Axel Springer

Axel Springer is a leading global media company with a strong presence in over 40 countries. Founded in 1946 by Axel Springer, the company initially focused on print publishing but has since expanded into digital platforms and services. Today, Axel Springer operates as a diversified media business, offering informative and entertaining journalism alongside marketing and classifieds segments. The company is committed to accelerating its digital transformation, investing in strategic acquisitions, and fostering innovation through partnerships with digital start-ups.

Mathias Dopfner

Co-Owner, CEO and Chairman

Jan-Philipp Gräfe

Principal

Ulrich Schmitz

Managing Director

Past deals in Publishing

Inkitt

Series B in 2021
Inkitt operates an online community for writers and readers, offering a platform where authors can share and refine their work while gaining insights from readers. The company uses data-driven approaches to identify popular stories and publishes them across various media, aiming to create blockbuster franchises similar to Disney's model.

Protocol Media

Acquisition in 2021
Protocol Media is a new media company founded by the publisher of POLITICO, focusing on the intersection of technology, politics, and business. The company aims to equip decision-makers in the tech industry, business sector, and public policy with unbiased and fact-based news and analysis. Protocol covers critical issues such as the dynamics between disruptors and those being disrupted, the ongoing tensions between technology and government regulators, and the broader implications of technology on society and the environment. Through its digital platform, Protocol strives to provide insightful reporting that assists its audience in navigating the complexities of a rapidly evolving landscape.

Politico

Acquisition in 2021
Politico is a leading online, mobile, and print platform for news and analysis on U.S. politics, Congress, the White House, and policy-making. It serves as the modern voice of Washington, reaching influential political professionals and millions of daily readers.

Ozy

Series C in 2019
Ozy Media, Inc. is a media and entertainment company based in Mountain View, California, that focuses on delivering a diverse array of news and information to a curious audience. Founded in 2012, Ozy operates a daily news, magazine, and video streaming platform that features various programs designed to inform and engage its users. The content encompasses a wide range of topics, including emerging trends, influential figures, and innovative ideas, aiming to provide narratives that challenge conventional perspectives. With an audience of approximately 50 million, Ozy seeks to inspire and broaden viewpoints by presenting fresh narratives across multiple formats, including television, podcasts, and live events.

CeleraOne

Acquisition in 2019
Founded in 2012, CeleraOne specializes in real-time processing of large datasets. It offers analytics and automation platforms for publishers, focusing on paid content technology, user data management, and audience development.

Scroll

Series A in 2018
Scroll operates as an online subscription service, headquartered in the United States, providing access to high-quality journalism content. Its mission is to deliver engaging, noise-free articles from diverse sources, aiming to pierce filter bubbles and foster a sustainable reading experience focused on meaningful content.

Scroll

Seed Round in 2016
Scroll operates as an online subscription service, headquartered in the United States, providing access to high-quality journalism content. Its mission is to deliver engaging, noise-free articles from diverse sources, aiming to pierce filter bubbles and foster a sustainable reading experience focused on meaningful content.

eMarketer

Acquisition in 2016
eMarketer, Inc. is a prominent provider of data and research focused on digital marketing, media, and commerce. Founded in 1996 and based in New York with an additional office in London, the company delivers insights into consumer behavior and marketing strategies, helping businesses navigate the complexities of the digital landscape. eMarketer's flagship product, eMarketer PRO, is a comprehensive platform featuring reports, forecasts, and a searchable data library sourced from over 3,000 contributors. The company also publishes eMarketer Daily, an online newsletter that offers valuable data and articles to a global readership exceeding 200,000. With a diverse range of topics including advertising spending, B2B marketing, ecommerce, and social media, eMarketer serves a variety of clients, including brands, agencies, media companies, and educational institutions. In 2016, eMarketer became a subsidiary of Axel Springer SE, further enhancing its ability to provide critical insights in the fast-evolving digital economy.

Business Insider

Acquisition in 2015
Insider Inc. operates a comprehensive business news website catering to audiences in India and globally. The platform delivers timely information on a wide range of topics including business, technology, finance, politics, lifestyle, and leadership insights. It covers entrepreneurial initiatives, advancements in various fields such as automobiles and gadgets, and offers analysis on the digital landscape, including e-commerce and fintech. Additionally, Insider Inc. aggregates top news stories from various sources and provides in-depth insights and data analysis. The company, originally founded as Business Insider in May 2007, rebranded to Insider Inc. in January 2018 and is headquartered in New York, New York. It also offers advertising services to enhance its revenue streams.

Vicomi

Seed Round in 2015
Vicomi is a technology company that operates a visual comment platform designed to help web publishers measure user sentiment and enhance engagement. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, with additional offices in New York, Tel Aviv, and Berlin, Vicomi provides tools that allow users to tag emotions to their comments, offering insights into how readers feel about content. The platform's features aim to increase traffic, retention, and overall web engagement, thereby optimizing content and improving advertising monetization for publishers. Through its innovative approach, Vicomi enables online publishers to better understand audience emotions and feedback, fostering a more interactive and engaging online experience.

Pocket River

Series B in 2015
Pocket River is a producer of mobile games. They are game publishing, marketing, and ongoing support services. They provide both players and developers with the best possible service. They are working with numerous developers to bring great titles to life on the iOS and Android platforms.

Business Insider

Venture Round in 2015
Insider Inc. operates a comprehensive business news website catering to audiences in India and globally. The platform delivers timely information on a wide range of topics including business, technology, finance, politics, lifestyle, and leadership insights. It covers entrepreneurial initiatives, advancements in various fields such as automobiles and gadgets, and offers analysis on the digital landscape, including e-commerce and fintech. Additionally, Insider Inc. aggregates top news stories from various sources and provides in-depth insights and data analysis. The company, originally founded as Business Insider in May 2007, rebranded to Insider Inc. in January 2018 and is headquartered in New York, New York. It also offers advertising services to enhance its revenue streams.

Blendle

Series A in 2014
Blendle is a digital media platform that allows readers to purchase articles from various Dutch and Belgian newspapers and magazines, including prominent publications like the Economist. Users can buy individual articles for prices ranging from €0.10 to €0.30, and they are presented with a selection of recommendations similar to social media feeds. New users are provided with an initial credit of €2.50 to explore the platform. The service includes a brief refund window for article purchases, after which Blendle retains a 30% commission on sales. By offering a pay-per-article model, Blendle aims to enhance access to quality journalism and cater to readers' preferences through personalized recommendations.

Ozy

Series A in 2014
Ozy Media, Inc. is a media and entertainment company based in Mountain View, California, that focuses on delivering a diverse array of news and information to a curious audience. Founded in 2012, Ozy operates a daily news, magazine, and video streaming platform that features various programs designed to inform and engage its users. The content encompasses a wide range of topics, including emerging trends, influential figures, and innovative ideas, aiming to provide narratives that challenge conventional perspectives. With an audience of approximately 50 million, Ozy seeks to inspire and broaden viewpoints by presenting fresh narratives across multiple formats, including television, podcasts, and live events.

Car&Boat Media

Acquisition in 2014
Car & Boat Media is the leading digital group in France on the automobile and the boat, bringing together sites with high notoriety and audience: - The Centrale: 1st site of used vehicles - Caradisiac: 1st site of contents automobile and motorcycle - Forum- auto: 1st car community - Promoneuve: 1st site of sale of new vehicles destocked - Announcements of the boat: 1st site of new and used boats.

Grunderszene

Acquisition in 2014
Gruenderszene is the German-speaking online magazine for the digital industry in Germany. Vertical Media is the publishing house behind the magazine which is based in Berlin. It started as a privat blog-project of the German serial-entrepreneur [Lukasz Gadowski](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/lukasz-gadowski). Gruenderszene has become a major player in the online coverage of the startup industry in Germany,it delivers news and articles about the German internet, web and tech scene. Gruenderszene is also an organizer of industry events, such as e.g. the "Spätschicht" event in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich. The English version of Gründerszene is called VentureVillage.eu. The company was acquired by [Axel Springer](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/axel-springer) in June 2014.

Vertical Media

Acquisition in 2014
Vertical Media is a Berlin-based digital marketing agency that specializes in web design and comprehensive marketing solutions. The company focuses on helping businesses enhance their online presence through modern web marketing strategies. Additionally, Vertical Media publishes online magazines tailored for digital entrepreneurs and companies, providing valuable insights and resources for the digital economy. Through its diverse offerings, the agency aims to support businesses in effectively promoting and consolidating their operations in the online landscape.

InterRed

Venture Round in 2011
InterRed GmbH specializes in developing and distributing advanced software solutions tailored to various industries. They are renowned for their leading content management systems (CMS) and editorial systems, offering comprehensive solutions for multi-channel publishing, knowledge management, personalized websites, web analytics, and print, web, and mobile applications. Their product suite includes InterRed Print, Online, AppPublishing, ContentAgents, and LiveReporting, catering to diverse business needs and use cases across newspapers, magazines, corporate publishing, and catalogs.

Sohomint

Acquisition in 2010
Sohomint is a company that specializes in the design and development of content management software, specifically M²C, which facilitates comprehensive management of structured content, including tasks such as elimination, reporting, and control. In addition to its software solutions, Sohomint operates themed content portals on the Internet, referred to as vertical internet websites. The company also provides services related to search engine optimization and keyword management, helping clients enhance their online presence. Furthermore, Sohomint manages and monetizes content projects for third parties, ensuring effective implementation and oversight of their internet initiatives.

Berliner Morgenpost

Acquisition in 1959
Berliner Morgenpost is a German daily newspaper and news publishing company based in Berlin. Founded in 1898 by Leopold Ullstein, it covers sports, politics, business, gastronomy, culture and knowledge, and was acquired by Axel Springer in 1959.
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