Inverse (website)
Dave Nemetz launched Inverse in 2015 as an online magazine focused on technology, science, and culture. The site began operations with seed funding and established its headquarters in San Francisco, California. Editorial staff members initially worked from Brooklyn, New York, creating a cross-country operational model. This early setup allowed the team to tap into talent pools across two major media hubs before consolidating their presence.
The company secured $6 million in Series A funding during 2016 through Crosslink Capital. Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments also participated in this investment round. By 2017, Inverse moved its headquarters to SoHo in Manhattan, New York City. Staff numbers grew to approximately 30 full-time employees alongside 25 freelancers. The organization expanded its reach by debuting two shows on the Facebook Watch platform in September 2017.
Monthly unique visitors dropped from 7.2 million in July 2017 to 5.7 million by mid-2018. On the 15th of August 2018, six staff writers representing 15 percent of the workforce were laid off due to declining traffic metrics. Despite these cuts, the site recovered quickly within the same year. Traffic averaged just above 7 million total visits per month later in 2018 as engagement stabilized and returned to previous levels.
Bustle Digital Group announced the purchase of Inverse on the 23rd of July 2019. The new ownership implemented a complete redesign titled Inverse 2.0 which launched on the 22nd of January 2020. This transition marked a significant shift in the magazine's visual identity and operational direction under Bustle management. Years later, in January 2026, Bustle closed the gaming section leaving behind a skeleton crew Entertainment Team for remaining operations.
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Common questions
Who launched Inverse and when did it start operations?
Dave Nemetz launched Inverse in 2015 as an online magazine focused on technology, science, and culture. The site began operations with seed funding and established its headquarters in San Francisco, California.
How much money did Inverse raise during its Series A funding round in 2016?
The company secured $6 million in Series A funding during 2016 through Crosslink Capital. Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments also participated in this investment round.
What happened to the staff at Inverse on the 15th of August 2018?
On the 15th of August 2018, six staff writers representing 15 percent of the workforce were laid off due to declining traffic metrics. Despite these cuts, the site recovered quickly within the same year.
When did Bustle Digital Group announce the purchase of Inverse?
Bustle Digital Group announced the purchase of Inverse on the 23rd of July 2019. The new ownership implemented a complete redesign titled Inverse 2.0 which launched on the 22nd of January 2020.
Why did Bustle close the gaming section of Inverse in January 2026?
Years later, in January 2026, Bustle closed the gaming section leaving behind a skeleton crew Entertainment Team for remaining operations.