Fundraising FoxBerlin · Pre-Seed–Series A · 1 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Axel Springer Digital Ventures backs innovative and disruptive business models with strategic relevance to Axel Springer's core digital businesses. It primarily co-invests in Seed and Series A rounds in companies that have shown initial traction and a clear connection to Axel Springer's business areas, offering capital along with operational expertise and the group's international network. Its activities also span pre-seed investing (via APX and HEARTFELT_) and investments as a limited partner in venture capital funds across Europe, Israel, and the United States, weighing both financial returns and strategic value.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 1 people
from curatedWhat they invest in
from 13 of 16 portfolio companiesFintech ×4Marketplaces ×4Consumer ×3PropTech ×3Travel & Hospitality ×3AI & Machine Learning ×2EdTech ×2AdTech ×1
HQs:Germany×3United Kingdom×3United States×3Australia×1France×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 6 portfolio companiesWhere their founders studiedfrom 12 founders with education data
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München ×2University of St.Gallen ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 10 founders with field-of-study data
Business & Management ×4Computer Science ×2Design & Architecture ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 12 founders with career history
Microsoft ×3Benchmark ×2Google ×2Harvard University ×2Shopping.com ×2
Investments · 16 tracked
founders shown can be your intro path
Airbnb is an online marketplace that enables people to book and list accommodations for short-term rentals, experiences, and services around the world.
ConsumerMarketplacesTravel & HospitalitySan Francisco, US
Brian Chesky(Airbnb Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer)inNathan Blecharczyk(Airbnb Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer)inJoe Gebbia(Airbnb Co-founder)inBelinda Johnson(Executive Officer)inLaurence Tosi(Chief Financial Officer)inAndrew Swain(Executive Officer)in
Co-investors137 VenturesA.Capital VenturesA*ACME CapitalAglae VenturesAlign Ventures+73 more
Neighborhood social network; IPO 2021
AdTechSan Francisco, US
Nirav Tolia(Co-Founder, CEO, President & Chairperson of the Board)inSarah Leary(Co-Founder, Chief of Marketing, Community & Business Operations)inPrakash Janakiraman(Co-Founder & Chief Architect)inDavid Wiesen(Co-Founder (Engineering))inIndrajit Ponnambalam(Chief Financial Officer)Sarah Friar(Former CEO, President & Chairperson)in
Co-investorsBond Capital ManagementCoatue ManagementComcast VenturesCota CapitalDag VenturesDragoneer Investment Group+23 more
Uber operates a multi-sided platform providing ride-sharing, food delivery, freight logistics, and business fleet management services across various global markets.
Logistics & Supply ChainMarketplacesMobility & TransportationSan Francisco, US
Travis Kalanick(Co-founder; CEO until 2017)Garrett Camp(Co-founder)inGautam Gupta(Executive Officer)inJeffrey Holden(Executive Officer)David Plouffe(Executive Officer)inEmil Michael(Executive Officer)in
Co-investors137 Ventures3Spoke Capital408 VenturesA*ACME CapitalAcross Capital Partners+87 more
A platform that helps property owners and investors obtain commercial real estate financing through an online brokerage interface.
FintechPropTechBerlin, DE
Yann Basly(Founder)inMarcus Joachim(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsCaesar Business AngelsY CombinatorAtlantic LabsPeak State VenturesSTS Ventures GmbHVentureSouq
Inkitt is a digital publishing platform where writers can upload manuscripts for free while retaining full copyright, readers can discover and provide feedback on books without ads, and high-performing titles are published through the Galatea app.
Creator EconomyMedia & Entertainment
Ali Albazaz(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsCoastCapEarlybird Venture CapitalFrontline VenturesKhosla VenturesKleiner PerkinsNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)+6 more
N26 is a digital bank offering investment services including cryptocurrency trading, stock and ETF trading, ready-made funds, and automated savings plans through its mobile app.
FintechBerlin, DE
Valentin Stalf(Co-Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer)inMaximilian Tayenthal(Co-Founder, Former Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer)inMarcus W. Mosen(CEO)in
Co-investorsAllianz XArmada Investment AGCoatue ManagementEarlybird DWES Management GmbH & Co. KGEarlybird Venture CapitalG Squared+17 more
EdTechLewisham, AU
Co-investorsTechstarsBloomberg BetaPrecursor VenturesStripeVillage Global
Pico provides low-latency technology and connectivity services for financial markets clients, including its PicoNet fiber-optic network platform that delivers multi-asset market data and machine time analytics to colocated trading systems.
Cloud ComputingData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareFintech
Eric Harkness(President & CFO)inSeetharam Gorre(Chief Information Officer)inDavid Toomey(Chief Technology Officer)inHolly Meacham(Chief Sales Officer)inLauren Goldberg(General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer)inMatt Norman(Chief People Officer)in
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesLaunchCapitalPoint72 VenturesSimplex VenturesSquareOne CapitalWorldQuant Ventures+6 more
Proportunity offers home financing products that combine finance and technology to help buyers—particularly younger first-time buyers—afford homes sooner, aiming to make home ownership more accessible.
FintechPropTechLondon, GB
Vadim(Co-founder & CEO)inStefan(Co-founder & CTO)in
Co-investorsAnthemis VentureKibo VenturesTranspose Platform ManagementApolloBerggruen HoldingsVentureFriends
StudySmarter provides an intelligent note-taking application that helps students organize and create study materials from documents and expert-authored content.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerEdTech
Maurice Khudhir(Founder)inChristian Felgenhauer(Founder)in
Co-investorsDvH VenturesXPRENEURS2xNOwl Ventures
Wunderflats operates an online platform for renting furnished apartments, connecting tenants, landlords, and companies.
MarketplacesPropTechTravel & Hospitality
Co-investorsCreathor VenturesECONA AGPT1TA VenturesIBB VenturesVerdane
Borrow A Boat operates a global yacht and boat charter marketplace connecting boat owners and charter companies with people seeking to rent vessels of all types, from canal boats to luxury superyachts.
E-commerceMarketplacesTravel & Hospitality
Anna Banicevic(Founder)in
Co-investorsCurious Capital GmbH & Co. KGLiquidity CapitalPUSH VenturescoparionRevo Capital
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
InstaffParticleZenhomes
Exits · 4
3 IPOs · 1 acquisitions · showing 3Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Airbnb · news.airbnb.com · Sep 14, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Axel Springer Digital Ventures made?
- Axel Springer Digital Ventures has 16 tracked investments, 4 of which have exited.
- What stage does Axel Springer Digital Ventures invest at?
- Axel Springer Digital Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Axel Springer Digital Ventures focus on?
- Axel Springer Digital Ventures focuses on Media & Entertainment.
- Where is Axel Springer Digital Ventures located?
- Axel Springer Digital Ventures is headquartered in Berlin, DE.
- Does Axel Springer Digital Ventures lead rounds?
- Axel Springer Digital Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Axel Springer Digital Ventures co-invest with?
- Axel Springer Digital Ventures most often shares deals with Coatue Management, Earlybird Venture Capital, Insight Partners, among 46 tracked co-investors.
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