We’re excited to share a major milestone from one of our portfolio companies — Featured.com has acquired Help A Reporter Out (HARO) from Cision.
Originally launched in 2008, HARO became the go-to platform for journalists seeking expert sources, and for professionals eager to share their insights with the media. Now, as AI-generated content floods the internet, HARO’s mission to connect journalists with real, human expertise is more relevant than ever — and we’re proud to back Featured.com as they bring this legacy platform back to life.
“This is the perfect time to bring HARO back,” said Brett Farmiloe, Founder and CEO of Featured. “As AI floods the internet with generic content, journalists need credible, human sources more than ever. Our goal is to preserve what made HARO great, while modernizing it for today’s media landscape.”
Under Featured’s ownership, HARO will remain free for both journalists and sources, supported by newsletter sponsorships. It’s returning to its roots with a simple but powerful model: journalists submit a query, and qualified experts respond. Reporters receive daily email digests filled with timely, relevant insights — helping them discover credible sources faster and more efficiently.
“We’re excited to support Featured in bringing HARO back,” said Rob Weber, Managing Partner at Great North Ventures. “This investment reflects our belief in community-driven platforms that strengthen trusted connections between experts and creators.”
The relaunch of HARO aligns perfectly with Featured’s broader mission: to unlock and distribute expert knowledge at scale. In a world increasingly driven by automation and AI, we believe there’s an even greater need for human insight, originality, and trust.
You can learn more and sign up for early access at www.helpareporter.com.
We’re proud to be part of this next chapter — and to support platforms that make meaningful, authentic storytelling possible.
