Axel Springer expands digital publishing empire with acquisition of VentureVillage, Gründerszene publisher Vertical Media

German media juggernaut Axel Springer has acquired 90% of the shares of Vertical Media, a Berlin-based digital media company that publishes English-language local startup blog VentureVillage and its big German-speaking sister, Gründerszene.

The rest of the shares will be held by co-founder Mark Hoffmann, who will stay on board as managing director. The price of the acquisition was not disclosed.

**Update:** "credible sources" tell Meedia the acquisition price was in the 'low single-digit millions'.

Gründerszene was started in 2006 as a personal blog of Internet entrepreneur and investor Lukasz Gadowski. In 2008, Vertical Media was established by the investment company he co-founded, Team Europe.

Aside from the media properties, Vertical Media also organises startup events such as Heureka! and Spätschicht. The freshly acquired company employs 30 people (including freelancers).

**Also read:** Axel Springer’s revenue jumps 4.4% to €692.3 million

(Via @EU_startups)

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