TheSkimm's Acquisition and Exciting New Chapter

Imagine building a newsletter from scratch, growing it to reach millions of engaged women readers, and then being acquired by one of the largest digital media companies in the world. That dream is now reality for Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin, and today, we're celebrating this exciting milestone for the co-founders of TheSkimm.

Ziff Davis has acquired TheSkimm in a strategic move that positions the women-focused media brand for its next phase of growth. The company will now operate under Everyday Health Group, Ziff Davis' health content arm, while maintaining its unique brand identity and founding leadership team.

We've long admired Danielle and Carly's entrepreneurial journey since they founded TheSkimm in 2012, and their success offers valuable insights for every Entreprenista building her own empire.

Danielle and Carly's Keys to Building an Acquisition-Worthy Brand

• Know Your Audience Intimately: TheSkimm's success stems from deeply understanding their readers. This audience-first approach created the brand's most valuable asset—5 million highly engaged women subscribers.
• Build a Distinctive Brand Voice: TheSkimm created a recognizable, trusted voice that resonated with Millennial women. This authentic connection made the brand incredibly valuable to its acquirer.
• Maintain Fiscal Discipline: TheSkimm raised $28.4 million while maintaining profitability—making them an attractive acquisition target in today's challenging media landscape.
• Strategic Growth Planning: The founders were intentional about finding the right partner. 
• Leadership Continuity: Both co-CEOs will continue leading the brand under its new ownership, and all 75+ employees will remain in place—a testament to the value Ziff Davis places on the existing team and culture.

TheSkimm's journey from newsletter startup to acquisition by a major digital media company is a true Entreprenista success story—one that proves that with vision, audience understanding, and smart business strategy, women founders can build media companies that thrive.

We recently spoke with Carly and Danielle on the Entreprenista Podcast, where they shared all about the early days of founding TheSkimm, their secrets to maintaining a successful co-founder relationship, and so much more. This is a must-listen for every founder looking to grow their business. You can listen to the episode right here.

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