Transforming Government Transparency Through Media, Data & Advocacy
A revolutionary hybrid model combining data-driven investigative journalism, independent field reporting, research infrastructure, and media services to combat government waste and restore public trust.
dMedia is a commercial media and technology company that serves as the operational backbone for DOGE Network (a partisan government watchdog) and Department of Open Data (DOOD) (a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on public data infrastructure). This hybrid structure allows dMedia to generate revenue through for-profit services while channeling surplus funds to support DOGE's advocacy and DOOD's public-good initiatives, ensuring sustainability without relying solely on grants.
dMedia
For-Profit Parent
Commercial media and technology company generating revenue through PR campaigns, events, and media services
DOGE Network
Partisan Watchdog
Conservative-leaning initiative exposing government waste, fraud, and abuse through data-driven investigative journalism, field reporting, and research tools
DOOD
Nonpartisan 501(c)(3)
Public data infrastructure nonprofit enhancing government data quality, accessibility, and retention
Mission & Vision
Our hybrid model separates advocacy from infrastructure while using commercial revenue to cross-subsidize, maximizing impact without conflicts.
dMedia
For-ProfitdMedia delivers data-driven journalism and investigative reporting built on open data infrastructure. We support independent researchers and journalists in transforming government data into compelling narratives that expose waste, fraud, and abuse while celebrating efficient government. Through strategic events, media production, and community building, we bridge the gap between raw data and public understanding. Our work is grounded in open data principles and serves the public good.
DOGE Network
PartisanWe develop tools and support research related to government transparency and for the public good. We implement data transformation and standards to facilitate correlation across many data sources, enabling timely research that can be turned into action and compelling reporting. Our goal is to make data accessible from local, regional, and national sources, and to support data-driven journalism and investigative work that brings transparency to light. We believe great reporting starts with great open data.
Department of Open Data (DOOD)
501(c)(3)To enhance government data quality, accessibility, and retention as a nonpartisan nonprofit, offering tools like dashboards, heatmaps, and training. Strict nonpartisanship qualifies DOOD for grants and tax-deductible donations, focusing on technical standards to address fragmented efforts in open data ecosystems like Data.gov—transforming raw datasets into actionable insights for citizens, developers, and institutions.
Why This Hybrid Model?
This structure mirrors successful hybrids like Mozilla Foundation (nonprofit) paired with Mozilla Corporation (for-profit browser development), where commercial revenue funds open-source public-good initiatives. Unlike purely nonprofit models such as Code for America or Electronic Frontier Foundation that rely on donations and grants, dMedia's for-profit engine ensures sustainable funding for both DOGE's partisan advocacy and DOOD's nonpartisan data infrastructure without donor dependency It allows us to:
- Generate sustainable revenue without relying solely on grants
- Maintain strict nonpartisan data infrastructure for grant eligibility
- Enable targeted advocacy without compromising nonprofit status
- Cross-subsidize public-good initiatives with commercial activities
- Maximize impact while complying with nonprofit regulations
The Problem
- Inconsistent open data sources: Open data sources vary greatly in scope, reliability, and accuracy, making it difficult for citizens and researchers to draw meaningful conclusions or hold government accountable
- Underfunded public interest researchers: Independent researchers and journalists willing and capable of utilizing open data for the public good are few, and their critical investigative work often goes unfunded, leaving valuable insights undiscovered
- Rare integrated expertise: Technology-savvy investigative journalism teams that combine data analytics with high-quality, multi-platform media and field reporting are difficult to find in a single organization
- Grassroots transparency efforts are siloed: Citizen technologists lack unified platforms, while events like CPAC highlight demand for collaborative spaces
- Growing public demand: Searches for "government waste exposés" spiked 40% post-2024 elections, with 1M+ monthly users on platforms like Data.gov
Gaps in Problem Validation to Address with VC Partnership
❌ Customer Pain Quantification
❌ Solution Validation Weakness
❌ Problem-Solution Fit Testing
We are at the perfect stage for structured customer discovery. We have identified real market pain and built technical infrastructure, but haven't yet validated the solution with systematic customer feedback.
Our Solution
End-to-end transparency services that no competitor can match
The Integrated Ecosystem
dMedia
Media production (podcasts, social, billboards), events, and PR services
DOGE Network
Data-driven investigative journalism, field reporting from crisis areas, research tools, and transparency marketplace
DOOD
Data products (heatmaps, indices) and education events
Operational Flow: Data from DOOD feeds DOGE stories; dMedia markets both via events and campaigns
Competitive Differentiation
Open the Books
Watchdog Organization
- ❌ No state-level data infrastructure
- ❌ Limited events and community engagement
- ❌ Single-channel media approach
- ❌ No AI research or advanced analytics
- ❌ Donor-dependent funding model
Data.gov / OpenGov
Government Data Platforms
- ❌ No editorial voice or advocacy
- ❌ Raw data only, no quality enhancement
- ❌ Government constraints limit innovation
- ❌ No analysis tools or storytelling
- ❌ No commercial sustainability model
Code for America
Civic Tech Nonprofit
- ❌ Grant-dependent with funding volatility
- ❌ Nonpartisan-only limits advocacy impact
- ❌ No subscription or marketplace revenue
- ❌ Limited media production capability
- ❌ No AI research infrastructure
Daily Wire / Politico
Political Media
- ❌ Limited government transparency expertise
- ❌ Limited data analysis capability
- ❌ Entertainment focus over investigative depth
- ❌ No neutral data infrastructure
- ❌ No premium research subscriptions
dMedia / DOGE / DOOD
Integrated Solution
- ✅ Viral media production + data pipelines
- ✅ Partisan storytelling + neutral infrastructure
- ✅ AI-powered research tools ($100/mo subscriptions)
- ✅ Transparency marketplace and events
- ✅ Commercial revenue engine + grant funding
- ✅ Network effects through ecosystem integration
No competitor combines data-driven investigative journalism, field reporting, AI research infrastructure, and subscription-based access to transparency resources. Our integrated approach creates structural barriers that become harder to replicate as network effects develop through ecosystem integration.
Growth Targets & Scale
Platform designed to reach 10K Monthly Active Users (MAU) in Year 1 and 100K MAU in Year 2 through:
- Leveraging existing dMedia social media presence and proven viral content capability
- Converting event attendees (300-900 annually) to digital subscribers
- Building freemium model with free access to basic tools/content and premium tiers for power users
- Strategic content marketing driving organic traffic from high-impact investigative reports
Our Technology Advantage
Team's engineering background enables unique technical PR (podcasts + apps). Affordable ETL tooling ensure scalability with proven viral research on state contracts.
Competitive Moat & Market Validation
✅ Comprehensive 4-Category Competitive Framework
✅ Network Effects & Execution Momentum
✅ Structural Barriers to Competition
Defensible Positioning: Our integrated approach creates structural barriers for competitors. Network effects develop through DOOD data quality layer, DOGE content ecosystem, and dMedia commercial engine—creating a flywheel that becomes harder to replicate with scale.
Products & Services
Comprehensive offerings from investigative journalism to AI-powered research tools
📰 Investigative Journalism & Research
Data-driven investigative reporting and field journalism from crisis areas. Independent researchers and journalists transform government data into compelling narratives exposing waste, fraud, and abuse.
🎬 Media Services
Tiered packages for comprehensive media production:
- Bronze ($1K/mo): Email coordination, 1 social media platform, weekly posts
- Silver ($3K/mo): Email, 5 social platforms, podcast production, interviews
- Gold ($4K/mo): All Silver + billboard campaigns, cable TV placements
- Platinum ($5K/mo): All Gold + custom web/mobile app, full-service PR
🎪 Events
100-300 attendee events connecting researchers, advocates, and policymakers
📰 Member Subscription
$100/year
- Data-driven investigative research content
- Weekly podcast episodes
- Behind-the-scenes research methods
- Modeled after 404 Media
🤖 Premium Subscription
$100/month
- Professional research toolkit used by dMedia journalists
- Unbiased AI research infrastructure
- Grok Premium + custom bias-removed models
- Perplexity Search API access
- Portkey load balancers with prompt libraries
- Promptfoo AI testing for accuracy
- VSC IDE configuration for research
🏪 Transparency Marketplace
Platform linking independent researchers and journalists to datasets, tools, and sponsors
Gaps in Product Strategy to Address with VC Partnership
❌ Product Roadmap Lacks Prioritization
❌ Product-Market Fit Evidence is Lacking
❌ Pricing Validation is Self-Reported
The statement “Initial pricing based on market survey; will adjust based on first 3-5 client engagements” indicates prices haven't been validated with actual customer purchases. VCs want evidence of willingness to pay through pilot programs or early sales.
dMedia hasn't achieved product-market fit yet—but that's expected at the pre-seed/seed stage. The technical infrastructure provides a foundation for rapid iteration once customer feedback guides product development priorities.
Team and Contributor Media
Alladdin1983 Website
Former GS13 Army Intelligence. Dedicated to revealing government spending fraud. Support my work by resharing. Visit my [Online Merch Store](https://alladdin83.com)
Data Republican Website
Billions of dollars are spent on government grants, charities, and other organizations every year. Have you ever wondered where the money is awarded or where it ends up? We are connecting the dots between government grants, charities, and drawing connections to expose where the money flows. We have found some interesting connections, and we have made the data available for you to explore.
Data Republican Substack
In-depth analyses of government spending, highlighting instances of waste and inefficiency. Over 9,000 free subscribers and 100+ paid subscribers.
California DOGE Website
Independent platform for government transparency. With over 30M records in our database and 400+ hours of research, we provide unprecedented access to California government operations, programs, and spending data
Lincoln Shorts Podcast
Sean Roberts produced and hosted this 60-episode podcast series on technology and policy. Featured notable guests including Cory Doctorow on Competitive Compatibility, Ginny Badanes on LA Elections Systems, Chris Riley on government APIs, and Peter Rysavy on 5G spectrum sharing. This series was recast as the Dynamist in 2022.
Hangouty Mobile App
AI-powered social planning companion that curates personalized suggestions based on your mood, budget, location, and preferences. Let's Go Places Together!
Kansas DOGE Website
Government waste and fraud exposer. Passionate aviator. We are TheFinders
Our Team
Combining technical expertise with narrative skills for integrated impact
Sean Roberts
CEO & Founder
Founding member of OpenStack Foundation and Network Engineering Principal at Yahoo. Founder of DOGE Network and operator of @cali_doge exposing California government waste.
Pierce Wetter
Lead Developer
Led Cisco's engineering team to develop Kubernetes-based product boosting revenue by 33%. Previously built AWS compute cloud at Chegg and won NASA's 'Race for Space' challenge.
Jennica Pounds
Lead Investigator
Exposed USAID funding abuses through AI-driven analysis. Joined DOGE efforts full-time to cut government waste via data sleuthing on NGOs and migration policies.
TBD
Marketing & Product
Global Community Director. Experience with marketing with multiple platforms. Proven work scaling and building teams both commercial and public resources.
Extended Research Network (Affiliated Contributors)
Our network includes independent field journalists deployed to conflict zones and crisis areas to provide transparent, on-the-ground reporting on U.S. government spending, foreign aid flows, and policy impacts.
Compensation model: Part-time contractors paid from project budgets, including field journalism assignments. Contractors retain 100% of personal social media monetization (YouTube, X Premium, Substack, etc.) while cross-promoting dMedia content.
Steven Al Ebadi
Field Journalism & Security Policy
Independent reporting from Ukraine (Nov 2025 - Jan 2026) documenting war realities, tracking U.S. aid flows, and capturing Ukrainian civilian perspectives. Former GS-13 in Army Intelligence with firsthand knowledge of logistics pipelines and accountability challenges in defense spending.
View Profile →Brian Clifton
Data Analysis
Conducted investigative threads analyzing public sector funding abuses, mapping Soros-linked NGOs and exposing 3,000+ entities in grant flows.
View Profile →People We Are Interested to Join Our Research Network
Marc Joffe
Fiscal Policy Expert
Authored Cato Institute reports on state fiscal health and cost-saving strategies. Led Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors.
View Profile →JJ Smith
Investigative Reporter
Gained recognition from SF city leaders for documenting the Tenderloin fentanyl crisis with impactful citizen journalism.
View Profile →Savanah Hernandez
Investigative Reporter
On-the-ground journalist known for viral conservative coverage. Amassed over 20 million views across platforms for frontline reporting on the 2020 BLM riots, border crisis, and Antifa activities.
View Profile →People We Are Interested to Join as Strategic Advisors
High-profile guidance for media strategy, policy influence, and scaling:
Competitive Recruiting Advantage
Unlike traditional media outlets that restrict contractor social media monetization (e.g., Daily Wire's exclusive content model that led to talent disputes), dMedia allows contractors to retain 100% of personal platform revenue while cross-promoting our content.
This "amplification partnership" model attracts top independent journalists (combined 900K+ social followers) who want institutional backing WITHOUT sacrificing personal brand growth.
Funding Audience Targets
Aligned investors in Silicon Valley and conservative philanthropy:
Gaps in Team Assessment to Address with VC Partnership
❌ Founder-Market Fit Concerns
❌ Missing Media & Subscription Expertise
❌ No Committed Board or Advisors
We have strong technical co-founders (OpenStack Foundation, Yahoo, Cisco, AWS backgrounds) but need media, marketing, and subscription expertise to execute the commercial model. The unfilled “TBD - Marketing & Product” role represents exactly the kind of gap that a partner can solve through their talent networks.
Financial Projections
Conservative projections based on event benchmarks and tested media pricing
Year 1 (2026)
Seed funding required for Year 1 operations
Year 2 (2027)
Profitable with strategic reinvestment
Revenue Breakdown
3-5 clients @ $3K/mo avg → 8-10 clients
3 events @ $50K avg → 4 events
YouTube/X monetization + licensing
500 members @ $100/yr → 1,000 members
100 members @ $100/mo → 300 members
Ramp-up → 2-3 grants @ $100K
Contractor Economic Impact Analysis
dMedia's contractor model creates a 2x value multiplier - for every $1 spent on contractors, $2 in total ecosystem value is created:
*Contractor social media revenue is NOT included in dMedia revenue totals above. This represents economic value contractors earn independently by cross-promoting dMedia content on their personal channels. Creates win-win: contractors double their earnings ($40K base + $40K social = $80K total Year 1), while dMedia gets free distribution to 900K+ combined follower base without additional marketing spend.
Risk Mitigation
If revenue misses: Cut non-essential events; pivot to virtual (reduces costs 40%). Diversified revenue streams provide buffer.
Gaps in Financial Projections to Address with VC Partnership
❌ Revenue Assumptions Lack Validation
❌ Grants/$0 DOOD Revenue Undermines Hybrid Model
❌ Contractor Economics Create 2x Value but Zero Revenue
❌ Break-even Timeline is Aggressive
❌ Exit Strategy and Return Multiples are Vague
Opportunity to Invest in the Future
We seek $490,000 in first-year seed funding to launch operations, form DOOD as a 501(c)(3), hire 4 core team members at below-market salaries, deploy field journalists to conflict zones, and host three events. Growth targets: 10K Monthly Active Users (MAU) Year 1 scaling to 100K MAU Year 2 and 500K MAU Year 3. Financial projections show Year 1 revenue of $470,000 against $937,000 in expenses (net loss: -$467,000, covered by seed funding), scaling to Year 2 profitability ($1,210,000 revenue vs. $1,195,200 expenses; net profit: $14,800) and Year 3 strong growth ($3M revenue, $600K profit). Funding structure: convertible note ($3M valuation cap, 5% interest, 24-month maturity) converting to equity at Series A (targeted Q4 2027) when company demonstrates 100K MAU and profitability.
✓ Equity in dMedia (via conversion at discounted valuation cap)
✓ Social impact through transparency advocacy
✓ 3-5x potential returns via media services
✓ Expected conversion at Series A with 20% discount
First Year Funding Request Breakdown
Total Seed Funding Request
$490,000
Ready to Transform Government Transparency?
Join us in building a sustainable, impactful solution to government waste and opacity
Investors
Seeking $490K seed funding with 3-5x return potential and measurable social impact
Investment Inquiry →