Yellow

Yellow is a Los Angeles-based venture firm and creative community established in 2020, specifically targeting the evolving media landscape. Co-founded by Josh Elman, Michael D. Ratner, and Scott B. Rosenbaum, the firm positions itself as a launchpad for entrepreneurs and creative minds dedicated to building the next generation of influential media companies. Their strategic location in Los Angeles provides a natural hub for media innovation, aligning with their mission to foster growth in this dynamic sector.

The firm primarily focuses on early-stage investments, identifying promising startups that are poised to redefine how content is created, distributed, and consumed. Yellow has successfully raised two significant funds to support its investment thesis. Yellow Fund I closed with $100 million in 2021, demonstrating early investor confidence in their specialized approach. Building on this momentum, Yellow Fund II secured $150 million in commitments in 2023, bringing their total capital under management to $250 million across both funds. This substantial capital base enables them to provide robust support to their portfolio companies.

Yellow's investment strategy involves deploying initial checks ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, indicating a preference for significant early-stage commitments that can fuel substantial growth. Their portfolio reflects a diverse range of media ventures, including well-known names such as Cameo, a platform for personalized celebrity messages, and The Athletic, a subscription-based sports journalism company that was later acquired by The New York Times. Other notable investments include MasterClass, an online education platform, and Headspace, a popular meditation and mindfulness app, showcasing their broad interpretation of the media sector to include content, community, and well-being platforms.