Kira Shishkin is the CEO and founder of Informed, a startup delivering concise, ad-free, and credible news summaries via SMS. In this episode of the Business Mic Podcast, he shares how a frustrating experience during an earthquake in San Francisco, where he struggled to find reliable information without hitting paywalls or popups, inspired him to create a smarter, simpler way to stay informed.
With Informed, users receive a single SMS each weekday, summarizing the most important global news in just a few clear, unbiased sentences. The service is intentionally minimalist—no apps, no login, no tracking—respecting users’ time and privacy while eliminating the noise of ads, clickbait, and endless notifications.
Currently live in North America via SMS and available worldwide via email, Informed focuses on the world’s most impactful stories, curated for global citizens, not localized feeds. For users seeking more context, the platform allows a two-way interaction, enabling them to request additional information on topics of interest.
Kira emphasizes accuracy over speed, blending AI with human editorial judgment to ensure every update is factual and trustworthy. The ultimate goal is to build a healthy news habit—one that makes users feel more informed in less time, without the overload and bias of traditional or social media.
To learn more or sign up, visit https://informed.now
Connect with Kira Shishkin: https://l.informed.now/kira