Vetted raises €75,000 to turn investigative journalism into due diligence

What's the deal? VettedDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Romanian startup that uses investigative journalism methods for business due diligence, has raised €75,000 from V-Ventures, the investment arm of Dutch media organisation Stichting VeronicaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The funding comes as a convertible loan, meaning it can later convert into equity under agreed terms.

What does it do? Vetted works in integrity due diligence, applying investigative reporting techniques to help organisations analyse companies and people and flag risks before making business decisions. The team is led by chief executive officer Marian Fangli, with investigative journalist Attila Biro as founder and advisor, and Matei Roșca as chief operating officer.

Why now? The company passed through the second cohort of Marc Impact, a mentorship programme run locally by BCR Social FinanceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → that helps social and environmental ventures become sustainable businesses. The round backs a model in which commercial revenue funds a journalistic mission.

What's the endgame? Vetted plans to reinvest profit from its commercial services into independent media. The company says the investment is a validation that "commercial sustainability and journalistic values can support each other."

Who's the investor? V-Ventures traces its origins to Radio VeronicaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, an offshore station launched in the early 1960s. After selling its media assets in 2003, the organisation began investing in a sustainable, independent media ecosystem, backing projects such as TelexDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, The Black SeaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, The Fix MediaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and TrollrensicsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.

The signal: Stichting VeronicaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has made 31 investments, 30 grants, and 10 exits, deploying €39 million with an average ticket of €50,000. Vetted's round fits that pattern — small, mission-driven capital aimed at building business models that keep independent journalism alive.

Read more: start-up.ro

Image credit: Artem Beliaikin