Announcing the 2024 Next Challenge Division Finalists
We are thrilled to announce the division finalists for the 2024 Next Challenge for Media & Journalism, our national competition seeking groundbreaking for-profit and nonprofit startups that will reinvent media in the coming decade.
Forty-three judges from throughout the media industry spent 200+ hours evaluating applications in all three Next Challenge divisions. They submitted 2,115 scores and 423 written comments, which will provide important feedback to the hundreds of startups in the competition.
Seven prizes totaling $150,000 will be awarded to early-stage media startups. The Next Challenge Grand Prize winner will receive a grant of up to $60,000.
Future of Local Journalism - Division Finalists (link)
awarded to a local or regional news startup that excels at meeting the information needs of the community it serves or is pioneering a sustainable new business model for local journalism
supported by the MacArthur Foundation
NewsTech -
Division Finalists (link)
awarded to a startup supporting the productivity and sustainability of newsrooms by providing an essential service using artificial intelligence (AI) and/or other technology
supported by Knight Foundation
Power Platform - Division Finalists (link)
awarded to a technology startup developing powerful ways to share media content across the country and around the globe.
supported by the McKnight Foundation
What happens next? Division finalists will be paired with industry mentors and provided free training opportunities as they prepare a pitch deck and record a 90-second "elevator pitch" video for division judges. Detailed information and instructions will be emailed to all division finalists later this week.
