Radar › Companies › Internet First Media · Santa Monica
Radar · Internet First Media in Santa Monica

Best Internet First Media Companies in Santa Monica, United States

The 31 best Internet First Media companies in Santa Monica, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Leaf Group.

31companies tracked
$399.9Mdisclosed funding
0unicorns
11have raised

Ranked: Best Internet First Media companies in Santa Monica

#CompanyDisclosed fundingLast roundStageFounderFoundedTech stackPatents & IP focusRecent signals
1Leaf Group
Diversified internet company operating multiple digital properties
$356M114 mo agoAcquiredJantoon Reigersman
CFO
2006—54 patents
AI-driven web content personalization, automated Q&A, revenue prediction, and multimedia overlay
—
2Xfire
Ultimate Wordle solver and resource for word puzzle enthusiasts
$18M173 mo agoAcquired—2002WordPressTypeScriptPHP+407 patents
Multiplayer online gaming networking, matchmaking, and communication infrastructure
—
3HitFix
Entertainment and culture website covering music, film, TV, and more
$10M154 mo agoAcquiredJennifer Sargent
CEO & co-founder
2009———
4Kuapay
Provider of articles on personal finance, business, and lifestyle topics
$7M172 mo agoSeries AJoaquin Ayuso
Founder and CEO
2011———
5dot.LA
Online portal offering LA startup news
$4M82 mo agoSeedSam Adams
Co-Founder & CEO
2020VarnishNginxPrebid+14——
6Gaming Society
Provider of an online betting news platform for multiple sports
$4M55 mo agoSeedKevin Garnett
Co-Founder
2020———
7Donut Media
Digital media brand focusing on auto enthusiasts
$920K101 mo agoAcquired—2015Cart FunctionalityShopifySentry+37——
8Equities
Impact investing media platform empowering mindful investors with values-aligned financial insights
$306K138 mo agoEarly Stage—1951WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+262 patents
Protective enclosures for patient transport stretchers, enhancing safety and infection control.
—

Top 12 Internet First Media companies in Santa Monica

#1
Seed · Santa Monica, California · founded 2020 · 18 employees
$3.5Mraised
▾

Provider of an online betting news platform for multiple sports. It offers an online community platform that publishes betting news, podcasts, and reviews diversified events. It also analyses trending topics in sports with a betting twist using stats and insights, athlete perspective, and betting education.

Funding rounds
  • Apr 2022Seed$3.5M
Founders & team
Kevin GarnettCo-FounderJaymee MesslerFounder
Investors
Acies Investments, TLI Bedrock, Glencrest Global
#2
Acquired · Santa Monica, California · founded 2006 · 341 employees
$356Mraised
▾

Leaf Group is a diversified internet company which owns and operates multiple media (eHow, Livestrong.com, LeafTV, Cuteness, Techwalla, Sapling) and marketplace (Society6, Saatchi Art, The Other Art Fair) properties targeting consumers across multiple lifestyle segments. Monetizes using branded content creation and programmatic advertising.

Funding rounds
  • May 2017Post IPO$1.8M
  • Aug 2014Post IPO$11.2M
  • Sep 2013Conventional Debt$225M
  • Jul 2013Post IPO$19.1M
Founders & team
Jantoon ReigersmanCFO
Investors
Goldman Sachs, 3i Group, Generation Partners, Spectrum Equity, Oak Investment Partners, SVB
#3
Acquired · Santa Monica, California · founded 2002 · 27 employees
$18Mraised
▾

Ultimate Wordle solver and resource for word puzzle enthusiasts. We provide tools and resources to help players excel at Wordle. Our flagship product is an interactive Wordle Word Finder, designed to transform yellow and grey letters into green. We offer comprehensive lists of five-letter words, categorized for various scenarios, including single-letter positions and two-letter sequences. Our goal is to enhance your Wordle experience by providing tools and insights to improve your gameplay. We are dedicated to the art of the solve, offering resources for both beginners and seasoned veterans. We aim to be the most powerful and comprehensive resource for Wordle players, offering tools as dedicated as they are. We provide hints and deep dives into word strategy. We offer a solver and an exhaustive library of five-letter word lists. We focus on the thrill of the puzzle and the satisfaction of a streak well-kept.

Funding rounds
  • May 2012Series C$3M
  • Aug 2011Series C$4M
  • Oct 2005Series C$5M
  • Apr 2004Series C$5M
Investors
Intel Capital, IDM Venture Capital, New Enterprise Associates, DFJ, GGV Capital, Tomorrow Ventures
Tech stack
Adobe Audience ManagerAmazon AdvertisingAmazon AlbAmazon S3Amazon Web ServicesAppnexus
#4
Acquired · Santa Monica, California · founded 2009 · 14 employees
$10.2Mraised
▾

Entertainment and culture website covering music, film, TV, and more. It delivers insights and perspectives on the latest trends in entertainment, from in-depth analyses of movies and TV shows to coverage of emerging music artists and cultural phenomena. The platform features articles, reviews, and interviews, providing a comprehensive view of the entertainment landscape. It explores various facets of popular culture, including film, television, music, and digital media. It offers a diverse range of content, including features on film scores, director spotlights, and explorations of cultural trends. The website serves as a hub for entertainment enthusiasts seeking engaging and informative content.

Funding rounds
  • Dec 2013Series A$3.2M
  • Jul 2013Series A$1.8M
  • Jul 2011Series A$3.7M
  • Mar 2010Seed$499.2K
Founders & team
Jennifer SargentCEO & co-founderGregory EllwoodCo-Founder
Investors
Tech Coast Angels, Golden Seeds, Liquid Capital Group, Panacea Capital Advisors, 37 Ventures
Tech stack
WordpressMysqlPhpWordpress VipNginxOnetrust
#5
Seed · Santa Monica, California · founded 2020 · 16 employees
$4Mraised
▾

dot.LA, the soon-to-be-launched news and events company dedicated to covering L.A.’s startup and tech ecosystem

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 9k LinkedIn followers — 17.0% of this cohort's audience
Funding rounds
  • Jan 2020Seed$4M
Founders & team
Sam AdamsCo-Founder & CEOSpencer RascoffCo-Founder
Investors
Snap, Safire Partners, Jam City, Perkins Coie, MLB, Pelion Venture Partners
Tech stack
CloudflareCore-JsEnvoyFacebook PixelGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Publisher Tag
#6
Series A · Santa Monica, California · founded 2011 · 51 employees
$6.9Mraised
▾

Provider of articles on personal finance, business, and lifestyle topics. The website offers content related to money management, business strategies, and various lifestyle subjects. The blog covers topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, career advice, and entrepreneurial insights. It also includes articles on travel, food, and personal development.

Funding rounds
  • Jun 2012Series A$4M
  • Apr 2012Seed$2M
  • Mar 2012Seed—
  • Mar 2011Seed$900K
Founders & team
Joaquin AyusoFounder and CEOFernando VázquezFounder & SVP
Investors
Scale Capital, StepOne Ventures
Tech stack
WordpressMysqlPhpWoocommerceSmash Balloon Instagram FeedContact Form 7
#7
Acquired · Santa Monica, California · founded 2015 · 30 employees
$920Kraised
▾

Donut is a digital media brand focusing on automotive and motor sports enthusiasts. It creates and distributes native car content across social channels and provides a platform for purchasing apparels and accessories with their logo on it. They also stream live videos on motor sports, super cars, car pranks etc. Available on apple podcast.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 18k LinkedIn followers — 34.9% of this cohort's audience · 43 engagements/post (16.9× cohort median)
Funding rounds
  • May 2018Seed—
  • Apr 2017Seed$800K
  • Jun 2016Seed$120K
Investors
Techstars, Fontinalis Partners, 3311 Ventures, Shop Ryan Tuerck, Crowdsmart, Right Side Capital Management
Tech stack
Amazon PayApple PayAttentiveCart FunctionalityCdnjsCloudflare
#8
Early Stage · Santa Monica, California · founded 1951 · 11 employees
$306Kraised
▾

Impact investing media platform empowering mindful investors with values-aligned financial insights. It serves accredited investors, financial advisors, and asset managers with in-depth content. The platform focuses on megatrends like social impact, economic enterprise, environment, governance, healthcare innovations, and technology & AI. It spotlights companies driving innovation and creating real-world value. The company provides news, education, and information about companies offering products intended to provide positive outcomes for the environment and society. It highlights ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, and private investment opportunities. The platform aims to advance the shift toward investing in companies that are making a positive impact. It offers resources like articles, events, and influencer collaborations to inspire and inform investors. The company distributes content through various channels, including LinkedIn, YouTube, and financial publications.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 3k LinkedIn followers — 6.6% of this cohort's audience
Tech stack
Amazon Web ServicesApple Icloud MailCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCookieyesCore-Js
#9
Deadpooled · Santa Monica, California · founded 2006
$72.5Kraised
▾

Creative network inspiring social impact through art, design, and innovation. This organization fosters a community of creators, designers, and artists dedicated to using their talents to positively change the world. They provide inspiration through various activities and online content, offering education to enhance social innovation capabilities. The organization actively promotes participation, supporting members in initiating change. They focus on advertising, architecture, art, creative design, film, technology, and more. The platform features interviews, news, events, and infographics, encouraging dialogue and action. It is a hub for those seeking to contribute to a better future through creativity, promoting collaboration and sustainable solutions.

Funding rounds
  • Dec 2007Seed$22.5K
  • Nov 2007Seed$50K
Founders & team
Thanaboon SomboonFounder
Tech stack
AddtoanyAddtoany Share ButtonsAosBackbone.JsFancyboxFont Awesome
#10
Series A · Santa Monica, California · founded 2014 · 9 employees
—raised
▾

Creative business consultants transforming businesses through content, entertainment, and digital strategies. They design and implement innovative solutions at the intersection of business, entertainment, and digital media. Offering strategic advice, creative development, and end-to-end execution, they help brands rethink social strategies, develop content, and create direct-to-consumer platforms. Their services include digital innovation, content marketing, social strategies, studio in-housing/outsourcing, data management consulting, and organization/workflow design. They operate as both a strategy shop and an innovation lab, focused on delivering return on investment through creative solutions.

Funding rounds
  • Feb 2015Series A—
  • Jan 2015Series A—
Investors
GF Capital Management & Advisors, Insight Partners
Tech stack
Node.JsReactNext.JsStyled-ComponentsVercelJobvite
#11
Funding Raised · Santa Monica, California · founded 2013
—raised
▾

Photo sharing for professional photojournalists

Founders & team
Justin KahnCo-Founder & CEOShaul ShabtayCo-Founder & CTOSteve GranitzCo-Founder & President
Investors
Baroda Ventures
#12
Acquired · Santa Monica, California · founded 2007 · 51 employees
—raised
▾

Online content platform for beauty tips, news, and product reviews. The company offers makeup tips, fitness workouts, beauty advice, product reviews, hairstyling tips, and more. The company also aggregates multi-category beauty products.

Funding rounds
  • Mar 2009Series C—
Investors
USVP, Rustic Canyon Partners, Archer Venture Capital
Tech stack
AdmiralCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCloudflare Browser InsightsComscoreDoubleclick For Publishers (Dfp)

Funding & investor landscape

$399.9Mtotal disclosed funding
9companies funded
35disclosed rounds
0rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
31 Atlantic1 rounds
3311 Ventures1 rounds
37 Ventures1 rounds
3L Capital1 rounds
3i Group1 rounds
AET Fund1 rounds
Acies Investments1 rounds
Act One Ventures1 rounds
Ambridge Capital1 rounds
Angelneers1 rounds

Notable founders

Kevin Garnett
Co-Founder · Gaming Society
Jaymee Messler
Founder · Gaming Society
Jantoon Reigersman
CFO · Leaf Group
Jennifer Sargent
CEO & co-founder · HitFix
Gregory Ellwood
Co-Founder · HitFix
Sam Adams
Co-Founder & CEO · dot.LA
Spencer Rascoff
Co-Founder · dot.LA
Joaquin Ayuso
Founder and CEO · Kuapay
Fernando Vázquez
Founder & SVP · Kuapay
Thanaboon Somboon
Founder · Creative Citizen
Justin Kahn
Co-Founder & CEO · FirstLook
Shaul Shabtay
Co-Founder & CTO · FirstLook
Prism market signals · United States · country-scoped Prism corpus, 17,561,870 docs

Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage

Share of Internet First Media coverage by sub-theme.

Regulatory-risk over time rising

Funding & growth over time

funding rising · growth rising

Common questions

How many Internet First Media companies are there in Santa Monica, United States?
Radar tracks 31 indexable Internet First Media companies headquartered in Santa Monica, United States that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by Internet First Media companies in Santa Monica, United States?
The Internet First Media companies in Santa Monica, United States on this list have raised a combined $399.9M in disclosed equity funding across 9 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded Internet First Media company in Santa Monica, United States?
Leaf Group is the highest-funded Internet First Media company in Santa Monica, United States, with $356M in disclosed equity funding.
How many Internet First Media companies in Santa Monica, United States are funded?
9 of the 31 Internet First Media companies in Santa Monica, United States on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many Internet First Media unicorns are there in Santa Monica, United States?
None of the Internet First Media companies in Santa Monica, United States on this list currently has a disclosed valuation of $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in Santa Monica, United States Internet First Media companies?
The most active investors in Santa Monica, United States Internet First Media companies on this list include 31 Atlantic, 3311 Ventures, 37 Ventures, 3L Capital, 3i Group.
Rohit KhannaTrends & Stories

Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.

Coming soon