atlatszo.hu

What atlatszo.hu does

Átlátszó is a Hungarian non-profit investigative journalism organization founded in 2010 as the first non-profit investigative newsroom in Hungarian online media. It is operated through atlatszo.hu Kh. Nonprofit Kft. and the Átlátszónet Alapítvány (Foundation), headquartered at Déri Miksa utca 10, Budapest. The organization produces investigative reporting across topic sections covering public spending (Közpénz), open data (Közadat), environment (Környezet), public affairs (Közügy), the weekly Mutyimondó news roundup, world affairs (Világtérkép), culture, education, and an impact/impakt vertical, plus podcasts and video.

The core technology platform comprises the main editorial website (atlatszo.hu), native iOS and Android mobile applications launched in August 2026, the Átló data visualization team and toolset (atlo.team), KiMitTud.hu — Hungary's only public freedom-of-information request platform — MagyarLeaks (a TOR-encrypted whistleblower submission platform), and TudoLeaks (a joint academic-sector whistleblower platform built with the Akadémiai Dolgozók Fóruma). Supplementary properties include guest blogs (Középidő, Mérték, PC Blog, Ideablog, Darvas Béla, Vageszblog, Százegyes szoba), the Álhírvadász fake-news monitoring tool, and regional editions Átlátszó Erdély (Romania, atlatszo.ro) and Átlátszó Vajdaság (Serbia, atlatszo.rs). Distribution spans 12 social/audio channels plus the Mutyimondó weekly email newsletter.

Átlátszó's revenue model is community-funded: voluntary reader donations, the Hungarian SZJA 1% personal income tax redirection (tax number 18516641-1-42), Patreon supporter tiers (Néző, Szurkoló, B-közép, VIP-páholy), and merchandise sales (t-shirts 10,000 Ft, caps 8,000 Ft). All content is free with no paywall and no advertising; the organization explicitly refuses government, municipal, political-party, state-owned-company, and non-transparent legal-entity funding. Donors contributing more than 5% of annual revenue sign contracts committing not to influence editorial work. Strategic partnerships include ICIJ, OCCRP, GIJN, the European Data Journalism Network, VSquare, K-Monitor, Transparency International Magyarország, Magyar Helsinki Bizottság, and Political Capital, supporting cross-border investigations such as the 2019 Azerbaijan money-laundering project.

Name

atlatszo.hu

Legal name

atlatszo.hu Kh. Nonprofit Kft.

Website

https://atlatszo.hu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Átlátszó is a Hungarian non-profit investigative journalism newsroom founded in 2010, serving Hungarian-speaking readers with free, ad-free reporting on public spending, corruption, and open data. It operates KiMitTud (FOI requests), MagyarLeaks (whistleblowers), a data viz team, podcasts, and regional editions in Romania and Serbia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investigative Journalism

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Transparency Portals & Open Data Reporting (EDADAIAN), Funding, Finance & Grants Reporting (Allocations, Claims, Reconciliation) (EDADAIAG)

Keywords

• Investigative journalism
• Nonprofit newsroom
• Data journalism
• Freedom of information
• Whistleblower platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Budapest

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Community Donations: Átlátszó operates entirely on private donations from readers. The organization explicitly refuses government, municipal, or party funding. Donors contributing above 5% of annual revenue sign specific contracts committing not to influence editorial work. Small donors can remain anonymous upon request.
2. 1% Tax Donation (SZJA 1%): Hungarian taxpayers can donate 1% of their personal income tax to Átlátszónet Foundation (tax number: 18516641-1-42)
3. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including t-shirts (10,000 Ft) and baseball caps (8,000 Ft) sold as supporter gifts
4. Patreon Subscriptions: Monthly subscription tiers on Patreon: Néző, Szurkoló, B-közép, and VIP-páholy categories

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Átlátszó is a Hungarian nonprofit investigative journalism organization that publishes free, paywall-free investigative reports, data visualizations, podcasts, and video content on public spending, corruption, environment, and government accountability. It operates several dedicated digital tools: KiMitTud (a public freedom-of-information request platform), MagyarLeaks (a TOR-based whistleblower submission platform), TudoLeaks (a joint academic-sector whistleblower platform with the Academic Workers' Forum), and the Átló data visualization team.

Product overview

Átlátszó is a Hungarian investigative journalism nonprofit operating as a single editorial platform offering free, paywall-free journalism across multiple topic sections (public spending, open data, environment, public affairs, weekly news roundup, world affairs, culture, education, impact reporting, and podcast). The organization also maintains several branded digital tools: KiMitTud.hu (a freedom-of-information request platform), MagyarLeaks (an anonymous whistleblowing platform), TudoLeaks (a joint academic-sector whistleblower platform with the Academic Workers Forum), the Átló data visualization team, and a mobile app for iOS and Android. The portfolio is unified by a community-funded, nonprofit journalism mission rather than a platform-plus-modules product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Átlátszó Oknyomozó Újságíró Központ: Full Hungarian name meaning 'Átlátszó Investigative Journalism Center'
• MagyarLeaks
• KiMitTud
• Átló
• TudoLeaks
• Papíron szép

Products and services

• Átlátszó Main Editorial Platform Free, paywall-free Hungarian investigative journalism website covering public spending (Közpénz), open data (Közadat), environment (Környezet), public affairs (Közügy), the weekly Mutyimondó news roundup, world affairs (Világtérkép), culture (Kult), education (Oktatás), impact reporting (Impakt), and podcasts. Targeted at Hungarian readers seeking independent reporting.
• MagyarLeaks Anonymous whistleblowing platform operated by Átlátszó that allows sources to securely submit documents and tips via email, post, or TOR-encrypted channel. Materials are published when a public-interest justification exists. Targeted at whistleblowers and confidential sources.
• TudoLeaks Joint whistleblower platform run by Átlátszó and the Academic Workers' Forum (Akadémiai Dolgozók Fóruma) to receive and process documents related to science and higher-education sector spending, allocations, and irregularities. Targeted at academic-sector sources and civil society.
• KiMitTud.hu Hungary's only public freedom-of-information request platform, providing citizens, civil organizations, and journalists with practical tools to file data requests to public bodies and track responses. Targeted at citizens, NGOs, and journalists seeking government data.
• Átlátszó Mobile Application (iOS and Android) Native mobile app available on iOS and Android offering faster article reading, customizable push notifications, investigative articles, and video content aggregated in one application. Targeted at Hungarian readers consuming Átlátszó content on mobile devices.
• Átlátszó Podcast (Papíron szép and other series) Podcast series including the 'Papíron szép' investigative series and general Átlátszó podcast episodes covering current affairs, interviews, and documentary-style reporting. Distributed on Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube. Targeted at podcast listeners in Hungary.
• Átló Data Visualization Team Data visualization team producing interactive maps, charts, and infographics for Átlátszó articles, including election trackers, EU funding maps, and the 15-year archive visualization. Targeted at readers of data-driven journalism and partner outlets.
• Átlátszó Videók (Video Content) Video reports and documentary content embedded in articles and available on the YouTube channel, covering investigative stories, environmental issues, and political accountability. Targeted at video audiences on YouTube and embedded article readers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple investigations leading to official investigations, police probes, and government policy changes
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KIJ - Global Investigative Journalism NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of investigative journalism organizations providing resources, training, and collaborative opportunities for investigative reporters worldwide
• ICIJ - International Consortium of Investigative JournalistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal consortium that coordinates large-scale investigative projects across borders, known for Panama Papers and other major investigations
• OCCRP - Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork supporting investigative reporting on organized crime and corruption across Europe, Asia, and Latin America
• European Data Journalism NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean collaboration focused on data-driven journalism and visualization techniques
• VSquarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral European investigative journalism network
• K-Monitor Közhasznú EgyesületcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian nonprofit organization focused on monitoring public spending and government transparency
• Magyar Helsinki BizottságcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian Helsinki Committee - human rights organization providing legal expertise
• Transparency International MagyarországcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian chapter of global anti-corruption organization
• Political CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian political risk analysis and policy research institute
• Magyar Hang MagazinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent Hungarian magazine and news outlet
• Médiafórum EgyesületminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian media association
• Akadémiai Dolgozók Fóruma (ADF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint TudoLeaks whistleblower platform for science and higher education sector; ADF experts and Átlátszó journalists jointly process and publish materials
• KiMitTud PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungary's only public interest data request platform operated by Átlátszó; provides citizens practical tools to request government data

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Direkt36: Hungarian nonprofit investigative journalism outlet focused on accountability reporting. Directly comparable in mission (nonprofit, investigative), funding model (donor-supported), and target audience (Hungarian readers).
• ProPublica: Premier U.S. nonprofit investigative newsroom funded by donations and grants. Closest international structural peer: nonprofit model, donor-funded, paywall-free investigative journalism with civic impact.
• Bellingcat: International nonprofit investigative collective using open-source and data-driven methods. Comparable in nonprofit funding model, data-journalism methodology, and cross-border investigative output.
• VSquare: Central European cross-border investigative journalism network. Directly comparable as a regional investigative collaboration partner already named in Átlátszó's strategic partnerships.
• 444.hu: One of Hungary's leading independent online news outlets with strong investigative and political coverage. Comparable in audience (Hungarian independent-media readers), product (digital-first news), and editorial positioning.
• OCCRP: Global investigative reporting network focused on organized crime and corruption. Both a strategic partner and a functional peer: cross-border investigations, donor funding, and data-driven investigative journalism.
• K-Monitor: Hungarian nonprofit focused on monitoring public spending and government transparency. Direct functional peer for Átlátszó's Közpénz and Közadat coverage and a listed strategic partner.
• Telex.hu: Major Hungarian independent news outlet founded by former Index journalists. Comparable as a digital-first Hungarian independent newsroom with significant investigative and political coverage targeting the same audience.
• The Intercept: Nonprofit investigative newsroom covering government accountability, security, and civil liberties. Comparable in donor-funded nonprofit model, investigative depth, and adversarial-stakeholder editorial posture.

Broad incumbents

• HVG: Established Hungarian weekly news magazine with broad political and investigative coverage. Comparable topical coverage but operates as a commercial subscription magazine rather than a nonprofit newsroom.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/atlatszo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Atlatszovideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/atlatszo.hu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlatszo-hu
• Instagraminstagram.com/atlatszo/?hl=hu
• TikToktiktok.com/@atlatszo.hu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries13 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 atlatszo.hu