Happy Wednesday!
For those who are new, this series is dedicated to early stage startups from LatAm that are under the radar – and have a good story to tell. I used to send it out every other Wednesday - and it is separate from my traditional weekly newsletter. More recently, my life has been insane. My most recent Startups to Watch was from January 31st!!! Nevertheless, I want to take the opportunity to emphasize that I did not stop because there aren’t new companies worth reading/sharing about… but rather, due to my lack of time.
So founders, if you want to me showcased here, please help me out and reach out directly to me following the instructions below.
Please fill out a one-pager, in English, about your company using the topics and themes outlined in the posts. Please write it in 3rd person.
Reply to this e-mail with your one-pager attached.
I will review and reach out if I need more information.
It will be posted if I believe the startup fills the profile and audience of this newsletter.
Good Luck!!!!!!
Note that the basic criteria is a company that is not on the spotlight and is NOT actively raising proceeds. There is also no bias – apart from the fact that I like the story. I am not an investor or get any financial compensation to promote startups featured. This is intended for informational purposes only, using my solid base of subscribers to share intel of good people doing cool things, thus fostering the ecosystem.
Since launch, featured startups in aggregate were connected 107 times, to 49 different investors/strategic partners/companies globally.
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Opinions expressed here are solely my own and does not represent those of people, institutions, organizations that I may or may not be associated with in any capacity, unless explicitly stated.
Newsco: Revolutionizing News Consumption
Context
We are living in the most interesting of times. As we witness advanced technological developments like AI, robotics and a renewed space exploration, we also face perennial challenges such as misinformation, manipulation, polarization and wars. Social networks catalyze this process, delivering everything from fake news and hate speech to content that reinforces extremist views. Amidst all this chaos, the recently debated issue of censoring various profiles on these platforms has emerged as a big concern.
As you may have read about the last startup "Squad" featured in this space, the way people search for information is shifting towards what is termed as "social search," posing a significant threat to Google. As, perhaps, a last resort to discern what and who we can trust, people are yearning for a platform where information is both easy to consume and reliable. This includes everything from user experience to options for reading summaries, listening, watching or even querying the platform directly.
On the other side of this equation, we have serious and reasonable journalists and content creators who struggle to reach their full potential audience because social media algorithms often favor content that is false, extreme and sensationalist.
In this context, there is an urgent need for an independent platform that leverages the new generative AI technologies and best practices in user experience to offer a new way for people to stay informed. This platform should be easy and efficient, recommending content based on personal interests without sacrificing a diversity of opinions.
Problem Statement
Individuals who are committed to finding genuine news content must sift through a myriad of websites, conduct exhaustive searches on platforms like Google and often face paywalls that restrict access to quality journalism. This process is not only time-consuming but also frustrating, resulting in a disheartening user experience that deters regular engagement with news content.
The situation is further complicated by the role of social media platforms. These platforms, designed with sophisticated algorithms to maximize user engagement, frequently serve as gateways to news consumption. However, they also present a significant risk by proliferating unreliable and sensational content. The user experience on these platforms, while smooth and highly engaging, is tailored to promote content that generates the most interaction rather than the most accurate or worthwhile information. As a result, users are often misled by headlines and stories that prioritize shock value over factual accuracy.
Moreover, the echo chamber effect prevalent on these platforms exacerbates the issue, where users find themselves repeatedly exposed to the same type of content, reinforcing pre-existing biases and limiting exposure to a diverse range of viewpoints. This environment makes it exceedingly difficult for individuals to obtain a balanced and nuanced understanding of current events.
These challenges highlight a profound problem in our current media landscape: the accessibility of news does not equate to its trustworthiness. The ease with which misinformation can spread through both traditional and new media channels contributes to a public discourse filled with confusion and skepticism. As a result, the public's ability to stay informed with accurate and reliable information is severely compromised, undermining democratic processes and informed decision-making.
The Solution
Newsco revolutionizes the way news is consumed by bridging the gap between traditional journalism and modern technology. The platform is not a social network, which means that users do not publish content; rather, they receive a carefully curated selection of news articles. This curation is performed by Newsco's team, combining human insight with advanced AI to ensure that every piece of content is not only relevant but also trustworthy. This meticulous approach to news aggregation allows them to maintain a high standard of integrity and accuracy, crucial in an era marked by information overload.
In addition to personalized content delivery, Newsco enhances the user experience through customized features such as personalized newsletters and a chat interface for inquiries. These elements ensure that users are not just passive recipients of news but are actively engaged, with the ability to seek out more information and clarify doubts in real-time. This interactive dimension of Newsco transforms the user from a mere viewer into a well-informed participant in the news cycle.
Furthermore, their AI-driven customization allows the platform to adapt continually to the changing interests and preferences of each user. This dynamic adaptation ensures that the news feed remains highly relevant and engaging over time, catering to the individual’s evolving needs and interests.
The Platform
At Newsco, the "Home" feature offers a personalized, recommended feed that adapts to user preferences, enveloped in an interface designed for ease and engagement. As users navigate, they encounter news summaries in audio and text, designed to inform swiftly and efficiently.
The "Stories" feature in Newsco, distinct from the chronological order found on platforms like Instagram, is designed to enhance user engagement by presenting the latest news from followed portals within the last 24 hours.
"Vortex" provides an immersive exploration into a news story, offering a deep dive into related content, enabling users to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand.
With "Discover" connecting users with a broad spectrum of content from our curated selection of portals and newsletters, stimulating exploration across various interests.
The anticipated "Newsco Pilot" will introduce an AI-driven conversational experience, enabling interactive exploration of news topics directly on the platform. Additionally, users get personalized newsletters delivered to their email daily, featuring only the most relevant news tailored to their interests.
Within Newsco's "Journals" feature, users receive a unique daily offering called "My Journal." This feature automatically curates a daily selection of the most significant news based on the user's interests, condensing it into a concise five-minute summary.
Moreover, users have the flexibility to customize their news experience through "Journals." These customized journals filter and aggregate news based on specific tags and sources chosen by the user, resulting in a personalized news stream tailored to their individual interests and preferences.
Customers
Newsco's Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) includes:
Financial Market Professionals: Individuals aged 30-50 who need comprehensive insights into global financial markets.
Tech-Savvy Readers: Young adults aged 20-35 interested in platforms that offer advanced, user-friendly technologies for news consumption.
Journalists: Professionals aged 25-40 looking for reliable, in-depth news sources for their reporting.
Use Case
Carlos, a 33-year-old financial advisor in São Paulo, starts his day by opening the Newsco app as he gets ready for work. His first stop within the app is the "My Journal" feature, where he quickly absorbs a 5-minute summary of the latest financial and global news, curated to match his interests. He also checks the stories from portals he follows and browses through his personalized news feed to catch any immediate updates.
During his morning workout and breakfast, Carlos listens to Newsco’s curated news playlists, ensuring he remains informed. This playlist continues to serve him during his 45-minute commute to the Faria Lima, keeping his morning routine efficient and informed. Throughout his busy day, the app sends him targeted notifications about significant financial developments, keeping him connected to the most relevant updates.
Milestones
Newsco launched two months ago and has quickly achieved a significant milestone, reaching 1,000 registered users this week, along with maintaining 400 monthly active users (MAU) and 100 daily active users (DAU). These engagement metrics are vital for understanding how users interact with our platform, revealing trends and preferences that are essential for tailoring our services. This data will be instrumental as we continue to refine our features and strategies, aiming to boost user engagement and expand our community.
Market Size and Opportunities
In Latin America, Spotify boasts more than 50 million paying clients, highlighting a strong market for subscription services. Brazil, ranking third globally in Instagram users with 135 million active accounts, demonstrates significant digital engagement. This high engagement is especially notable in podcast listening and music streaming, where Brazil leads on a percentage basis globally. These factors create a favorable environment for Newsco’s subscription model and targeted advertising strategies, positioning the company to leverage Brazil's robust digital media consumption and expand its market presence effectively.
What's Next for Newsco
As Newsco moves forward, it is wrapping up development on our latest features, Explore and Journals, and are gearing up to start monetizing the app in the second semester. Alongside these advancements, they are forging strategic partnerships to enhance distribution and actively bringing more trusted creators onto our platform. This dual approach not only broadens our distribution capabilities but also enriches the platform’s content, continuing our mission to deliver reliable information. The team remains committed to continually enhancing the user experience through targeted experiments and updates.
Founders
Gabriel Cantu - Co-Founder & CEO
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gfcantu/
Lucas Bastianik - Co-Founder & CTO