Quartz: The Rise and Fall of a Digital Media Darling
2025-04-07
Quartz, once lauded as a 'pirate ship attacking the Royal Navy' in the digital media landscape, met its demise after a decade-long journey. From its 2012 launch to its 2018 acquisition by a Japanese firm and subsequent 2022 takeover by G/O Media, which ultimately dismantled it, Quartz experienced both triumph and tragedy. The founder recounts the tumultuous ride, from ambitious beginnings to the heartbreaking sale, highlighting the brutal realities of digital media competition and the challenges of sustainable business models. Ultimately, Quartz's core value lay in its people and culture, while the intervention of private equity ultimately destroyed this once promising brand.