Ventures. This inspiring group brings together leaders in fields ranging from venture capital, impact investing, entrepreneurship, narrative change, nonprofit management, to media & entertainment: Haywood Perry III, Mel O., Daniel Forkkio, Aaron Mitchell, Jessica Salinas and Carlissia N. Graham. Their diverse expertise will be invaluable as we build and scale New Rising Ventures. CC: Phillip Sanders Abigail Leung Carlos Emmanuel Salinas Inbar Sharon

At New Media Ventures, our commitment to trailblazing in the progressive political space remains as strong as ever. For the past 14 years, we’ve led the charge in pushing the boundaries of civic engagement, media innovation, and delivering transformative solutions that drive meaningful political change. In no small feat, we’ve built the most sophisticated top-to-bottom political tech infrastructure in existence. Now, we are proud to announce the natural next step in this journey: the launch of our c3 arm, New Rising Ventures. This expansion is more than just an evolution of our work—it is democracy in action. Read more about our vision: https://lnkd.in/gZVPzQmM Jessica Salinas Carlissia N. Graham Phillip Sanders Abigail Leung Carlos Emmanuel Salinas Inbar Sharon Haywood Perry III Daniel Forkkio Aaron Mitchell Mel O.

Our Investment Analyst, Carlos Emmanuel Salinas, recently attended the Elevate Festival 2024 in Toronto, bringing back valuable insights for our investment work in progressive innovation. Carlos's key observations from the festival highlight the transformative power of uniting diverse perspectives in tech: - The success of Toronto's "one team" mentality in tech development - Google's approach to purpose-driven AI that prioritizes social good - Groundbreaking accessibility innovations, including new health tech for disabled and able-bodied individuals - The critical intersection of environmental protection and technology, as showcased by eOceans "The festival reinforced our thesis at New Media Ventures that social power combined with political power creates true democracy," shares Carlos. "Seeing innovations that make tangible improvements in people's daily lives, especially for marginalized communities, validates our investment approach in progressive technology." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gU7YvHK4

As apart of preparing ourselves for the reality of a Trump presidency and a rollback on some of the progress we've made recently, we convened in October at the Media Impact Funders' Journalism Funders Gathering for a timely discussion on the Fearless Fund ruling and its ripple effects on charitable giving. NMV President Carlissia N. Graham joined Martin G. Reynolds (Co-Executive Director, The Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education), Khiara M. Bridges (Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley - School of Law), and Mina Kim (Host, KQED Forum) to examine how media grantmaking can continue supporting communities of color in this evolving legal landscape. The timing of this conversation proved prescient as we navigate the current intersection of philanthropy, equity, and law.

Today we are reminded that at the end of the day, when systems fail us, all we have is each other. Elections are critical, but in moments like these, we must remember we still have power beyond the ballot. We can’t retreat; we must turn to community and collective action. We can build movements that transform despair into determination, anger into agency. Movements that aren’t just about resistance; but about reimagining and rebuilding. At NMV we will continue to fund the movement and deploy capital that builds power for the working class.