The educational publishing industry in the DACH region is centered around creating and distributing learning resources across various platforms. This includes traditional print materials, e-learning tools, and digital education services. Companies operating in this sector range from established publishing houses to innovative startups focusing on educational technology. With the growing demand for personalized and digital learning experiences, many firms are harnessing technology to enhance educational content delivery. Recent trends also show a shift towards interactive learning methods and online platforms, showcasing the industry's responsiveness to changing educational needs.


In 2024, a mix of venture capital firms and corporate investors has characterized the DACH region's educational publishing scene. With headquarters spread across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, these investors come in various sizes, from small teams to large corporations. Founded between the late 1990s and recent years, they collectively made significant investments, reflecting a robust interest in innovative educational solutions. Notable investors include HV Capital, known for its active engagement, and Sictic, which connects finance to Swiss startups, showcasing a vibrant investment environment.


Top 13 Educational Publishing Investors in DACH


1. 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 over 10,000 employees, the company operates across various sectors, including television, streaming, book publishing, and music production. Notably, Bertelsmann has made significant strides in the educational publishing sector through key transactions. They acquired Penguin Random House in 2017, a major player in the book publishing industry, and later agreed to acquire Simon & Schuster in 2020 for $2.175 billion, further solidifying their presence in the U.S. market. Additionally, Bertelsmann invested in WizIQ, an online education platform, and participated in funding for Emeritus, an education upskilling company, showcasing their commitment to expanding educational offerings and services.


2. Holtzbrinck Digital


Holtzbrinck Digital is a venture capital firm based in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in innovative startups within the digital education, science, and content sectors. Holtzbrinck Digital supports its portfolio companies through capital investment and strategic guidance, helping them to grow and succeed in their respective markets. Notably, the firm has invested in several educational technology companies, including bettermarks, which raised significant funding in 2012 and 2013, focusing on digital math learning solutions. Additionally, Holtzbrinck Digital invested in iversity, a platform for online courses, and Lecturio, which provides online learning resources and courses, raising funds in multiple rounds from 2015 to 2017. These transactions highlight Holtzbrinck Digital's active role in the educational publishing landscape, particularly in the digital space.


3. HV Capital

  • Website: hvcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 28
  • LinkedIn: hvventures

HV Capital is a venture capital firm based in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, founded in 2000. With over €2.8 billion under management, HV Capital specializes in investing in digital companies and supporting entrepreneurs from seed stage to exit. The firm has been actively involved in the educational sector, particularly through its investments in Lingokids, which has raised a total of $60 million across multiple funding rounds (Seed, Series A, B, and C) to develop new educational content for children. This commitment to educational innovation is further exemplified by their investment in Sdui, which raised over $22 million in Series B funding in 2024, likely aimed at enhancing educational technology solutions. HV Capital's strategic guidance and capital support help startups navigate growth challenges and achieve market success, making them a significant player in the educational publishing landscape.


4. TA Ventures

  • Website: taventures.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: ta-ventures

TA Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in early-stage technology startups across various sectors, including HealthTech and FinTech. TA Ventures provides capital and strategic support to help startups grow and succeed in competitive markets. Notably, they have invested in educational technology companies such as zyBooks, which focuses on interactive learning materials, and Platzi, an online education platform that offers courses in various subjects. These investments highlight TA Ventures' commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the educational sector, thereby enhancing their portfolio's relevance in educational publishing.


5. Speedinvest

  • Website: speedinvest.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 45
  • LinkedIn: speedinvest

Speedinvest is a venture capital firm based in Vienna, Austria, founded in 2011. The firm specializes in funding early-stage tech startups across Europe, providing both capital and hands-on support to help these companies scale their operations. Speedinvest's investment focus spans various technology sectors, including Deep Tech, Fintech, and SaaS. Notably, they have made significant investments in the educational sector, including GoStudent, which raised a total of approximately $2.7 million across multiple funding rounds (Angel, Seed, and Convertible Note) from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, they invested in Open Publishing in 2012, further demonstrating their commitment to the educational publishing space. Speedinvest leverages a vast network of industry experts to assist their portfolio companies, enhancing their growth potential in the competitive tech landscape.


6. IBB Ventures


IBB Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1997. The firm specializes in early-stage financing and has invested in over 270 startups, providing not only capital but also expertise and resources to help these businesses thrive. Among their notable transactions in the educational sector, IBB Ventures has participated in funding rounds for Sofatutor, a German online tutoring platform that has raised multiple rounds of funding to enhance its educational offerings. Additionally, they have invested in Jurafuchs, a startup focused on legal education, which aims to expand its content and user base. These investments highlight IBB Ventures' active role in supporting innovative educational solutions, making them a significant player in the educational publishing landscape.


7. Point Nine

  • Website: pointnine.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: point-nine-capital

Point Nine is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2011. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies, particularly in the SaaS, enterprise software, and B2B marketplace sectors. They provide funding at the seed stage and are committed to participating in subsequent funding rounds to help startups access the capital needed for growth. Notably, Point Nine has invested in several educational technology companies, including Studocu, which raised €1.35M to expand its services abroad, and Brainly, a social learning network that has raised a total of $23 million across multiple funding rounds. Additionally, they invested in Grasp, an online learning platform that raised $4 million in a seed round. These transactions highlight Point Nine's engagement in the educational publishing and technology space, showcasing their interest in supporting innovative solutions in education.


8. Seedstars

  • Website: seedstars.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2012
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 6
  • LinkedIn: seedstars

Seedstars is a venture capital firm based in Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland, founded in 2012. The firm focuses on supporting startups and entrepreneurs in emerging markets through various programs, including acceleration and growth initiatives, investment readiness, and the operation of entrepreneurship hubs. Seedstars collaborates with governments, investors, and development agencies to foster entrepreneurial ecosystems and drive social and economic development. Notably, Seedstars has invested in several educational technology companies, including Orcas, an Egyptian live learning edtech startup that raised $2.1 million in a pre-series A funding round, and Edves, which received a grant of $50,000. These transactions reflect Seedstars' commitment to enhancing educational access and innovation in the regions they operate in.


9. Sictic

  • Website: sictic.ch
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2014
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 77
  • LinkedIn: sictic

SICTIC is a not-for-profit organization based in Zurich, Switzerland, that connects smart money investors with innovative Swiss early-stage technology startups. Founded in 2014, SICTIC provides investment opportunities, networking events, and educational resources to facilitate the growth of startups and the investment community. Among their notable transactions, they have invested in Taskbase, an edtech startup that raised CHF 1.3 million, highlighting their engagement in the educational technology space. Additionally, they have participated in funding rounds for other companies like Beekee and Get More Brain, which further emphasizes their focus on supporting educational initiatives and technology. This diverse portfolio showcases SICTIC's commitment to fostering innovation across various sectors, including education.


10. bmp Ventures

  • Website: bmp.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 1997
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: bmpventures

bmp Ventures AG is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1997. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage and growth startups across various innovative sectors, providing not only financial resources but also strategic advisory services to help startups navigate their growth journey. Their clientele primarily consists of tech companies and entrepreneurs seeking to develop and scale their business models. Notably, bmp Ventures has made significant investments in the educational publishing context, including brand eins Verlag, which raised funds in a seed round in 2011, and iversity, an online learning platform that raised funds in 2015. These transactions highlight bmp Ventures' commitment to supporting educational initiatives and technologies, making them a relevant player in the educational publishing industry.


11. W ventures

  • Website: wventures.jp
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 11
  • LinkedIn:

W Ventures GmbH is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2019. The firm specializes in providing investment and consulting services to startups and established businesses across various sectors, with a focus on accelerating digital business ideas from seed to growth. They offer expertise in strategy consulting, financial management, and project development. Notably, W Ventures has invested in several companies relevant to the educational sector, including Yondemy, which raised funds in seed rounds in 2020 and 2021, and Edukita, which raised an undisclosed amount in May 2024. These investments highlight W Ventures' commitment to supporting innovative educational solutions and technologies.


12. Calm/Storm

  • Website: calmstorm.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Founded year: 2020
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 13
  • LinkedIn: calm-storm

Calm/Storm Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Vienna, Austria, founded in 2020. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, primarily in health tech startups, and emphasizes supporting purpose-driven founders. Their portfolio includes diverse teams tackling sensitive health issues. Notably, Calm/Storm has invested in the Doshi App, which secured £1 million in a Pre-Seed round to extend its gamified learning experiences into financial services and develop AI-based features for personalized learning. This investment highlights their engagement in the educational publishing space, alongside other health tech ventures such as Clay and keleya.


13. Earlybird Venture Capital


Earlybird Venture Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 1997, based in Germany, that specializes in investing in European technology innovators. They provide financial resources and strategic support to startups, particularly in the digital health and deep tech sectors. Earlybird has been active in nurturing early-stage companies through funding and mentorship, helping them navigate growth challenges. Notably, they invested in Edyoucated, a corporate learning platform that raised €2.1 million in a funding round led by Earlybird, highlighting their engagement in the educational technology space. Additionally, they have participated in various other sectors, including media and content production, as seen in their investment in Curio, a subscription audio service. This diverse portfolio demonstrates Earlybird's capability and willingness to invest in innovative solutions across different industries, including education.



Educational Publishing Insights: Key Investors in DACH


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Bertelsmann Multimedia GmbhNeunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany10001+3
Holtzbrinck DigitalFlensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany1-1020100
HV CapitalFlensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany11-50200028
TA VenturesFrankfurt, Hesse, Germany11-5020105
SpeedinvestVienna, Vienna, Austria51-200201145
IBB VenturesBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50199718
Point NineBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201116
SeedstarsCarouge, Geneva, Switzerland201-50020126
SicticZurich, Zurich, Switzerland201-500201477
bmp VenturesBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-5019973
W venturesBerlin, Berlin, Germany1-10201911
Calm/StormVienna, Vienna, Austria1-10202013
Earlybird Venture CapitalGermany51-200199729


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