How Semafor turned Washington into a profit center

Semafor CEO Justin Smith says his company hosted close to 100 events in 2025. His ambition is to build a Washington, DC-based event that's supposed to rivals the annual Davos gathering in Switzerland.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Semafor

• Semafor, the high-profile news startup founded in 2022, says it's now profitable — a rarity for a new media company.
• It's one of several startups that have focused on Washington, DC, where business and politics are increasingly fusing.
• Semafor...