WWATIF
WATIF is a Spanish digital media startup (WATIF Media S.L.) founded in 2024 by journalist Emilio Doménech ("Nanísimo") that covers technology, science, culture, work and future trends for millennials and Gen Z through newsletters, video podcasts, YouTube/Spotify shows and live community events. It launched on 8 October 2024 and has grown to 13,000+ Substack subscribers, a daily/weekly video format ('WATIF TV' morning show) and paid live events in Madrid and Barcelona. In February 2025 it closed a first round of roughly €200,000 at a ~€1M valuation, bringing in the Cabiedes family's investment holding CC2B alongside Newtral and other shareholders.
SectorsMedia, Digital Media, Journalism, Creator Economy, Consumer Subscription
Start-up MapMedia & Gaming › Creator & publishing tools
Founders
B
Bosco Bárcena
Co-founder & Content Director
E
Emilio Doménech
Founder & CEO
M
Mar Manrique
Co-founder & Product Director
M
Marina Enrich Milá
Co-founder, Digital Strategy
Global models 5
VVice Media
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Digital-native media brand for young audiences covering culture, tech and news through video, podcasts and events, making money from advertising and branded content.
$1.4BComparable
BBuzzFeed
United States · www.buzzfeed.com ↗
Millennial and Gen Z digital media company making social-first video and editorial content on culture and trends, funded by advertising and sponsorship.
$500MComparable
VVox Media
United States · www.voxmedia.com ↗
Digital media group whose explanatory journalism on tech, science and culture runs across newsletters, podcasts, video and live events for younger readers.
$400MComparable
RRefinery29
United States · www.refinery29.com ↗
Digital media brand for millennials that pairs editorial and video content with paid live experiences and events.
$125MComparable
BBrut
France · www.brut.media ↗
European video-first media outlet for millennials and Gen Z that publishes short social video and shows on society, tech and the future, making money through brand partnerships.
$100MComparable
In the same niche 8 others
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Notes: Most funded first
Investors 5
Funding rounds 1
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-03 | Pre-seed (estimated) | approximately €200K |
Lead not disclosed
+5 more
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News 7
Open as list →| Published | Article |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-30 |
WATIF's formula for smarter journalism, stronger community and sustainable revenue ↗
International Press Institute (IPI)
2026-05-30 |
| 2026-04-18 |
International Journalism Festival 2026: What we learnt in Perugia about the future of news ↗
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
2026-04-18 |
| 2025-10-31 |
'Building a very different kind of trust': Four things we learnt at the launch of our report on news creators ↗
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
2025-10-31 |
| 2025-08-01 |
Watif cierra temporalmente: el adiós de Emilio Doménech ↗
El Confidencial Digital
2025-08-01 |
| 2025-02-03 |
WATIF, el nuevo medio de Emilio Doménech, cierra su primera ronda de casi 200.000€ ↗
El Referente
2025-02-03 |
| 2025-01-03 |
News for young people by young people: How this new Spanish outlet aims to reach an elusive audience ↗
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
2025-01-03 |
| 2024-10-07 |
Emilio Doménech lanza WATIF, el medio que mira al futuro ↗
Dircomfidencial
2024-10-07 |