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$4 Million Raised to Fund Waterfront Media's Success
NEW YORK, NY
March 1, 2004
Waterfront Media Inc., formerly known as Agora Media Inc., announced
today that it received a new round of funding from four primary investment
groups that together have provided $4 million. Time Warner Investments,
Rho Capital, Village Ventures, and Star Ventures all have invested
growth capital for the highly successful online publisher responsible
for creating widespread online exposure for The South Beach Diet™.
Waterfront Media, formed by the merger of Agora Media, Inc. - co-founded
by Ben Wolin and Michael Keriakos, - and Streetmail, Inc. - co-founded
by Bo Peabody and Matt Harris - currently publishes the online versions
of Dr. Andrew Weil's My Optimum Health Plan; #1 New York Times Best
Seller, The South Beach Diet™, by Dr. Arthur Agatston; Money Magazine's
financial expert, Today Show contributor and author Jean Chatsky;
25-year health and fitness icon Denise Austin; and the best-selling
Left Behind Series by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
"We are excited to be a leading player in the paid content space,"
said Ben Wolin, CEO of Waterfront Media. "This current round of funding
gives us the opportunity to expand our product offering, pursue company
acquisitions and develop stronger marketing campaigns for our products."
The online subscription-based publisher of self-help products currently
boasts 275,000 subscribers who wish to use the interactivity and customization
of the Internet to connect with and learn from major voices of authority.
Waterfront Media's success has opened a new revenue stream for the
publishing industry. The company partners with an existing brand,
creates an authoritative website and markets the site through online
and offline advertising and public relations. The partner gets a percentage
of the subscription sales, which creates a distinct and incremental
stream of revenue without any costs to the owner of the brand.
"Waterfront Media has demonstrated successfully their ability to find
new revenue opportunities for off-line publishers," said Neil Sequeira
of Time Warner Investments. "We have been impressed with their strong
technology platform and are delighted that a number of our operating
companies are partnering with Waterfront to further extend the online
subscription content and services they offer consumers. Going forward,
we'll continue to look for ways to establish mutually beneficial and
strategic ties between our companies and Waterfront."
Waterfront Media Chairman of the Board, Bo Peabody, who is Managing
General Partner of Village Ventures said, "This latest round of funding
is further evidence that the company is tracking well, and has captured
the interest of both financial and strategic investors. Waterfront
Media has established a successful, low-risk model for the publishing
industry to take advantage of the Internet, and is thus breaking ground
in ways that will expand the paid content space."
Wolin adds, "The Internet is an untapped medium for expert advice
givers. Community interaction, diagnostic tools and efficient delivery
and marketing have allowed advice companies to create successful online
subscription products. With our new infusion of funds we'll expand
the model even further."
Waterfront Media is headquartered on the Waterfront of Brooklyn, NY
with customer service operations in North Adams, MA. This subscription-based
online publishing company featuring self-help products connects subscribers
with trusted experts to assist them in improving their lives. Waterfront
Media opened its doors in January 2002 and currently serves 275,000
subscribers. More than 4 million people are receiving newsletters
from Waterfront's leading authorities for their products encompassing
diet, health, finance, exercise, spirituality and religion and relationships.
Additional information about Waterfront Media's partners, products
and online tools can be found at www.waterfrontmedia.com
or by calling Tabatha Simmonds of Krupp Kommunications at 541-317-9336.
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