The publishing industry in Europe is a vibrant sector that blends traditional and digital formats. It includes companies like book publishers, magazines, and multimedia firms, all working to deliver content that informs, inspires, and entertains. With shifting consumer habits and the growth of digital media, companies are pivoting to offer innovative solutions such as audiobooks, e-books, and subscription services. The future points toward further integration of technology to enhance the reading experience, allowing readers access to a world of information at their fingertips. Unique start-ups are emerging, linking authors and publishing services in exciting new ways.


Our list of investors reveals a mix of corporate, venture capital, and media companies, primarily headquartered in major European cities like London and Paris. Spanning sizes from small firms to industry giants with over 10,000 employees, these investors bring diverse strategies. Notable deal activities in 2024 saw Kima Ventures making 50 investments, while Bertelsmann Multimedia Gmbh, a substantial player, completed three. Founded between 1798 and 2015, each investor contributes to shaping the publishing landscape in their unique way, reflecting a strategic commitment to supporting growth in this sector.


Top 12 Publishing Investors in Europe


1. Storytel

  • Website: storytel.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn: storytel

Storytel AB is a corporate investor based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2005. It operates as a subscription service offering a wide range of audiobooks, e-books, and podcasts, catering to consumers seeking convenient access to digital reading and listening materials. Storytel has made significant strides in the publishing industry through strategic acquisitions. Notably, in 2016, Storytel acquired Norstedts Förlagsgrupp, a prominent Swedish publisher, for £12.5 million, marking a key step in its growth strategy. In 2021, it acquired a 70% stake in Lind & Co, allowing the existing CEO to maintain a minority stake, which indicates a collaborative approach to management. Additionally, Storytel expanded its reach in Finland by acquiring Gummerus Kustannus Oy, Aula & Co., and People'sPress, further solidifying its presence in the Nordic publishing market. These transactions highlight Storytel's active role in the publishing sector, making it a relevant investor in this field.


2. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc


Bloomsbury Publishing Plc is a corporate investor based in London, England, founded in 1986. The company specializes in a diverse range of fiction and non-fiction books, academic resources, and digital content, catering to readers, educators, and institutions. Bloomsbury has made several significant acquisitions to strengthen its position in the publishing market. Notable transactions include the acquisition of Fairchild Books in 2012 for $6.5 million, aimed at enhancing their presence in the US academic publishing market, particularly in fashion and design education. In 2018, they acquired I.B. Tauris for £5.8 million, focusing on scholarly content related to the Middle East and political publishing. Other acquisitions, such as Zed Books in 2020 and Absolute Press in 2011, further illustrate Bloomsbury's strategy to expand its publishing portfolio and reach. With a count of 2 investments in 2024, Bloomsbury continues to be an active player in the publishing industry.


3. Kima Ventures

  • Website: kimaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 50
  • LinkedIn: kima-ventures

Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, backing two startups per week with financial support and mentorship to help them navigate initial challenges. Among their notable transactions, Kima Ventures has invested in Reedsy, a platform that connects authors with publishing professionals, and Instaread, which provides summaries of books. Additionally, they participated in the funding of Glose, a collaborative reading platform aimed at enhancing the reading experience for students and teachers. These investments highlight Kima Ventures' active role in the publishing industry, alongside their broader investment strategy.


4. Hachette Livre

  • Website: hachette.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1826
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • LinkedIn: hachette-livre

Hachette Livre is a leading publishing company based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Founded in 1826, the company specializes in book publishing, educational materials, and games, catering to a diverse customer base that includes educational institutions and consumers seeking quality literature. Hachette Livre operates globally, leveraging its extensive network of over 200 editorial brands to provide a wide range of content. The company has been involved in several significant transactions in the publishing industry, including the acquisition of Headline in 2004, which expanded their portfolio in the UK market. In the same year, they acquired Hodder Headline for approximately $400 million, allowing them to control about 13% of the UK consumer publishing market. Additionally, Hachette Livre acquired a 25% stake in the Moscow-based trade publishing group Azbooka-Atticus in 2011, further solidifying their international presence. More recently, in 2022, they acquired the remaining share capital of Bragelonne, a move that followed a previous merger in 2019. These transactions highlight Hachette Livre's active role in the publishing industry and its strategy to enhance its market position through acquisitions.


5. Taylor & Francis Group


Taylor & Francis Group is a prominent academic publisher based in Abingdon, England, specializing in scholarly publishing across a wide range of disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, science, and technology. Founded in 1798, the company has a rich history of supporting researchers and academics by providing platforms for publishing their work and accessing a vast array of journals and books. Taylor & Francis has been actively involved in the publishing industry through several significant acquisitions, including CRC Press in 2003, which enhanced their presence in the U.S. professional publishing market. In 2014, they acquired M.E. Sharpe and Acumen Publishing Ltd, further expanding their academic publishing portfolio. More recently, in 2017, they acquired Transaction Publishers, and in 2013, their imprint CRC Press acquired Manson Publishing, a specialist medical publisher. These transactions highlight Taylor & Francis Group's strategic focus on growing their influence and capabilities within the publishing sector, making them a key player in the industry.


6. Crowdcube

  • Website: crowdcube.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: crowdcube-limited

Crowdcube is a London-based crowdfunding platform founded in 2010 that enables businesses to raise capital through equity investments. It connects startups and SMEs with potential investors, facilitating the funding process. Crowdcube promotes diversity and inclusion within its workforce while providing investment management services to its clients. Notably, Crowdcube has been involved in several transactions within the publishing sector, including Unbound, which raised $202,519 in October 2023, and Electronic Sound Magazine, which raised $113,229 in February 2017. These transactions highlight Crowdcube's engagement with the publishing industry, alongside their broader investment activities.


7. Bertelsmann Multimedia Gmbh


Bertelsmann Multimedia Gmbh, part of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, is a global media, services, and education company based in Neunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, Bertelsmann operates across various sectors, including television, streaming, music production, and notably, book publishing. The company has made significant investments in the publishing industry, acquiring Penguin Random House in 2017, which solidified its position as a leading publisher. In 2020, Bertelsmann further expanded its publishing portfolio by agreeing to acquire Simon & Schuster from ViacomCBS for $2.175 billion, aiming to enhance its presence in the U.S. market. Additionally, Bertelsmann holds a stake in Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., a prominent Japanese publisher, allowing it to tap into Japan's substantial book market. These strategic acquisitions underscore Bertelsmann's commitment to the publishing sector, making it a key player in the industry.


8. Sanoma

  • Website: sanoma.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
  • Founded year: 1889
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • LinkedIn: sanoma

Sanoma is a media and educational publishing company based in Helsinki, Finland, founded in 1889. It provides a diverse range of learning solutions and media content, including printed and digital learning materials, teaching platforms, and publishing news and entertainment content. Sanoma serves educational institutions and media consumers across multiple European countries. The company has made several notable acquisitions in the publishing sector, such as the acquisition of Independent Media Holding B.V. in 2005, which positioned it as a leading consumer magazine publisher in Russia. In 2020, Sanoma acquired Santillana Spain for EUR 465 million, enhancing its presence in the Spanish K-12 learning services market. Other significant transactions include the acquisition of Nowa Era, a Polish educational publishing company, and Pearson Italia, further solidifying its position in the European educational publishing market. Additionally, the acquisition of Iddink Group in 2019 aimed to strengthen its learning business, showcasing Sanoma's strategic focus on educational publishing.


9. Future

  • Website: futureplc.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1985
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • LinkedIn: future-publishing

Future plc is a corporate media company based in London, England, founded in 1985. It specializes in connecting consumers with their passions through high-quality content and innovative technology. Future operates various specialist media brands and engages with both consumers and businesses, providing trusted information and resources across multiple industries. Notably, Future has made several key acquisitions in the publishing sector, including the acquisition of Dennis Publishing for $415 million in August 2021, which expanded their portfolio in consumer media. In March 2019, Future acquired Mobile Nations, a consumer electronics publisher, for up to $120 million, further solidifying their presence in the tech publishing space. Additionally, Future acquired Marie Claire US in May 2021, enhancing their position in the women's lifestyle vertical. They also acquired five specialist consumer titles from Haymarket Media Group in March 2018, including What Hi-Fi? and FourFourTwo, which are well-regarded in their respective niches. These transactions highlight Future's commitment to expanding its influence in the publishing industry.


10. The Quarto Group

  • Website: quarto.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1976
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • LinkedIn: thequartogroup

The Quarto Group is a corporate investor based in London, England, founded in 1976. As a prominent book publisher, Quarto specializes in illustrated books for both adults and children, operating globally with a diverse range of titles across various genres. Their customer base includes individual consumers and educational institutions seeking engaging and educational materials. Quarto emphasizes quality and creativity in its publications. Notably, Quarto has made several strategic acquisitions to bolster its publishing portfolio, including the acquisition of becker&mayer! in 2016, which aimed to enhance their sales in the U.S. children's publishing market. They also acquired Harvard Common Press, adding hundreds of titles and over 25,000 recipes to their offerings. Other significant acquisitions include Aurum Press, Frances Lincoln, and Cool Springs Press, which have allowed Quarto to expand its niche content and strengthen its position in the UK and U.S. publishing markets.


11. Bpifrance French Tech Accélération


Bpifrance French Tech Accélération is a venture capital investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2015. As a public entity and financial institution, Bpifrance supports entrepreneurs and businesses in France and internationally by providing a range of services including direct funding, export credit insurance, and private equity investments. The institution aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation through coaching and partnerships, helping businesses navigate growth and international expansion. Notably, Bpifrance has been involved in several transactions relevant to the publishing industry, such as Short Edition, which raised $953,317 in a seed round, and Glose, a social and collaborative reading platform that secured €3 million in financing. Additionally, Majelan, a company focused on audio content, raised $6,704,817 in a Series A round, further showcasing Bpifrance's commitment to supporting innovative publishing solutions. These investments highlight Bpifrance's active role in the publishing sector, despite its broader investment strategy.


12. Seedcamp

  • Website: seedcamp.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2007
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 40
  • LinkedIn: seedcamp_2

Seedcamp is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2007. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across Europe, providing financial backing and support to founders in areas such as product-market fit, sales, and access to a vast network of investors. Seedcamp has a strong focus on technology-driven companies looking to innovate and grow. Notably, they have invested in several companies relevant to the publishing industry, including Reedsy, which raised funds in 2014 to connect authors with publishing professionals, and 24Symbols, a digital reading platform that raised funds in 2012. These investments highlight Seedcamp's engagement with the publishing sector, alongside their broader investment strategy.



Publishing Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
StorytelStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden501-100020050
Bloomsbury Publishing PlcLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)501-100019862
Kima VenturesParis, Île-De-France, France1-10201050
Hachette LivreParis, Île-De-France, France1001-500018260
Taylor & Francis GroupAbingdon, England, United Kingdom (UK)1001-500017980
CrowdcubeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-20020103
Bertelsmann Multimedia GmbhNeunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany10001+3
SanomaHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland5001-1000018890
FutureLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)1001-500019850
The Quarto GroupLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)201-50019760
Bpifrance French Tech AccélérationParis, Île-De-France, France1-102015198
SeedcampLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50200740


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