In this episode, Hall welcomes Harlan Mandel, CEO of Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF). Harlan joined the company in 1998 and was appointed CEO in 2011. MDIF is an impact-investment fund which “provides affordable debt and equity financing to independent news and information businesses in countries where access to free and independent media is under threat.”

MDIF funds deals across the world, including the US. Harlan speaks about one portfolio company in India whose business model, he suggests, is a good thing to pursue. He also speaks about a company in Indonesia founded by three of the leading investigative journalists in business news in the country.

Harlan goes on to talk about expertise in digital media and digital operations, and developments in the news field. He gives examples of challenges startups face in the media world and the skill sets needed to found a company.

On the investor side, Harlan suggests that the startup should be focused on bringing in revenue from day one and he goes into detail about how to accomplish this.

Visit Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) at www.mdif.org 

Harlan can be contacted via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/harlan-mandel-8817673/ on www.Twitter.com @HarlanMandel and via email at harlan.mandel@mdif.org

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Hall T Martin is the director of Investor Connect, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the education of investors for early-stage funding. All opinions expressed by Hall and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Investor Connect. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for the basis of investment decisions.