The scientific publishing industry in the DACH region, comprising Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, focuses on disseminating research findings and scientific knowledge. Companies operating here range from traditional publishers to innovative technology firms, offering platforms for research sharing, data analytics, and scholarly communications. With growing emphasis on open access and digital formats, the industry is evolving to enhance collaboration and improve researcher visibility. Initiatives such as preprint services and online repositories are gaining traction, driving a shift towards more accessible research outputs and fostering greater engagement among scientists, institutions, and the public. The future looks bright, embracing new technologies and methods.


In 2024, a variety of investors made significant strides in the DACH region's scientific publishing. With corporate entities like Novartis and Bertelsmann alongside venture capital firms such as Speedinvest and Cherry Ventures, these investors range from small teams to large firms. The investors vary in age, with some founded as early as 1847, while others emerged more recently in 2010. Notably, 2024 brought forth a substantial number of deals, reflecting a keen interest in supporting innovations in scientific publishing and allied sectors, ensuring that research continues to have a robust platform for dissemination and advancement.


Top 15 Scientific Publishing Investors in DACH


1. Novartis

  • Website: novartis.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Basel, Basel, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 1996
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: novartis

Novartis AG is a leading pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, founded in 1996. The company specializes in developing and manufacturing innovative medicines aimed at addressing serious diseases across various therapeutic areas. Novartis emphasizes research and development to improve patient outcomes and has made significant investments in companies that contribute to scientific advancements. Notably, Novartis has invested in Holmusk, a company focused on data analytics in healthcare, which raised $45 million in Series B funding in January 2023, and has also participated in funding rounds for SomaLogic, a company specializing in proteomic products for clinical and life science markets. These transactions highlight Novartis's commitment to supporting scientific innovation and research, reinforcing its role as a significant player in the scientific publishing landscape.


2. Holtzbrinck Digital


Holtzbrinck Digital is a venture capital firm based in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, founded in 2010. The firm focuses on 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 companies relevant to scientific publishing, including figshare, which raised funds in 2012 and provides a platform for researchers to share their work; Overleaf, which raised funds in 2014 and offers collaborative writing tools for scientific documents; and Altmetric, which raised funds in 2012 and tracks the impact of research outputs. Additionally, they invested in DeSci Labs in 2023, further emphasizing their commitment to the science and research sectors.


3. Verve Ventures

  • Website: verve.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 25
  • LinkedIn: investiere-venture-capital

Verve Ventures is a Zurich-based venture capital firm founded in 2010, specializing in deep tech investments across Europe. With a team size of 11-50, they provide funding and strategic support to science and technology startups, helping them grow in various markets. Their investment portfolio includes sectors such as climate tech, industrial technology, and health & bio. Notably, Verve Ventures has participated in significant funding rounds for companies like Scipio Bioscience, which focuses on biosciences, and InterAx Biotech, a spin-off from ETH Zürich and Paul Scherrer Institute, emphasizing their commitment to scientific innovation. They also invested in Qnami, a company developing quantum microscope technology, which has implications for advanced scientific research and publishing. These transactions highlight Verve Ventures' active role in supporting startups that contribute to scientific advancements, making them a relevant player in the scientific publishing landscape.


4. redalpine


Redalpine is a venture capital firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, founded in 2006. The firm specializes in investing in technology and science sectors, providing funding and strategic support to startups that address significant global challenges. Notably, Redalpine has been involved in multiple funding rounds for Morressier, a Berlin-based startup focused on scholarly publishing. They participated in Morressier's Seed Round in 2017, followed by Series A and Series B rounds in 2021 and 2024, respectively. These investments highlight Redalpine's commitment to fostering innovation in the scientific publishing industry, particularly in enhancing research integrity and product innovation. Their portfolio also includes investments in other sectors, but their active role in Morressier underscores their relevance to scientific 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 startups scale their operations. Their investment focus spans various technology sectors, including Deep Tech, Fintech, and SaaS. Notably, Speedinvest has participated in several transactions relevant to the scientific publishing industry, such as their investment in Seqera Labs, which raised €22 million in a Series A funding round aimed at expanding its product lineup in the life sciences sector. Additionally, they invested in Open Publishing, a company that directly engages with scientific publishing. These transactions highlight Speedinvest's engagement with companies that contribute to scientific research and data collaboration, reinforcing their relevance in this field.


6. BlueYard Capital

  • Website: blueyard.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: blueyard-capital

BlueYard Capital is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in early-stage investments across a variety of innovative sectors, including cryptocurrency, biotechnology, and engineering. BlueYard Capital aims to support entrepreneurs by providing funding and resources to develop groundbreaking technologies that address significant global challenges. Notably, their portfolio includes investments in companies like Chemify, which focuses on chemical synthesis and innovation, and Zafrens, a multi-modality drug discovery company. These investments highlight BlueYard's engagement in sectors that are integral to scientific research and publishing, as they contribute to advancements in biotechnology and drug discovery.


7. 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 funding but also expertise and resources to help these businesses thrive in competitive markets. Among their notable transactions, IBB Ventures has invested in Labforward, which raised significant funding in Series B rounds, and Aignostics, a computational pathology company that has received multiple rounds of funding, including a recent €14 million Series A round. These investments highlight IBB Ventures' focus on innovative technologies that are integral to scientific research and publishing, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and AI-driven solutions.


8. Possible Ventures

  • Website: possible.ventures
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
  • Founded year: 2021
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: possible-vc

Possible Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, founded in 2021. The firm has a small team and has been active in various investment rounds, with a total of 9 investments in 2024 alone. Notably, Possible Ventures has participated in funding rounds for companies like Inventia Life Science, a biomedical research company that raised $25 million in a Series B funding round, and Chemify, which raised $43 million in a Series A funding round focused on chemical research. Additionally, they were involved in the funding of Zafrens, a drug discovery company, which raised $23 million. These investments highlight Possible Ventures' engagement in sectors that are integral to scientific research and publishing.


9. 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 exceeding 10,000, Bertelsmann operates across various sectors, including television, streaming, book publishing, and music production. Notably, Bertelsmann has made significant strides in the publishing industry through its acquisitions of major publishers such as Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, which are influential players in the book publishing market, including educational and potentially scientific content. These acquisitions aim to enhance Bertelsmann's market presence, particularly in the U.S. Furthermore, their investment in Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. indicates a strategic interest in accessing diverse publishing markets, including Japan's. While Bertelsmann's investments are not exclusively in scientific publishing, their involvement in educational content and major publishing houses positions them as a relevant player in the broader publishing landscape.


10. Amino Collective


Amino Collective is a Berlin-based venture capital firm founded in 2020, dedicated to supporting innovative founders and radical ideas. The firm aims to provide funding and guidance to entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the challenges of bringing their concepts to market. With a philosophy centered on change and freedom, Amino Collective positions itself as a partner for those looking to disrupt traditional norms. Notably, Amino Collective has participated in funding rounds for companies like Seqera Labs, which focuses on bioinformatics and data analysis in genomics, and Nostos Genomics, a company that is involved in genomic research. These investments highlight Amino Collective's engagement with the scientific community, particularly in areas that intersect with scientific publishing and research.


11. Cherry Ventures

  • Website: cherry.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2012
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 25
  • LinkedIn: cherry-ventures

Cherry Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in early-stage investments across Europe, providing capital, mentorship, and resources to innovative startups. With a focus on sectors such as SaaS and mobility, Cherry Ventures aims to support companies that create lasting impacts in their industries. Notably, they have participated in multiple funding rounds for Morressier, a Berlin-based startup that raised $16.5 million in a Series B round in January 2024, $18 million in a Series A round in May 2021, and $4.5 million in a Seed round in December 2018. Morressier's mission to enhance research integrity and innovate within the scientific publishing domain highlights Cherry Ventures' involvement in this sector. Additionally, they have invested in other companies like Curio, although it is not directly related to scientific publishing.


12. Siemens

  • Website: siemens.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
  • Founded year: 1847
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 11
  • LinkedIn: siemens

Siemens AG is a leading technology conglomerate based in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, specializing in industrial automation, energy solutions, rail transport, and health technology. Founded in 1847, Siemens operates globally with approximately 320,000 employees and generates significant revenue. In 2024, Siemens has been active in various investments, including a notable acquisition of Dotmatics, a Boston-based provider of Life Sciences R&D software, for US$5.1 billion. This acquisition aims to enhance Siemens' Digital Twin technology and AI-powered software offerings in the Life Sciences sector, which is relevant to scientific research and publishing. Additionally, Siemens has been involved in other transactions, such as acquiring Industrial Process Machinery to expand its product line in the mining sector, and providing grants to educational institutions like Swinburne University of Technology, which may indirectly support scientific research initiatives.


13. b2venture

  • Website: b2venture.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: btovpartners

b2venture is a venture capital firm based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, founded in 2000. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in innovative startups across various sectors, providing financial backing and support to entrepreneurs. They collaborate with a community of angel investors, enhancing their investment strategy and positioning them as a key player in the European venture capital landscape. Notable transactions include investments in LynxCare, which raised €20M to support its international rollout in health tech, and NVision Imaging Technologies, which raised $26M for its Series B funding. These investments highlight b2venture's engagement in sectors that are relevant to scientific research and publishing, particularly in health technology and data science.


14. Grazia Equity

  • Website: grazia.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  • Founded year: 1998
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: grazia-equity

Grazia Equity GmbH is a venture capital firm based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, founded in 1998. The firm specializes in providing investment management services to startups and entrepreneurs, focusing on funding innovative businesses across various sectors. Grazia Equity has been involved in several notable transactions, including investments in ZAGENO, a life science research product marketplace, which raised significant funding rounds (including $60 million in Series C and $20 million in Series B) to expand its operations in the United States and Europe. This involvement highlights Grazia's commitment to supporting companies that facilitate scientific research and publishing, making them a relevant player in this space. Other investments include Statista, a data and statistics platform, which, while not directly a scientific publisher, contributes to the dissemination of research data.


15. LBBW Venture Capital GmbH

  • Website: lbbwvc.de
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  • Founded year: 1998
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: lbbw-venture-capital-gmbh

LBBW Venture Capital GmbH is a venture capital firm based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, founded in 1998. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in disruptive IT and life science companies, providing both capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs. Notably, LBBW has participated in several significant transactions, including a €2.5M Series A funding round for PressMatrix, a Berlin-based provider of digital publishing solutions, which highlights their engagement in the publishing sector. Additionally, they have invested in companies like Biametrics, which focuses on life science analytical devices, and Exciva, a clinical biotech firm. Their diverse portfolio reflects a commitment to innovation across various sectors, including those that intersect with scientific publishing.



Scientific Publishing Insights: Key Investors in DACH


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
NovartisBasel, Basel, Switzerland10001+19967
Holtzbrinck DigitalFlensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany1-1020100
Verve VenturesZurich, Zurich, Switzerland11-50201025
redalpineZurich, Zurich, Switzerland11-50200618
SpeedinvestVienna, Vienna, Austria51-200201145
BlueYard CapitalBerlin, Berlin, Germany1-1020169
IBB VenturesBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50199718
Possible VenturesMunich, Bavaria, Germany1-1020219
Bertelsmann Multimedia GmbhNeunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany10001+3
Amino CollectiveBerlin, Berlin, Germany1-1020204
Cherry VenturesBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201225
SiemensMunich, Bavaria, Germany10001+184711
b2ventureSt. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland11-50200015
Grazia EquityStuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany11-5019983
LBBW Venture Capital GmbHStuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany1-1019985


Want to find more investors focusing on the scientific publishing industry?

If you want to find more investors that are active in the scientific publishingindustry, you can do that with Inven. We built this list and analysis throughInven's Investor Search, and there are a lot more private equity, venturecapital, and corporate investors like these globally.

With Inven, you'll also get to know:

  • Deal History: Number of deals and their sizes.
  • Portfolio: Companies they've invested in.
  • Contact data: Key dealmakers, including their emails and phonenumbers.
  • ...and much more!