Trigger Warning was an independent media company that I started for the purpose of bringing the most entertaining and talented creators together to spearhead the creation of an alternative press. Our focus was on spotlighting provocative voices outside of the mainstream, offering them a platform to express their ideas, circulate their articles, and engage in a dialogue about the arts. Evolving into a mainstream publication, we were further developed by Thiel Capital in 2015. Thus began the phase of Silicon Valley's first venture capital-funded media publication, heralding the birth of a new era.
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PROBLEM
During a period of political realignment, a growing segment of people in the tech and art sectors found themselves marginalized by the mainstream media. An emerging demographic that was rich in provocative ideas and opinions were deemed too controversial for traditional platforms, creating a series of unfortunate cancellations and exclusions. There was no high-caliber outlet for these voices to be heard, and the absence of such a publication deprived this demographic of the opportunity to freely express themselves. This void stifled freedom of thought and hindered the growth of diverse political discourse, leaving a major gap in the cultural narrative.
SOLUTION
The solution was to create a platform founded on the principle of embracing dissenting opinions. By creating an independent media company dedicated to amplifying provocative voices and unconventional ideas, we offered a sanctuary for supporters of freedom of speech and expression. Attracting a vibrant community of thinkers and investors, we heralded a VC-funded media outlet that boldly published what our competitors feared to touch. Through disrupting the traditional publishing model that sidelined controversial perspectives, Trigger Warning upped the game for independent media outlets while creating an entirely new standard for the mainstream.
Our strategy was to centralize dissident thought and curate a space for open dialogue. Recognizing the untapped potential of voices excluded from current publications in the spotlight, we leveraged social media to build a network of passionate contributors and supporters. Through personally reaching out to writers, we gathered a diverse group of people eager to share their uncensored perspectives. This strategy created a community in which intellectual exploration had no limits. By engaging with people who had been cancelled or overlooked by traditional media outlets—people who craved depth, authenticity, and the freedom to explore unconventional ideas no longer felt marginalized.
STRATEGY
execution
Trigger Warning was launched in 2015, during a period of anticipation for a new type of narrative. We solidified the foundation of a dynamic media outfit where the exchange of radical ideas became the norm. We soon began attracting the attention and support of influential figures in venture capital, including Michael Kratsios of Thiel Capital, who went on to serve as Donald Trump's CTO after his involvement with our publication. Our investment circle also included visionaries such as Cyan Banister of the Founder's Fund, Brendan Eich who created JavaScript and co-founded Mozilla, Kathy Young of the Koch Foundation, and other household names who were eager to get in on the ground floor of our new media landscape.
