Deadline: 20-Sep-21
Applications are now open for the Google News Initiative (GNI) Startups Lab Europe to support high-quality reporting for local communities, single-topic audiences, and/or previously underserved communities.
The GNI Startups Lab Europe aims to help journalistic startups better understand their audiences, create higher quality content (text, audio and/or video) and navigate the pitfalls of monetisation. At the end of the programme, you will have improved your capabilities to sustainably provide your audience with high quality journalism.
GNI, Media Lab and the EJC have built a six-month programme specifically tailored to the needs of content startups in Europe. You will benefit from Media Lab’s experience in supporting media startups and from EJC’s extensive European network and active community: there will be workshops, coaching and high-profile networking opportunities. Additionally, as a participant you will get access to up to € 25,000 in grants for running revenue-generating experiments, should you need it.
They’ll select 20 applicants from the initial pool, who will be invited to Trial Run, an audit workshop scheduled for the week 18-24 October, 2021. Trial Run will close with a Pitch Day and the final selection of 10 teams max. who will be part of the GNI Startups Lab for Europe.
Phases
The Programme Will Consist Of Three Phases:
- The Product Development Phase starts in November and continues until the end of December. You will learn how to develop your customer base further, how to refine your content strategy and how to utilise some basic innovation methods.
- The Growth & Marketing Phase in January and February 2022 will support you in matters such as Visibility, Ad Sales and Leadership.
- The final Business & Sustainability Phase in March and April 2022 will help you grow your startup to the next level by working with you on topics such as Recruiting, Finance and Investment.
Who’s the Programme For?
- The programme is for founders and teams producing journalistic digital content who want to
- Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to operate and grow a digital news business
- Explore a major strategic opportunity, which can help you become more sustainable. Sustainability in the context of this programme is defined as the union of journalistic impact, operational resilience and financial health
- You’re committed to public-service reporting with communities, not on communities
- You’re committed to making your business idea financially sustainable as quickly as possible
- You or your team are able to commit at least eight hours per week for six months to meeting coaches and trainers, as well as completing remote coursework.
- They are especially interested in entrepreneurs who want to serve communities that don’t often see themselves or their stories reflected in their local news.
Eligibility Criteria
Please consider applying if you:
- Are based in one of the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
- Are independently owned and operated
- Produce original content that is primarily available on a digital platform(s)
- Have been operating for at least six months
- Earn less than $ 500,000 per year in gross revenue
- Can demonstrate some successes on the path to sustainability. Examples include increased site visits, a growing membership program or increased earned revenue.
- Focus on one or more of the following:
- Public interest journalism
- Closing an information gap
- Serving a geographic-bound or single subject community
- Serving an underserved community
- Exploring new ways to deliver and/or monetise information
For more information, visit https://www.gnistartupslab.com/europe