Industry Dive

Industry Dive operates as a digital business-to-business media company, delivering targeted news and original analysis to executives across more than 30 industries. The company was founded in Washington, D.C., in 2012 by Sean Griffey, Ryan Willumson, and Eli Dickinson. The trio, who had previously worked together at B2B publisher FierceMarkets, bootstrapped the company, launching with five publications covering construction, education, marketing, utility, and waste.

The founders' backgrounds created a complementary skill set for the venture. Sean Griffey serves as CEO, Ryan Willumson is the Chief Revenue Officer, and Eli Dickinson acts as the Chief Technology Officer. Griffey holds a bachelor's in economics from Penn State University and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Willumson graduated from Penn State with a degree in finance and international business. Dickinson has a B.S. in Computer Science from SUNY Buffalo and was the Technology Director at FierceMarkets, where he built their content management system. This combined expertise in business strategy, revenue generation, and technology formed the foundation of Industry Dive.

The company's business model is centered on providing high-value content to niche executive audiences without a paywall, generating revenue primarily through marketing-supported channels rather than traditional advertising. This includes newsletter sponsorships, content creation for clients through its in-house studio, StudioID, and digital marketing campaigns. They deliberately avoid programmatic ads, focusing on direct sales to marketers. This strategy targets industries characterized by significant regulatory or technological change and high capital spending, ensuring a readership that needs to stay informed and an attractive market for advertisers. The publications are designed for mobile consumption by busy executives.

Initially funded with $900,000 from angel investors, the company grew steadily and profitably. A significant milestone was the 2019 acquisition of a majority stake by Falfurrias Capital Partners, which accelerated growth. Subsequent acquisitions included CFO.com in 2020 and PharmaVOICE in 2021. In July 2022, the UK-based B2B events and publishing giant Informa plc acquired Industry Dive for approximately $525 million. At the time of the sale, Industry Dive had grown to over 400 employees and was generating over $100 million in annual revenue. The company serves an audience of over 13 million decision-makers through its portfolio of more than 27 specialized publications, including BioPharma Dive, Food Dive, and Healthcare Dive.

Keywords: B2B media, digital publishing, business journalism, niche markets, content marketing, lead generation, newsletter advertising, Sean Griffey, Ryan Willumson, Eli Dickinson, Informa TechTarget, FierceMarkets, Falfurrias Capital Partners, executive insights, industry news, mobile-first media, ad-supported media, marketing services, digital media strategy, vertical markets