CultureMap
CultureMap is a privately held Texas-based digital lifestyle media brand publishing city-specific local news, dining, entertainment, and real estate coverage across five Texas metros (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio), reaching 3M+ monthly users and monetizing through display advertising and sponsored editorial content sold to local SMBs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What CultureMap does
CultureMap is a privately held regional digital lifestyle media company founded in 2009 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, with editorial operations across five major Texas metropolitan areas: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Each market operates as a distinct subdomain under culturemap.com, producing daily local content spanning restaurants and bars, entertainment, real estate, travel, arts, society, fashion, beauty, innovation, sports, and city life. The platform reaches more than 3 million users per month through its websites, email newsletters, and social media channels, and is operated by an organization of approximately 51-100 employees under the legal entity CultureMap LLC, a Texas-domiciled LLC.
The underlying technology is a standard web content management system with city-specific subdomain architecture; no proprietary technology, APIs, mobile applications, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. The company distributes editorial content across 13+ vertical categories per market and offers a recurring email newsletter product ('CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME'), branded sponsored-content series, events listings with community submission functionality, and a charity guide section with sub-categories covering nonprofit and community verticals.
CultureMap's revenue model is advertising-based, with two primary streams: (1) digital banner and display advertising sold directly to local SMBs and national advertisers targeting Texas markets, and (2) sponsored content and branded editorial series where businesses pay for promotional articles clearly labeled as promoted or sponsored. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; billing is on a monthly cadence. The company serves as a direct-to-consumer publisher with no documented enterprise SaaS or subscription offering; content is free to consumers, and monetization flows entirely from advertiser relationships. The company is led by co-founder and CEO Robert Bennett, with co-founders Dak Rasheta and Peter Dirlis, and a sales/partnerships director, Lindsay Harvel. Total disclosed equity funding since founding is approximately $1.44M across four rounds between 2013 and 2015, with no subsequent disclosed capital raises.
CultureMap firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CultureMap
- Legal name
- CultureMap LLC
- Website
- https://culturemap.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CultureMap is a privately held Texas-based digital lifestyle media brand publishing city-specific local news, dining, entertainment, and real estate coverage across five Texas metros (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio), reaching 3M+ monthly users and monetizing through display advertising and sponsored editorial content sold to local SMBs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CultureMap industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Lifestyle Media
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local & City Guide Content Aggregators (MPACAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Digital Magazine & Newspaper Subscription Platforms (Paywalls, Membership) (MPAJAMAD)
Keywords
Where CultureMap is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
CultureMap business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Digital Advertising: Banner and display advertising on the website and city-specific pages, sold directly to local businesses and national advertisers targeting Texas markets.
- Sponsored Content and Series: Branded content series and promotional articles (labeled as 'promoted' or within sponsored sections) where businesses pay for editorial-style coverage. Examples include sponsored series from restaurants, real estate companies, and local businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Standard advertising rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
CultureMap product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CultureMap operates a network of city-specific digital lifestyle news websites covering five Texas metros (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio), publishing daily editorial content on restaurants, bars, entertainment, real estate, city life, travel, arts, society, fashion, beauty, innovation, and sports. The platform is free to consumers, with revenue generated from display advertising and paid sponsored content/branded editorial series sold to local businesses and national advertisers.
Product overview
CultureMap operates as a regional lifestyle news media platform with city-specific websites for five major Texas markets (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio). The company produces local lifestyle content including restaurant and bar coverage, entertainment news, real estate reporting, city life features, and events listings. Email newsletter subscriptions are offered as a complementary channel for delivering content to readers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CultureMap Regional News Websites A network of city-specific lifestyle news websites covering Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas, with daily editorial on restaurants, bars, entertainment, real estate, city life, travel, arts, society, fashion, beauty, innovation, and sports for urban and suburban readers.
- CultureMap Email Newsletter Free daily opt-in email newsletter delivering curated local lifestyle intel for individual city markets, used to retain CultureMap readers and support advertiser reach.
- Sponsored Content and Branded Series Paid branded editorial content series published within CultureMap's city editions (labeled 'promoted' or under sponsored sections) for local businesses such as restaurants, real estate firms, and visitor bureaus seeking editorial-style coverage.
Companies that use CultureMap
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CultureMap technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CultureMap partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights4 records
CultureMap competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Axios: Axios operates a national network of city-specific local newsletters and digital editions covering news, business, and lifestyle, with a direct overlap in city-level local digital media targeting advertisers and consumers.
- Thrillist: Thrillist is a digital lifestyle media brand covering dining, travel, and entertainment for urban consumers, with a comparable audience profile and ad-supported content business model.
- 6am City: 6am City produces daily email-first local newsletters across multiple U.S. metros, monetizing through local advertising and sponsored content — a near-direct business model parallel to CultureMap's newsletter and city-edition approach.
- Patch.com: Patch is one of the largest hyperlocal digital news networks in the U.S., monetizing through local advertising and sponsored content on city- and neighborhood-level editions, directly comparable to CultureMap's model.
- The Infatuation: The Infatuation operates a city-focused restaurant and lifestyle content platform with strong direct-to-consumer brand presence, sharing CultureMap's dining-first editorial focus and city-by-city approach.
- Eater: Eater operates city-specific dining and restaurant coverage sites across major U.S. markets, sharing CultureMap's mix of restaurant reviews, openings, and city-lifestyle coverage as well as display advertising monetization.
Broad incumbents
- Zagat: Zagat is an established city-based restaurant and lifestyle guide brand (now part of The Infatuation/Google), covering dining and culture across major U.S. cities with comparable content verticals to CultureMap's restaurants/bars coverage.
Regional players
- D Magazine: D Magazine is a long-standing Dallas-focused regional lifestyle and city magazine with a digital edition, directly overlapping CultureMap's Dallas coverage and competing for the same Dallas SMB advertisers.
- Paper City Magazine: Paper City is a regional lifestyle magazine covering Houston and Dallas with fashion, dining, and society content, competing with CultureMap for affluent Texas readers and luxury/lifestyle advertisers in those metros.
Emerging players
- Localeur: Localeur is a city-by-city local guide platform for travelers and residents, focused on local business discovery, making it comparable as a smaller, narrower-scope player in the city lifestyle content category.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
CultureMap social profiles
Digital presenceCultureMap financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CultureMap leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
CultureMap funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CultureMap M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CultureMap
What does CultureMap do?
CultureMap operates a network of city-specific digital lifestyle news websites covering five Texas metros (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio), publishing daily editorial content on restaurants, bars, entertainment, real estate, city life, travel, arts, society, fashion, beauty, innovation, and sports. The platform is free to consumers, with revenue generated from display advertising and paid sponsored content/branded editorial series sold to local businesses and national advertisers.
Is CultureMap a public or private company?
CultureMap is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CultureMap founded?
CultureMap was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CultureMap based?
CultureMap is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does CultureMap make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Digital Advertising is the primary driver. The others are sponsored Content and Series.
Who are CultureMap's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Axios, Thrillist, 6am City, Patch.com, The Infatuation and Eater. Zagat is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are D Magazine and Paper City Magazine. Localeur is listed as an emerging player.
Does CultureMap have an API?
No public API is recorded for CultureMap.
What industry is CultureMap in?
CultureMap's product category is Digital Lifestyle Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAKAJ, Local & City Guide Content Aggregators, with a secondary code of MPAJAMAD, Digital Magazine & Newspaper Subscription Platforms (Paywalls, Membership). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 2721.