Ben Lerer is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur in digital media. He co-founded Thrillist in 2004 with college friend Dave Munichiello as a daily email newsletter offering recommendations for 'civilized bros' on food, drinks, gear, and events, targeting young professional men. He served as CEO, growing it into a major digital media brand over the next decade. In 2016, Lerer launched Group Nine Media as a holding company, acquiring properties like NowThis, The Dodo, Seeker, and later PopSugar, creating a portfolio of popular digital media sites focused on news, lifestyle, animals, and science. He served as CEO of Group Nine Media, which received a significant investment from Discovery in 2019 and was eventually acquired by Vox Media. Lerer is also a Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau, a venture capital firm founded by his father, Kenneth Lerer (co-founder of The Huffington Post). He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and is based in New York, where he has built his career in digital media and investing.