Axios HQ
Series ARaised Since FeaturedWrite less, say more
AI-powered internal communications platform based on the Smart Brevity methodology.
About
Axios HQ is an AI-powered internal communications management platform that helps organizations plan, write, send, and measure essential updates using the Smart Brevity® methodology. Born from the realization that corporate communications suffered from the same verbosity that plagued media, Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz spun HQ out as a standalone SaaS company in 2022. The platform provides AI writing assistance, customizable templates, collaborative editing, analytics dashboards, and integrations with tools like Slack, Teams, and email — all designed to help leaders communicate with clarity and brevity. With 600+ enterprise customers including Delta, Walmart, Roku, and Sweetgreen, Axios HQ raised a $20M Series A at a ~$100M valuation in 2023, co-led by Glade Brook Capital Partners and Greycroft.
DailyDropout Take
Axios HQ caught our eye as a clever spin on the media-to-SaaS playbook — the Axios founders realized their Smart Brevity writing format was more valuable as enterprise software than as a media product. With corporate comms still a Wild West of bloated emails nobody reads, HQ's AI-powered brevity engine addressed a universal pain point with a proven methodology.
Discovery signal: Strong founder pedigree (Axios co-founders), unique media-to-SaaS pivot, early enterprise traction with Fortune 500 customers
What Makes Them Unique
Axios HQ is the only internal comms platform built on the Smart Brevity® methodology — the same framework that made Axios newsletters famous for their clarity. Combined with AI writing assistance, it uniquely addresses the root cause of poor internal communications: not distribution, but the writing itself.
600+
Enterprise Customers
$10M+
ARR
~$100M
Series A Valuation
Target Markets
Founders
Jim VandeHei
Co-Founder & Chairman
Co-founder and CEO of Axios Media. Previously co-founded Politico. Named one of the most influential people in media.
Mike Allen
Co-Founder
Co-founder of Axios. Creator of Axios AM, one of the most-read newsletters in Washington. Previously chief political correspondent at Politico.
Roy Schwartz
Co-Founder & CEO
Co-founder and former President of Axios Media. Now CEO of Axios HQ, leading the spinout into a standalone SaaS company. Previously served in the Israeli Defense Forces.
Key People
Funding History
Valuation: ~$100M
Lead: Glade Brook Capital Partners & Greycroft