TheSkimm

TheSkimm is a digital media company founded in 2012 by Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin. The two met while studying abroad in Rome and later reconnected as roommates in New York City, where they both worked as news producers for NBC. Identifying a gap in the market for news consumption tailored to busy, professional millennial women, they decided to create a product that fit into their audience's daily routine. They launched theSkimm from their couch with the mission to provide non-partisan information, enabling women to make confident and informed decisions.

The company's journey began with the co-founders quitting their jobs at NBC and pooling $4,000 in savings to start the venture. Their flagship product, the Daily Skimm, is an email newsletter that simplifies and summarizes the day's top news stories in a conversational and witty tone. Initial growth was largely organic, spurred by a grassroots "Skimm'bassador" program that incentivized loyal readers to refer new subscribers. The company has secured significant funding over the years, raising a total of $28.3 million across seven rounds, with notable investors including Google Ventures, 21st Century Fox, and Spanx founder Sara Blakely. In March 2025, theSkimm was acquired by Ziff Davis and now operates as part of its Everyday Health Group.

TheSkimm's business model is diversified, generating revenue through three primary channels: advertising, affiliate marketing, and subscriptions. Advertising partners can run native content and sponsorships across the company's various platforms. Affiliate marketing provides another revenue stream through commissions on product recommendations. The company also offers a premium subscription service, Skimm Ahead, a mobile app that provides exclusive content and integrates with users' calendars for $2.99 per month. The business has expanded its ecosystem beyond the initial newsletter to include multiple targeted newsletters like Skimm Money and Skimm Well, several podcasts such as "9 to 5ish with theSkimm," and Skimm Studios for in-house video and audio content. Their first book, "How to Skimm Your Life," became a #1 New York Times Best Seller.

Keywords: digital media, newsletters, news summary, female audience, millennial women, Danielle Weisberg, Carly Zakin, Daily Skimm, Skimm Ahead, subscription media, media acquisition, Ziff Davis, affiliate marketing, native advertising, content strategy, news aggregation, Skimm'bassadors, email marketing, media startups, personal finance content, wellness media, Skimm Money