Holtzbrinck Digital

Holtzbrinck Digital, established in 2010, is the corporate venture capital arm of Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, headquartered in Munich, Germany. The company specializes in investing in digital businesses across the fields of science, education, content, marketplaces, and e-learning. With offices in Munich, London, and Boston, Holtzbrinck Digital adopts a global approach to identify and support promising business models. The firm emphasizes collaboration with founders and management teams, providing strategic and operational guidance to foster growth and enhance economic value. Their investment strategy includes backing startups that have demonstrated proof-of-concept, offering growth capital to later-stage companies, and acquiring profitable businesses poised to become leaders in their respective markets. Holtzbrinck Digital maintains a rigorous focus on its investment areas while remaining flexible regarding transaction sizes and ownership stakes.

Julius Jürging

Senior Investment Manager

Dominic Regehr

Investment Manager

Jannik von Wallis

Investment Manager

34 past transactions

Likeminded

Seed Round in 2023
Likeminded is a digital platform focused on mental health, offering a variety of courses aimed at enhancing mental well-being. The platform provides both individual and group sessions, along with on-demand support, to meet the diverse needs of users. Trained psychotherapists, psychologists, and coaches deliver these services, ensuring a comprehensive approach to mental health care. The experts at Likeminded possess academic backgrounds in psychology and receive specialized training, along with ongoing supervision and coaching, to maintain high standards of professional development. This platform is designed to give employees quick access to mental health resources during times of crisis, fostering personal growth and overall well-being. By facilitating group sessions led by qualified professionals, Likeminded aims to improve employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity while also reducing absenteeism.

DeSci Labs

Series A in 2023
Building tools to grow Open Science

Metaphacts

Series B in 2023
Metaphacts is a software company that specializes in developing end-to-end platforms for creating and utilizing enterprise knowledge graphs. Its offerings encompass a range of functionalities, including semantic graph data management, data-driven application development, and visualization tools. The company serves various sectors such as life sciences, engineering and manufacturing, finance and insurance, and cultural heritage, enabling clients to gain meaningful insights from their data. Metaphacts' solutions include features like tree rendering, discovery and exploration, auto-suggestion and validation, and rapid application development, all designed to facilitate the creation of customer-oriented knowledge graph applications. Through its comprehensive software, Metaphacts supports organizations in leveraging their data for enhanced decision-making and operational efficiency.

AMBOSS

Series B in 2019
AMBOSS GmbH is a digital platform based in Cologne, Germany, that caters to the needs of medical students and physicians. Founded in 2012, the company develops and markets a comprehensive medical study platform that offers valuable resources such as study materials and a question bank. The platform is designed to deliver medical knowledge quickly and efficiently, supporting users in their educational and professional endeavors. Originally established as MIAMED GmbH, AMBOSS has positioned itself as a physician-driven resource, enhancing the learning experience for those in the medical field.

Pflege.de

Venture Round in 2018
Pflege.de is a provider of comprehensive living and care solutions aimed at the elderly and individuals with special needs. The company offers a range of services including outpatient care, assisted living, senior flat shares, and inpatient care. In addition to these living options, Pflege.de specializes in providing valuable information and organizational support for caregivers. Their offerings encompass counseling, bathroom remodeling, lift systems, maintenance, and legal and financial advice. By focusing on the diverse needs of elderly patients, Pflege.de aims to ensure quality care and support for those facing physical, mental, and spiritual challenges.

Lecturio

Series B in 2017
Lecturio GmbH is an e-learning platform based in Leipzig, Germany, that offers interactive audio-visual lectures and medical learning content through its website and mobile application. The company specializes in online medical education internationally while providing law, medical, and business courses within the German market. Collaborating with esteemed institutions such as Harvard and Johns Hopkins, Lecturio delivers high-quality medical education through an advanced teaching platform that adapts to various curricula and teaching methods. Additionally, the platform supports both online and offline learning, enabling users to access courses on a variety of devices, including tablets and PCs, facilitating flexible and effective education in topics such as economics, accounting, and software.

IFI CLAIMS

Funding Round in 2017
IFI CLAIMS produces U.S.-based patent databases for patent researchers. The company offers chemical, utility, design and plant, and business method patents. It also provides indexing and database creation, database management, patent portfolio, patent intelligence and technology report, IPC and U.S. patent concordance, assignee thesaurus, patent books and journals, and custom search services. IFI CLAIMS provides global patent information through CLAIMS Direct web services. It helps developers, analysts, and information professionals create scalable applications and analytics solutions that include patent data. The company produced its first in-depth U.S. chemical patent index, Uniterm Index in 1955, averaging 20 to 25 keyword terms per U.S. patent. Uniterm Index was initially offered in a printed, dual dictionary format. In 1967, it began delivering Uniterm Index in an electronic form complete with proprietary search software for use within corporate information departments. During the late 1970’s, IFI CLAIMS’ U.S. patent databases entered the world of interactive online searching when they became the first patent databases offered by Lockheed’s Dialog Information Services. It continued to expand the depth and breadth of their U.S. patent content to include all patented technologies, patent citations, legal status changes, reassignments, and published applications. IFI CLAIMS was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Madison, Connecticut.

Peerwith

Funding Round in 2017
Peerwith is a peer-to-peer marketplace designed to connect academics with experts in research services, facilitating collaboration and enhancing the quality of academic work. The platform offers a range of services, including language editing, translation, formatting, design, and consulting, allowing researchers to find support tailored to their specific needs. By bridging the gap between authors and specialists, Peerwith enables organizations to engage with academics for freelance and project-based collaborations, fostering lasting professional relationships within various academic disciplines.

Strateos

Venture Round in 2016
Strateos is a company that specializes in automating laboratory processes in chemistry, biology, and tissue analysis through its advanced robotic cloud laboratory platform. By integrating cutting-edge robotics with sophisticated software for imaging and analytics, Strateos provides pharmaceutical partners with the tools to accelerate drug discovery and development. The company emerged from a merger between Transcriptic, which pioneered on-demand robotic lab services, and 3Scan, known for its automation and machine learning capabilities in tissue analysis. Strateos aims to streamline the drug discovery process by offering a comprehensive suite of technologies that transform life science methods into data-driven solutions. This approach not only enhances productivity and efficiency but also redefines the traditional research model, making it more accessible and effective for scientists. Through its innovative platform, Strateos positions itself as a valuable partner in the life sciences sector, focusing on delivering significant time and cost savings in the drug development process.

iversity

Venture Round in 2016
iversity GmbH operates an online learning platform focused on higher education and professional development, facilitating access to a diverse range of academic courses. Established in 2010 and headquartered in Neuenhagen, Germany, the platform allows universities, nonprofits, and knowledge-driven organizations to offer courses that provide recognized credentials to a global audience. Users can access a multitude of courses across various disciplines, including engineering, philosophy, design, and biology, at no cost, although a fee is required to obtain certificates and grades upon successful completion. Some courses on the platform also confer ECTS credits, which are recognized within traditional university systems. iversity primarily collaborates with European universities and professors, enabling instructors to create innovative learning experiences that include multimedia materials and direct student feedback. This approach enhances the accessibility and personalization of higher education, allowing learners to study from anywhere in the world. Since November 2017, iversity has been a subsidiary of Springer Nature.

Jura Online

Venture Round in 2016
Online Learning Platform for Law Students and Lawyers.

AMBOSS

Seed Round in 2015
AMBOSS GmbH is a digital platform based in Cologne, Germany, that caters to the needs of medical students and physicians. Founded in 2012, the company develops and markets a comprehensive medical study platform that offers valuable resources such as study materials and a question bank. The platform is designed to deliver medical knowledge quickly and efficiently, supporting users in their educational and professional endeavors. Originally established as MIAMED GmbH, AMBOSS has positioned itself as a physician-driven resource, enhancing the learning experience for those in the medical field.

Searchmetrics

Venture Round in 2015
Searchmetrics GmbH is a global provider of search analytics software solutions, primarily operating in Germany and internationally. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Berlin, the company offers the Searchmetrics Suite, a SaaS platform designed to enhance search engine optimization (SEO) performance by providing insights into both a company's website and its competitors' strategies. The suite comprises four modules: Research Cloud, Content Experience, Search Experience, and Site Experience, which equip SEO professionals and digital marketers with essential tools to optimize their organic search efforts. Additionally, Searchmetrics Essentials enables marketers to analyze domain and keyword performance across organic and paid search results, while its Digital Strategies Group offers consulting services to help major brands excel in digital marketing. The company also provides an API that allows businesses to integrate search data into their existing systems for comprehensive analytics. Searchmetrics has expanded its presence with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Croatia.

Pflege.de

Series B in 2015
Pflege.de is a provider of comprehensive living and care solutions aimed at the elderly and individuals with special needs. The company offers a range of services including outpatient care, assisted living, senior flat shares, and inpatient care. In addition to these living options, Pflege.de specializes in providing valuable information and organizational support for caregivers. Their offerings encompass counseling, bathroom remodeling, lift systems, maintenance, and legal and financial advice. By focusing on the diverse needs of elderly patients, Pflege.de aims to ensure quality care and support for those facing physical, mental, and spiritual challenges.

Symplectic

Series A in 2015
Symplectic Limited is a software development company based in Leicester, United Kingdom, specializing in solutions for academic institutions. Founded in 2003, the company offers a range of products designed to streamline research management and academic processes. Its key product, Symplectic Elements, is a publications management system that automatically aggregates bibliographic data, assisting academics in tracking their own publications while providing institutions with a centralized database for querying. Additionally, Symplectic provides Invigilator Student Management, which monitors undergraduate academic progress, and TOAST, a tool for collecting survey data. The company's integrated systems support efficient operations across the grants management lifecycle, aiding clients in making informed funding decisions and achieving research objectives.

Strateos

Series A in 2015
Strateos is a company that specializes in automating laboratory processes in chemistry, biology, and tissue analysis through its advanced robotic cloud laboratory platform. By integrating cutting-edge robotics with sophisticated software for imaging and analytics, Strateos provides pharmaceutical partners with the tools to accelerate drug discovery and development. The company emerged from a merger between Transcriptic, which pioneered on-demand robotic lab services, and 3Scan, known for its automation and machine learning capabilities in tissue analysis. Strateos aims to streamline the drug discovery process by offering a comprehensive suite of technologies that transform life science methods into data-driven solutions. This approach not only enhances productivity and efficiency but also redefines the traditional research model, making it more accessible and effective for scientists. Through its innovative platform, Strateos positions itself as a valuable partner in the life sciences sector, focusing on delivering significant time and cost savings in the drug development process.

med1

Acquisition in 2014
Med1 is a digital platform that enables health professionals and patients to interact through social tools and published content. Patients are also capable of both finding and setting appointments for on-site consultations with doctors.

Searchmetrics

Venture Round in 2014
Searchmetrics GmbH is a global provider of search analytics software solutions, primarily operating in Germany and internationally. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Berlin, the company offers the Searchmetrics Suite, a SaaS platform designed to enhance search engine optimization (SEO) performance by providing insights into both a company's website and its competitors' strategies. The suite comprises four modules: Research Cloud, Content Experience, Search Experience, and Site Experience, which equip SEO professionals and digital marketers with essential tools to optimize their organic search efforts. Additionally, Searchmetrics Essentials enables marketers to analyze domain and keyword performance across organic and paid search results, while its Digital Strategies Group offers consulting services to help major brands excel in digital marketing. The company also provides an API that allows businesses to integrate search data into their existing systems for comprehensive analytics. Searchmetrics has expanded its presence with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Croatia.

Overleaf

Seed Round in 2014
Overleaf is an academic authorship tool that allows seamless collaboration and effortless manuscript submission, all underpinned by cloud-technology. By providing an intuitive online collaborative writing and publishing platform, Overleaf is making the process of writing, editing and publishing scientific documents quicker and easier. Researchers and academics can now write, collaborate, and publish with a single click, directly from the Overleaf web-app. Publishers and Institutions are partnering with Overleaf to provide customized writing templates, simple reference tool linking, and one-click publishing submission links. Overleaf brings the scientific documentation process into a Google-docs like environment, developed to seamlessly connect the academic and publishing workflows from writing-to-review-to-publication. Overleaf, previously called WriteLaTeX, was founded by John Hammersley and John Lees-Miller, two mathematicians who worked together on the pioneering Ultra PRT Project and who were inspired by their own experiences in academia to create a better solution for collaborative scientific writing.

Patience

Series A in 2014
Patience is a Berlin-based learning technology provider focused on facilitating online education. Its platform allows a diverse range of educators, including tutors, training companies, publishers, schools, universities, and non-profit organizations, to create, manage, and market their own online courses. By offering customizable solutions, Patience empowers educators to build tailored online learning applications, effectively enabling them to reach a global audience. The platform serves as a social hub, fostering connections among various educational stakeholders and enhancing the overall teaching and learning experience.

Global Leads Group

Acquisition in 2014
Global Leads Group is operates as a media company that develops and creates technologies and services for individuals and companies. It provides content channels, social media outreach, and advertising tools and content.

Searchmetrics

Venture Round in 2014
Searchmetrics GmbH is a global provider of search analytics software solutions, primarily operating in Germany and internationally. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Berlin, the company offers the Searchmetrics Suite, a SaaS platform designed to enhance search engine optimization (SEO) performance by providing insights into both a company's website and its competitors' strategies. The suite comprises four modules: Research Cloud, Content Experience, Search Experience, and Site Experience, which equip SEO professionals and digital marketers with essential tools to optimize their organic search efforts. Additionally, Searchmetrics Essentials enables marketers to analyze domain and keyword performance across organic and paid search results, while its Digital Strategies Group offers consulting services to help major brands excel in digital marketing. The company also provides an API that allows businesses to integrate search data into their existing systems for comprehensive analytics. Searchmetrics has expanded its presence with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Croatia.

UberResearch

Seed Round in 2013
Our mission is to build decision support solutions for science funding organizations. The team below has created and implemented some of the most advanced solutions for large scientific funders around the world. We hope to leverage this experience to standardized an analytical platform of the very best decision support tools available.

Bettermarks

Venture Round in 2013
Bettermarks is an online learning platform focused on mathematics education, offering adaptive courseware for primary and secondary students aged 10 to 16. Since its establishment in 2008, the company has developed over 100 interactive math books and more than 100,000 questions, each accompanied by detailed explanations. The platform provides automatic marking and result evaluation, available in multiple languages including German, English, and Spanish. Bettermarks employs advanced interaction tools to cater to diverse learning abilities, analyzing student responses to identify the underlying causes of errors and suggesting personalized improvement paths. This approach not only enhances individual learning but also supports teachers in managing varying ability levels within the classroom, integrating parents into the educational process with comprehensive features and reports.

figshare

Venture Round in 2012
figshare LLP, founded in 2011 and based in London, United Kingdom, operates an online repository designed to make research outputs accessible and citable. The platform enables users to upload various file formats, allowing for the visualization of figures, datasets, media, papers, posters, presentations, and other research materials. By providing a space for these outputs, figshare facilitates dissemination in a manner that traditional scholarly publishing often does not support. The repository enhances the visibility and discoverability of research, promoting a more open and collaborative approach to scholarly communication.

Altmetric

Venture Round in 2012
Altmetric operates a research metrics platform that measures the attention scientific articles receive across social media, mainstream media, and grey literature. The platform is designed to assist research scholars by simplifying the collection and analysis of article-level metrics. By enabling organizations to track and measure online activity related to academic research, Altmetric supports both researchers and publishers in understanding the impact of their work in the digital landscape.

Savings United

Seed Round in 2012
Savings United is a digital marketing platform that specializes in providing white label couponing solutions for premium media companies. By connecting advertisers with savvy shoppers, the company facilitates targeted advertising in the e-commerce sector. Its platform is designed to capture and analyze data related to customer shopping behavior, particularly in rapidly growing markets such as Spain, Italy, Eastern Europe, and South America. This comprehensive data collection allows clients to identify and focus on prospective leads, ultimately enhancing their marketing strategies and maximizing profitability.

IONIQ

Series A in 2012
The IONIQ Group is an entrepreneurial investment firm based in Berlin, founded in 2011. It specializes in building platforms of interconnected companies across various digital sectors, including data and advertising, fintech, and digital health. IONIQ began its journey in the data and advertising market, successfully creating companies like Zeotap. It then established Europe’s leading fintech platform, finleap, in 2014, followed by the launch of Heartbeat Labs in 2017 to advance digital healthcare solutions. To date, IONIQ has developed over 20 companies, employing more than 1,200 professionals across more than 10 global locations. Many of these companies have achieved profitability within three years of their inception and are recognized as market leaders in their respective fields.

Bettermarks

Venture Round in 2012
Bettermarks is an online learning platform focused on mathematics education, offering adaptive courseware for primary and secondary students aged 10 to 16. Since its establishment in 2008, the company has developed over 100 interactive math books and more than 100,000 questions, each accompanied by detailed explanations. The platform provides automatic marking and result evaluation, available in multiple languages including German, English, and Spanish. Bettermarks employs advanced interaction tools to cater to diverse learning abilities, analyzing student responses to identify the underlying causes of errors and suggesting personalized improvement paths. This approach not only enhances individual learning but also supports teachers in managing varying ability levels within the classroom, integrating parents into the educational process with comprehensive features and reports.

Searchmetrics

Venture Round in 2011
Searchmetrics GmbH is a global provider of search analytics software solutions, primarily operating in Germany and internationally. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Berlin, the company offers the Searchmetrics Suite, a SaaS platform designed to enhance search engine optimization (SEO) performance by providing insights into both a company's website and its competitors' strategies. The suite comprises four modules: Research Cloud, Content Experience, Search Experience, and Site Experience, which equip SEO professionals and digital marketers with essential tools to optimize their organic search efforts. Additionally, Searchmetrics Essentials enables marketers to analyze domain and keyword performance across organic and paid search results, while its Digital Strategies Group offers consulting services to help major brands excel in digital marketing. The company also provides an API that allows businesses to integrate search data into their existing systems for comprehensive analytics. Searchmetrics has expanded its presence with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Croatia.

Tutoria

Private Equity Round in 2010
Tutoria GmbH, established in 2007 and based in Munich, Germany, offers an online platform, tutoria.de, that facilitates individual tutoring services for students of all ages and subjects. The company serves as a marketplace for home tutoring, connecting users with qualified and certified tutors available in various regions across Germany. Tutors are pre-screened to ensure quality, and users can book sessions on demand. Tutoria enhances the learning experience by providing ongoing monitoring through online progress reports after each lesson and offering a personal management interface and supplementary applications. Additionally, a dedicated pedagogic support team is available to assist users via phone or email, ensuring a comprehensive online tutoring experience. Tutoria operates as a subsidiary of Studienkreis GmbH.

AdScale

Series A in 2007
AdScale operates a marketplace for online advertising in Germany, offering a range of services to advertisers and website owners. The company provides traditional display advertising, video advertising, and text ads, ensuring a transparent trading space for digital ad inventory. Its Supply Side Platform enables publishers to optimize yield management through private deals and auctions, enhancing their inventory control. Additionally, AdScale employs various optimization technologies, including programmatic buying and a data management platform, to improve targeting and overall performance. Through these services, AdScale aims to deliver a fair price-performance ratio for its business partners.
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