Social Leverage Weekly
Posts
Beehiiv is the latest platform to try to lure independent journalists with perks & Larry Shumbres' AI archiving startup raises $1.5m in seed round

Beehiiv is the latest platform to try to lure independent journalists with perks & Larry Shumbres' AI archiving startup raises $1.5m in seed round

The Social Leverage Letter | Issue #171

Ethan Berk
January 19, 2025

Get smarter faster with our curated list of thought-provoking content for founders and investors:

3 articles & 1 video

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.

READING

I. Beehiiv is the latest platform to try to lure independent journalists with perks

Beehiiv (Fund IV) has introduced the Media Collective, a program designed to attract independent journalists by offering benefits such as monthly health insurance stipends, legal support, and access to resources like Perplexity Pro and Getty Images. Unlike Substack, Beehiiv does not take a percentage of users' subscription revenue.

Beehiiv is the latest platform to try to lure independent journalists with perks

These types of programs are likely to continue to come and go, as the needs of journalists and the platforms’ businesses evolve.

II. Larry Shumbres' AI archiving startup raises $1.5m in seed round

Archive Intel (Fund IV), a fintech startup led by CEO Larry Shumbres, has secured $1.5 million in a seed funding round led by Garuda Ventures (SLAF), with participation from existing investor Social Leverage. The company offers a compliance platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to archive advisors' communications across electronic platforms such as text, email, and social media. The capital will help Archive Intel pursue larger enterprise clients, with funds allocated to hiring engineers, expanding the team, and enhancing the product's efficiency.

Larry Shumbres' AI archiving startup raises $1.5m in seed round

The capital will help Archive Intel go after larger enterprise clients, Shumbres told Citywire.

III. Swift Ventures: Interview With General Partner About The AI-Focused Firm Of Founders Backing Founders

Brett Wilson, co-founder of TubeMogul, established Swift Ventures (SLAF) to support early-stage B2B AI startups, leveraging his "garage-to-IPO" experience. The firm emphasizes empathy and trust, aiming to be the most helpful investor on a company's cap table. To broaden AI investment opportunities, Swift Ventures introduced a free AI Index that uses a fine-tuned LLM to analyze public companies' AI investments, distinguishing genuine efforts from mere rhetoric.

Swift Ventures: Interview With General Partner About The AI-Focused Firm Of Founders Backing Founders

Swift Ventures is a venture capital firm with roots in Berkeley, California that primarily invests in early-stage AI startups. Investments by Swift include Arize AI, Dash Bio, GrayMatter Robotics, Superhuman, SafelyYou, Tubi (acquired), and others. Started by the founders of TubeMogul – which was acquired by Adobe in 2016 – Swift touts “garage-to-IPO building and scaling expertise.” Pulse 2.0 interviewed Swift Ventures general partner Brett Wilson to learn more about the firm after its recent launch of a new AI Index.

WATCHING

I. Too Big To Fail? Too Small To Care? The New AI Landscape | Ft. Josh Mohrer

JOB BOARD

Explore openings at our portfolio companies:

Social Leverage Job Board

Search job openings across the Social Leverage network.

Featured Job:

Head of Marketing - Sequel.io

About Sequel.ioWith 91% of companies investing in video as a strategy to engage with their audience and drive pipeline, Sequel is addressing a significant pain point: driving away hard earned audiences to outdated third-party webinar ...