Radio Zamaneh

What Radio Zamaneh does

Radio Zamaneh (Stichting Radio Zamaneh, رادیو زمانه) is an independent, non-profit Persian-language media organization registered as a Dutch foundation (KVK 34238149) in Amsterdam. It produces investigative journalism, news analysis, and opinion content covering Iran, the broader Middle East, and topics relevant to Persian-speaking audiences globally, including human rights, political prisoners, executions, LGBTQ rights, labor, women's rights, culture, economy, and environment. Its product surface spans a bilingual website (radiozamaneh.com, en.radiozamaneh.com), a mobile application with offline reading, weekly email newsletters, shortwave radio broadcasts, the Tribune Zamaneh citizen-journalism platform, the Daadkhast petition platform, and an Opinion Panel — alongside a censorship-circumvention distribution stack (Psiphon VPN, Ceno browser, Toosheh satellite, Paskoocheh marketplace, DeltaChat) designed to keep content reachable during Iranian internet shutdowns.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led and donor-funded: it operates as a reader-supported media foundation, collecting contributions via PayPal, ABN AMRO bank transfer, and Donorbox (with USD and EUR donation pages) and accepting sponsorships and support from international organizations. It is GDPR-compliant, a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), and is registered under KVK number 34238149 in the Netherlands. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and there is no parent company, private-equity backing, or institutional investment ownership identified in the source material.

The underlying technology is a web-based CMS paired with multi-channel content syndication (newsletter, mobile app, shortwave radio) and integration with third-party circumvention tools; no public/partner APIs, SDKs, or documented AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. Sources cite the organization as operating continuously for approximately 20 years since its founding in 2004 (firmographic data; one alternate source states 2006), serving Persian-speaking readers inside Iran (facing censorship) and the global diaspora as its primary customer segment.

Name

Radio Zamaneh

Legal name

Stichting Radio Zamaneh

Website

https://radiozamaneh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Radio Zamaneh is a Dutch-registered non-profit that produces independent investigative journalism, opinion, and citizen-publishing platforms in Persian and English for Persian-speaking audiences inside Iran and the global diaspora, funded through donations and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Digital Media

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

International Radio Broadcasters (Shortwave/Satellite/Digital) (MPABAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE), Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)

Keywords

• Independent journalism
• Persian-language media
• Investigative reporting
• Censorship circumvention
• Citizen journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: Radio Zamaneh is funded through public donations, sponsorships, and support from international organizations. The organization operates as a non-profit media foundation relying on financial contributions from readers and supporters worldwide. Donation options include PayPal, bank transfers (ABN AMRO), and Donorbox.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Radio Zamaneh is an independent Persian-language media foundation that produces original news, investigative reporting, political analysis, and cultural coverage for Iranian audiences and the Persian-speaking diaspora. Its offering spans a bilingual website, a mobile app with offline reading, shortwave radio broadcasts, email newsletters, and curated access to censorship-circumvention tools. The organization also operates citizen-participation platforms including the Tribune Zamaneh citizen journalism site, the Daadkhast petition platform, and the Opinion Panel survey/poll engine.

Product overview

Radio Zamaneh is an independent Persian-language media organization offering a multi-platform news and journalism ecosystem. The core offering consists of the Radio Zamaneh website with multiple content sections (news, politics, society, culture, economy, technology), the Tribune Zamaneh citizen journalism platform, and shortwave radio broadcasts. Supporting infrastructure includes email newsletters, an opinion polling panel, and the Daadkhast petition platform. A significant component of the service focuses on ensuring continued access during internet censorship, providing multiple circumvention tools including the Ceno Browser (peer-to-peer/satellite-based), Psiphon VPN, Toosheh satellite delivery, and Paskoocheh app marketplace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tribune Zamaneh (تریبون زمانه): Citizen journalism platform where citizens can publish their own articles and opinions following democratic guidelines
• Daadkhast (دادخواست)

Products and services

• Radio Zamaneh Website (Persian and English) The main Persian-language independent news and journalism website covering Iran, politics, society, culture, economy, human rights, and international affairs, plus the parallel English-language site for global and diaspora audiences. Targets Persian-speaking readers and English-speaking followers of Iran-related affairs.
• Shortwave Radio Broadcasts Shortwave radio programming providing Radio Zamaneh's news, analysis, and cultural content to audiences who cannot access internet-based platforms — including audiences inside Iran during internet shutdowns and in regions with limited connectivity.
• Email Newsletter Email-based content delivery product with weekly curated summaries plus crisis-time daily editions, designed to reach Persian-speaking readers and diaspora audiences even when web access is disrupted.
• Tribune Zamaneh A citizen journalism platform that lets readers and contributors publish their own articles and opinions under democratic editorial guidelines. Functions as a participatory opinion section wholly operated by Radio Zamaneh.
• Daadkhast A petition platform wholly operated by Radio Zamaneh that enables Persian-speaking readers to launch and sign citizen campaigns and collective-action initiatives on social and political issues.
• Opinion Panel A survey and polling platform operated by Radio Zamaneh that gathers reader opinions across political, social, and cultural topics, providing engagement and audience insights.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN)minorOthersRadio Zamaneh displays the GIJN logo on its website footer, indicating membership or affiliation with the Global Investigative Journalism Network, an international association of journalism organizations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IranWire: Independent Persian-language news outlet founded by journalists linked to Iran, covering human rights and politics. Directly comparable as an exile-based independent digital Persian newsroom with civic-rights editorial focus.
• Iran International: London-based Persian-language satellite and digital news channel focused on Iran. Directly comparable as a Persian-language broadcaster based outside Iran covering politics and current affairs to a Persian-speaking audience.
• Radio Farda: RFE/RL-operated Persian-language radio and digital service broadcasting into Iran. Directly comparable as a government-funded, ex-pat-based Persian broadcaster combining shortwave-style radio with digital news.
• Voice of America (VOA) Persian: U.S. government-funded Persian-language news and multimedia service targeting Iranian audiences. Directly comparable as an externally funded international broadcaster covering Iran with radio plus digital channels.
• Deutsche Welle (DW) Persian: German public broadcaster's Persian-language service targeting Iranian audiences with news, analysis, and multimedia. Directly comparable as a Western publicly funded international Persian broadcaster.
• France 24 Persian: France Médias Monde's Persian-language digital service covering Iran and the region. Directly comparable as a French publicly funded international Persian-language news outlet based outside Iran.
• BBC Persian Service: BBC's Persian-language international news service broadcasting to Iran and the diaspora from outside the country. Directly comparable as a non-Iran-based, internationally funded Persian news brand with multi-platform distribution.

Emerging players

• Tavaana: E-Learning platform for Iranian civic education and human rights, founded by an Iranian-American activist and supported by U.S. funding. Closely comparable as a non-profit serving Persian-speaking audiences with independent, Iran-focused civic content.
• Small Media Foundation: London-based non-profit researching internet freedom, digital rights, and media in Iran and the wider region. Comparable as a small non-profit working on Iran-focused media, internet censorship, and circumvention adjacent to Radio Zamaneh's mission.

Broad incumbents

• Article 19: International freedom-of-expression NGO working on Iran and other restrictive environments, including digital rights and press freedom. Comparable as a larger, established non-profit with overlapping mission of supporting independent journalism and censorship circumvention for Iranian audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/radiozamaneh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/radio-zamaneh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Radio Zamaneh