Cubanet

What Cubanet does

Cubanet is an independent nonprofit digital news outlet founded in 1994 and headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, that produces independent journalism about Cuba for readers on the island and in the diaspora, as well as for international audiences. Its core product is the Cubanet.org news portal, which organizes content into sections including featured stories, latest news, sports, culture, opinion, and investigative reports. The outlet supplements this with specialized content lines such as the "Lo que tienes que saber de Cuba" explanatory section launched in 2026, the "Hecho en Libertad" multimedia documentary series on exile experiences, dedicated investigative reports covering corruption and human rights, and an English-language section for international readers. Underlying the publication is a standard WordPress-based digital publishing platform with multimedia capabilities, distributed through the website, social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), messaging channels (WhatsApp, Telegram), and a Google News publication listing. On-the-ground coverage is supplied by a citizen reporter network inside Cuba rather than staff correspondents, given government restrictions on independent journalism on the island.

Cubanet operates as a non-profit with no subscription, advertising, or paywall model; all content is provided free of charge to readers. Revenue is generated almost exclusively through reader donations processed via the Every.org platform, with reported disruption from the freezing of US public funding forcing adaptation of its financing model. The organization is governed by a board of directors led by Hugo Landa as President, with operational leadership from Executive Director Roberto Hechavarría and Editor-in-Chief Claudia Padrón, alongside a small editorial team of fewer than ten people. Its go-to-market is community-led: content is distributed freely across digital channels and relies on diaspora engagement and donor support for sustainability. The legal entity, Cubanet News, Inc., is incorporated in Florida, while the audience and editorial remit are concentrated in Cuba and the broader Cuban diaspora.

Name

Cubanet

Legal name

Cubanet News, Inc.

Website

https://cubanet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cubanet is a nonprofit digital news outlet founded in 1994 and based in Coral Gables, Florida, that publishes independent journalism about Cuba for readers on the island, in the diaspora, and internationally, funded by reader donations and on-the-ground citizen reporting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Digital News

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Service International Broadcasters (MPABAEAB)

Keywords

• Independent journalism
• Digital news outlet
• Investigative reporting
• Press freedom
• Cuban affairs coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Coral Gables

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Private Funding: Cubanet operates as a non-profit digital media organization. The outlet relies on donations from readers and supporters to sustain operations. A donation button is prominently displayed on the website linking to Every.org. The organization was established in 1994 and maintains its non-profit status.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cubanet is a nonprofit independent digital news outlet that publishes uncensored journalism about Cuba, including breaking news, investigative reports, opinion, culture, and sports content. Its core offering is the Cubanet.org website, a free-to-reader news portal supplemented by a daily Telegram newsletter, social media distribution, multimedia video content, and an English-language section for international audiences. The outlet also runs a branded merchandise store on Bonfire and accepts donations via Every.org to sustain operations.

Product overview

Cubanet is a nonprofit digital press outlet founded in 1994, dedicated to promoting independent journalism in Cuba. The organization's product portfolio centers on its digital news portal (Cubanet News Portal) as the core platform, supplemented by specialized content sections including 'Lo que tienes que saber de Cuba' for explanatory journalism, the 'Hecho en Libertad' multimedia documentary series featuring exile stories, investigative reports (Reportajes Investigativos) focused on corruption and power structures, and an English-language content section for international audiences. The platform distributes content through multiple channels including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google News, while accepting donations through the Every.org integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cubanet News Portal
• Lo que tienes que saber de Cuba (Educational Section)
• Hecho en Libertad (Multimedia Documentary Series)
• Reportajes Investigativos (Investigative Reports)
• English Content Section
• Telegram Daily Newsletter (Boletín Diario)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Citizen Reporters NetworkcoreOthersCubanet collaborates with citizen reporters inside Cuba who provide firsthand accounts of events on the island. These reporters operate under significant risk due to government repression and form the backbone of the outlet's on-the-ground coverage despite not being formal employees.
• Every.orgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvery.org serves as the donation processing platform for Cubanet, allowing readers to make tax-deductible contributions to support the outlet's operations. The partnership enables direct financial support from readers worldwide.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 14ymedio: Independent Cuban digital news outlet founded by Yoani Sánchez in 2014, covering political, economic, and social issues from outside Cuba. Closely comparable to Cubanet in audience, editorial positioning, and exiled operation model.
• El Toque: Cuban independent digital outlet based on the island, providing alternative economic and social data (e.g., informal exchange rates) and journalism that state media does not. Comparable in mission and editorial independence.
• Diario de Cuba: Madrid-based Spanish-language daily covering Cuban news and politics for the exile audience. Matches Cubanet's editorial focus on Cuban affairs and donor-supported digital publishing.
• Cibercuba: Digital media platform covering Cuban news, entertainment, and culture, oriented toward both island and diaspora readers. Comparable as a digital-first Cuban-focused news outlet with similar audience segments.

Others

• Global Voices: International nonprofit newsroom aggregating citizen reporting from under-covered regions, including Cuba. Comparable as a digital nonprofit that combines professional editors with contributor networks to deliver independent coverage.

Broad incumbents

• BBC Mundo: BBC's Spanish-language international news service, providing independent journalism to Latin American and global Spanish-speaking audiences. Comparable as a public-service international news brand with independent editorial standards.
• Radio Televisión Martí: US government-funded broadcasting service directed at Cuba, providing news and information to Cuban audiences. Overlaps with Cubanet in mission and audience but operates at much larger scale as a federally funded broadcaster.

Emerging players

• ProPublica: Nonprofit investigative journalism outlet funded by donations and grants. Comparable as a nonprofit news organization whose business model (donor-funded independent journalism) and product mix (investigative reports) closely mirrors Cubanet's approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CubanetNoticias
• Facebookfacebook.com/cubanetnoticias
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cubanet-news-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cubanet