Focal Teams Up with Marquee Equity to Power the Future of Gen Z Media and Community Engagement
In a world where Gen Z is constantly online yet increasingly disconnected from their surroundings, Focal is pioneering a new kind of digital experience rooted in relevance, locality, and real-world connection.
Founded by Jakob Klinenberg in Eugene, Oregon, Focal is a location-based, AI-enhanced, social news app with a completely customizable interface that helps connect Gen Z to what's happening around them — a live layer of local culture, events, and experiences all focused around a specific location. No doom-scrolling. No noise. A fully immersive tool to help Gen Z connect to their community.
'Partnering with Marquee Equity has been an incredible experience and has made a complex and overwhelming process into something clear, manageable, and effective,' said Jakob Klinenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Focal. 'They've opened up our outreach and connected us with a broad network of investors we likely wouldn't have been able to reach on our own.'
As Focal gears up to launch, Marquee Equity has been instrumental in supporting its fundraising journey, not just with capital access but with the right investor alignment. Leveraging a network of over 32,000 global investors, Marquee created a curated outreach plan targeting Gen Z-focused consumer tech VCs, digital media, and engagement funds, as well as angels and family offices aligned with youth wellness.
'Focal is solving a deeply human and timely problem, helping Gen Z re-engage with the real world in a way that feels fresh and relevant,' said Nikita Garg, Director at Marquee Equity. 'We were excited to help build investor momentum around a product that's as culturally relevant as it is technically sound.'
With investor conversations already underway, Focal is focused on expanding its reach, enhancing product features, and forming partnerships with communities and college campuses nationwide.
As the digital landscape shifts toward wellness, sustainability, and meaningful engagement, Focal stands out for its clarity of purpose. With Marquee Equity by their side, they are now positioned to scale that vision with speed and precision.
About Marquee Equity
Marquee Equity is a fundraising enablement platform designed to take the guesswork out of raising capital. Whether you're a pre-seed founder or a post-revenue scaleup, Marquee helps you connect with thousands of aligned investors, fast. From creating compelling pitch materials to running personalized investor outreach campaigns, Marquee supports founders end-to-end. With a global network of 32,000+ investors and a client base spanning 60+ countries, Marquee has quietly powered hundreds of fundraises behind the scenes, bringing capital access, strategy, and dealflow into one seamless system.
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