Seasoned media veterans launch Heatmap, a digital news platform focused on climate change and how it’s transforming our world

Founding team Nico Lauricella, Robinson Meyer, Randy Siegel and Sara O’Connor launch with $4M in funding

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Heatmap News, a new digital news platform devoted to tackling climate change — and how it impacts nearly every aspect of our world — launched today. Started by a team of experienced editors, journalists and media executives, Heatmap will combine smart, sophisticated analysis with informed perspectives on the critical and fascinating debates around a wide range of climate issues. 

Heatmap will dive deep into the intersection of climate and politics, business, technology and culture to help its readers better understand the changing planet, the progress being made on decarbonization, and how best to navigate the energy transition already underway. Its home, EV and product coverage will also help guide consumers through the new zero-carbon way of life and its flagship newsletter, Heatmap Daily, will deliver the best of Heatmap to its readers' inboxes Monday through Friday. 

Access to Heatmap’s wide range of high-quality content will be subscription-based. Heatmap launches with $4M in funding led by Autumn Road Capital, a venture capital firm primarily focused on media, technology and communications. Heatmap has a team of eight and plans to double in size by the end of its first year. 

Editor in Chief and CEO Nico Lauricella said, “Climate change is not only the biggest story of our time, it’s also the most interesting. With Heatmap, we’re putting together a sharp team of climate thinkers and writers who will engage readers with the kind of sophisticated, insider analysis that they find in business, technology and politics coverage. You can’t understand the world today without understanding climate change.” 

Executive Editor Robinson Meyer said: “The great climate and energy transition combines the most fascinating story of our time with a total economic and lifestyle transformation. This will be a tale of visionaries, prospectors, merchants and frauds; of fast cars, Biblical floods, new fortunes and a planet remade. No publication yet exists to tell that story in its entirety — until now. Heatmap is investing the time, resources and expertise to cover that world and unpack its toughest debates. Heatmap’s founding team is made up of experienced reporters and editors who have covered climate change before, but who understand a new voice is needed — one where journalists have a stake in the company.”

Robb Fipp, managing partner of Autumn Road Capital, said: “Heatmap is bringing together the best and brightest in journalism to tell important stories about climate change, one of the most critical issues of our time. It is also propelled by a sustainable business model that will deliver a premium experience and high-quality editorial products to readers. We are proud to invest in Heatmap and excited to see its growth and impact in the months and years ahead.” 

Chief Growth Officer Sara O’Connor said: “With climate change playing a greater role in people’s lives every day, we know that people are looking for trusted news sources to help navigate them through our changing world. Readers are deeply concerned about climate change and willing to pay to support the high-quality analysis we are providing.” 

Chair and President Randy Siegel said: “Over the course of my career, I’ve learned that successful news outlets start with investing in the best talent, and continue with reader-supported models like Heatmap. At a time when we are awash in information, people are searching for high-quality, smart analysis, especially on a topic as complicated, intersectional and urgent as climate change.” 

About Heatmap News:

Heatmap News is a subscription-first digital news platform tackling the biggest story of our time — climate change — with smart insights and analysis that will help readers understand our rapidly warming planet and the unprecedented economic, technological and societal transformations already underway to address it. Heatmap will deliver a premium user experience through a subscription-first model and will not accept advertising from fossil fuel companies.

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