Revolutionizing Access to Quality Journalism through a Harvard Alumni’s Vision

Zette, a media technology startup founded by Yehong Zhu, a 2018 Harvard College graduate, is transforming the way readers access premium digital news content. Launched in 2020, Zette addresses the challenge of paywalls that restrict access to high-quality journalism. Zhu, a former Forbes journalist and Twitter product manager, created a browser extension that allows users to access paywalled articles on a pay-per-article basis for a $9.99 monthly subscription, with revenue shared with newsrooms to support publishers. This innovative model, often described as the “Netflix for journalism,” aims to democratize access to reliable information while fostering sustainable journalism.
Zhu’s vision for Zette was shaped by her experiences at Forbes, where she recognized the economic challenges facing newsrooms and readers’ reluctance to subscribe to multiple publications. The startup gained significant traction, raising $2.7 million in funding and securing licensing deals with over 100 premium publications. Zette’s success was further validated when it won the 2023 Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Accelerator Demo Day, earning an invitation to compete at the Startup World Cup for a $1 million investment prize. Additionally, Zhu’s innovative approach led to Zette acquiring an AI company to enhance news contextualization, bridging the gap between reading and understanding news stories. This topic explores how Zhu’s Harvard education and entrepreneurial spirit drove Zette’s mission to make quality journalism accessible and sustainable in the digital age.

Zette AI 

We’ve all experienced the frustration of clicking on an interesting article, only to be blocked by a paywall. Those days, however, might be over.

Enter Zette, the “Netflix for journalism,” founded by Yehong Zhu, ‘18. For just $10 a month, Zette grants users access to a wide range of premium news sources without hitting paywalls—no hacks or workarounds needed.   

Yehong saw it firsthand while writing for Forbes. Paywalls were creating frustrating barriers for both readers and journalists seeking out quality journalism.   

From the start, we resonated with Zette because we, like many, crave seamless access to news. Yet, Yehong wasn’t just addressing a frustration; she is tackling a growing need in the digital era: accurate, easily accessible information. Zette was the perfect fit for our Accelerator—an innovative company with massive potential.

The Accelerator pushed Yehong to expand her vision for disrupting the news industry. This led to her acquiring an AI company that adds context to news stories—bridging the gap between reading the news and truly understanding it.

Her vision didn’t stop there. Zette’s mission to democratize information has evolved with plans to license high-quality news data to AI companies. Yehong's journey has led to her raising nearly $2.7M in funding to support Zette’s growth.

More than just a disruptor in journalism, Zette is set to transform how we access and engage with digital content. We saw that potential from the start.