Digital Media
Opportunity from Chaos
With the marginal cost of media production plunging—and advertising inventory skyrocketing—the rules that have long governed consumer media are suddenly and dramatically defunct.
We see real opportunity in value added services that somebody pays for: premium content, creative service models and innovative marketing and distribution technologies. In each case, we look for businesses with compelling models for composing content, presenting data and offering high-impact solutions to content owners, consumers and advertisers. As legacy publishers and producers struggle for a position in the new landscape, Kohlberg Ventures is poised to take bets on promising upstarts with clear vision and an ability to execute quickly.
Previous Digital Media Investments
Akademos
Akademos is the virtual bookstore and marketplace where students save, schools succeed and learning thrives. Akademos offers new, used, rented or peer-to-peer marketplace physical and electronic texts ensuring students the lowest priced book that meets their need. Since Akademos partners with schools, students know they are buying the right text and are able to use their financial aid.
Current
Since its inception in 2005, Emmy and Peabody award-winning Current TV has been the world’s leading peer-to-peer news and information network. Current is the only 24/7 cable and satellite television network and Internet site produced and programmed in collaboration with its audience. Current connects young adults with what is going on in their world, from their perspective, in their own voices. With the launch of Current.com, the first fully integrated web and TV platform users can participate in shaping an ongoing stream of news and information that is compelling, authentic and relevant to them.
SocialChorus (formerly Halogen Media Group)
SocialChorus helps brands unlock the full power of social influence. This isn’t about generic influencer scores and random prizes—we know how to help you find the people whose influence matters most for your brand, and connect them with your brand. By enabling social influencers to endorse your brand, we create higher value social marketing – as a single campaign or an on-going effort.
Open Road Integrated Media
Open Road Integrated Media is a content marketing company that places the e-book in the center of a multi-platform universe, which includes film, video and other forms of digital entertainment. Open Road Integrated Media leverages its partners’ experience and relationships to enhance titles from literary giants and introduce new stars to readers. The company’s e-books offer a 360-degree world of existing and originally produced premium content that is marketed through a new online proprietary platform.
