Online tech news platform Rest of World to close operations

Rest of World, an international nonprofit digital publication focused on technology's impact on diverse communities, announced it would cease operations as an independent organization in January 2027. Deputy Editor Rina Chandran confirmed the newsroom would continue publishing until the end of January while searching for a new home for the publication launched in 2020 to cover innovation outside the West.

Chandran expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work at Rest of World, recalling her experience as Southeast Asia editor in Bangkok before moving to Silicon Valley as a deputy editor. She reassured contributors that commissioned work would still be published and remain accessible. The closure follows a report by Semafor suggesting founder Sophie Schmidt had discussed potential absorption by large institutions, with a wind-down date set for late January to allow for employee exit packages and job searches if necessary.

Schmidt pledged $60 million to the project, which documented technology's effects on emerging markets often overlooked by mainstream US media. Despite efforts to retain readers, Rest of World experienced a decline in web traffic over the past 18 months. The publication reached over 753,000 readers monthly in 2025, covering subjects like labor market changes, digital infrastructure, AI, and major technology companies' influence in nearly 40 countries.