The Messenger, a digital media start-up that only launched in 2023, is shutting down.
Axios first reported the news on Wednesday evening, describing it as one of the “biggest media failures of the internet era.”
In a memo sent to employees, founder and CEO Jimmy Finkelstein confirmed that he had failed to secure the required funding to save the company from bankruptcy.
He wrote:
I am personally devastated to share that we have made the painfully hard decision to shut down The Messenger, effective immediately. Over the past few weeks, literally until earlier today, we exhausted every option available and have endeavored to raise sufficient capital to reach profitability. Unfortunately, we have been unable to do so, which is why we haven’t shared the news with you until now. This is truly the last thing I wanted, and I am deeply sorry.
The Messenger started with an incredibly…
