HT Media and North Base Media collaborate to launch accelerator program

HT Media and North Base Media, an international investment firm, have partnered to launch Mediahack.in, an accelerator program aimed at fostering a new generation of digital media companies.

The program will identify and support entrepreneurs who want to build leading-edge, original content and advertising-related technology businesses in India.

Talking about the potential of the Indian media market, Marcus Brauchli, co-founder and managing partner, North Base Media, and former editor of The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, says, "Mobile and social platforms are transforming the way billions of people consume news around the world. Nowhere is that more evident than in India, where more than 500 million people will have access to the internet, many for the first time, in the next few years. We want to help the next generation of entrepreneurs create the platforms, products and technologies that will bring news and information to those new audiences. We are fortunate to have as a partner HT Media and hope to provide media entrepreneurs in India our expertise."

Speaking about the launch of Mediahack.in, Rajiv Verma, CEO, HT Media, states, "Media is one of the most exciting sectors in India, today. I am therefore delighted that we, at HT, in partnership with NBM, are going to provide a platform which will encourage media entrepreneurship in India. NBM with its global expertise will add immensely to this endeavour and provide great learning opportunities for upcoming media entrepreneurs."

At Mediahack.in, HT Media and North Base Media will provide media start-ups with access to media networks, mentoring and initial capital, so new-age media entrepreneurs can flourish in this digital revolution.

HT Media has brands across print, radio, education and digital space. On the digital front, it has incubated and scaled up Shine.com, HTCampus.com, Desimartini.com and Digital Quotient.

HT Media is an active investor in the digital space. It has recently invested in Round One, a referral based recruitment platform and acquired Webitude, a social media marketing platform. HT Media has also invested in early stage Digital & Media funds - Blume Ventures (leading internet start-up fund in India) and Tandem Capital (mobile start-up fund, based in Silicon Valley).

North Base Media (NBM) identifies structures and leads early and growth-stage investments in companies that can become media leaders in emerging markets where profound digital shifts are upending existing media and technology sectors.