Holtzbrinck Digital is an investment company that focuses on digital businesses in the areas of science, education, and content.

Holtzbrinck Digital

Holtzbrinck Publishing Group

Our investment focus is on digital businesses in the fields of Science, Education and Content which is grounded in deep market understanding and strong domain expertise. With offices in Munich, London and Boston we follow a global approach and back convincing business models with our experience, network and background aiming for the next level of growth.

Partnering with the founders and management teams of our companies is key for us. We regularly work closely together and support with strategic and operational advice. The joined goal is to ensure operational success and to create economic value. 

As an investor we are rigorous regarding our investment fields, but flexible on the transaction size and the shareholding in the company. We invest in startups which have already achieved proof-of-concept, support later stage companies with growth capital and acquire profitable businesses with the potential to be leaders in their domestic or international market. Selected investments into dedicated and outperforming funds complement our investment strategy.

📔 Book publishing is a USD +130bn industry and offers tons of potential for innovation, ambitious startups and curious investors.

💡 Given our deep roots in the publishing industry, we tried to wrap our head around where traditional publishing comes from, what’s changing, what remains, and where trends and opportunities are.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
There are three specific trends and sectors within the publishing value chain of special interest:

🤖 GenAI: GenAI will transform the publishing process, streamlining workflows and supporting authors and editors. Creative Tools integrating AI safely and compliantly will add significant value in the writing process.

🖊️ Accessibility: The rise in self-publishing fueled by the array of tools and services that do not require traditional publishers. The number of self-published books has increases by 264% in the last five years.

📢 Influencer Marketing: Influencers and tastemakers drive sales, and engage Generation Z. Companies enhancing influencer-driven book sales are entering a growth market, offering significant value for publishers and marketers.

A special thanks to Daniela Breidenstein, Paul Böllhoff, Robin Augstein, Steffen Rau and Jannik von Wallis for their valuable insights and contributions to our discussion on the evolving trends in the publishing industry.

🔗 Find the link to the full article, including the market map, in the comments.

⭐ 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 20:20 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 ⭐ 

Thank you, Nic Newman, and the entire Emerge team for the exciting EdTech market map.  

It’s also wonderful to see our portfolio company AMBOSS, a leading knowledge platform in the medical space, recognized as a Top 10 Superstar 🚀

🎧 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧: Cool podcast from Dr. Sievert Weiss, Co-Founder of our portfolio company AMBOSS. Very valuable insights for anyone interested in learning how to transform an initially niche solution into a market leader💡.

We are proud to present a collaboration between Kimberly Breuer from our portfolio company Likeminded and Shu Wong as they explore the topic of mental health among founders.


Mental health is an important part of our wellbeing and we are proud to support Likeminded in their quest to increasing access to tools and support for employees

Link to article in the comments below ⬇ 

#mentalhealth #startups #venturecapital

🎉 We are proud to announce that our portfolio company Labguru (BioData) has found a new home with Battery Ventures.


⚗ By combining forces with Titian Software and Labguru (BioData), scientists can now look forward to the ultimate Tier-1 Lab Management Platform.


We wish Ariel Yarnitsky and Jonathan Gross and the Labguru (BioData) team continued success on their journey, and thank Marc-Orell Dedorath, Ellen Schrade, Nicole Zielinski and all involved parties for their work on the deal!


Official press release below ⬇ 
https://bit.ly/3JnTY8y

As Q1 draws to a close, we're thrilled to share an enlightening piece from TechCrunch that features insights from Jan Lynn-Matern from our latest fund Emerge Education on the evolving landscape of #edtech.

Jan's perspective offers valuable foresight into the trends and challenges that lie ahead. Whether you're an investor, educator, or tech enthusiast, this article provides a comprehensive survey that shouldn't be missed.

Link to the article in the comments below!

Our portfolio company Inkitt raised $37M in Series C funding, with Khosla Ventures leading the round, together with participation from New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Kleiner Perkins and Redalpine.

Congrats to Ali Albazaz and his wonderful team!

#startups #venturecapital

📚 How is generative AI changing Education?📚


We at Holtzbrinck Digital tried to wrap our heads around this topic and worked on a market map, consolidating start-ups operating exactly at the intersection of #ai and #education .


Find the link to the full article, including a start-up landscape, in the comments.

#edtech

👓 Introducing Apple Vision Pro: A Game-Changer in Educational Tech

The launch of Apple's Vision Pro, its new augmented reality (AR) headset, has generated significant enthusiasm regarding the revolutionary impact of AR in education. With its ability to seamlessly merge the digital and physical realms, Vision Pro is poised to inaugurate a fresh era of immersive and interactive learning.

🌐 Vision Pro at a Glance 🌐

🚀 Estimates suggest Apple has sold close to 180,000 Vision Pro units in pre-sale
📊 The tech giant is expected to ship and sell 600,000 headsets in 2024, compared with a prior expectation of 460,000

🎓 Apple’s Educational Mission 🎓

🌈 Vision Pro is Apple's ticket to revolutionizing education
💡 From classrooms to virtual expeditions, Vision Pro makes learning interactive and immersive
✨ Allows high-quality training in ways they’ve never been able to experience before

🏫 Potential Use Cases in Education 🏫

🤖 Interactive Learning: Apple's Vision Pro brings educational content to life, fostering active engagement through exploration and interaction in digital environments.
🌍 Immersive History Lessons: Students can experience historical events in a vivid, 360-degree view, making history more tangible and engaging.
🔬 Engaging Science Education: 3D models of cells and molecules allow students to explore scientific structures in detail, enhancing their comprehension.
🌌 Digital Expeditions: Enables virtual journeys to distant places and planets, overcoming physical and budgetary limitations of traditional field trips.
🤝 Enhanced Remote Learning: The headset bridges the gap in physical distance, maintaining the advantages of in-person interaction in virtual classrooms.
📚 Collaborative Learning: Promotes real-time sharing and collaboration among students and teachers through integration with Apple devices.
💼 Revolutionizing Apprenticeship and Training: Offers immersive training experiences in various fields, from medical to IT, providing practical, scenario-based learning.

⚠️ Challenges ⚠️

🚫 Netflix Inc., Spotify Technology SA and Google’s YouTube don’t plan to offer Vision Pro apps for their services, forcing users to see their content through the device’s web browser — a less immersive experience
💰 Price tag 3.500$ might hinder adoption for educational purpose
📚 A supplement to, not a replacement for, traditional educational methods.

🔥 The Bottom Line 🔥

The Apple Vision Pro isn't just another AR headset; it's an educational revolution in the making. Stay tuned for how it reshapes learning!
#AIinEducation #AppleVisionPro #VR #edtech

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