Vertical Media

Vertical Media GmbH operates as a digital media house with a clear focus on Germany's startup and digital sectors. Established in Berlin, the company is primarily known for producing and marketing media content and developing internet platforms tailored to the business start-up community. The firm's journey began with the reorganization of Gründerszene in 2008, a platform initially started as a personal blog by Lukasz Gadowski in 2006. Mark Hoffmann is noted as a co-founder of Vertical Media. Before his involvement with the company, Hoffmann's career included roles at ESL-TV, GIGA Digital, and Fyber.

The company's business model encompasses a range of media products and services. It publishes several online magazines, including its flagship Gründerszene.de, VentureVillage (its former English-language counterpart), NGIN-Food.com, and NGIN-Mobility.com. These platforms serve an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers within the digital economy by providing relevant news, analyses, and background reports. Beyond digital publishing, Vertical Media generates revenue through a job board that connects talent with startups and by organizing prominent industry events. These events include the HEUREKA Conference, the "Spätschicht" networking series, and CEO dinners, which facilitate connections between founders, investors, and media representatives.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by Axel Springer SE in June 2014, which purchased nearly 90% of the shares. This move integrated Vertical Media into Axel Springer's WELT Group, aiming to expand its footprint in digital economy journalism. Co-founder Mark Hoffmann retained the remaining shares and continued as CEO for a period before transitioning to a different role within Axel Springer in 2018. In April 2020, a further strategic consolidation occurred when Vertical Media and its flagship brand Gründerszene were merged with Business Insider Deutschland, another Axel Springer entity. This was done to strengthen journalistic efforts and broaden the business model, while Gründerszene was maintained as an independent brand.

Keywords: digital media, Gründerszene, startup news, tech journalism, Berlin media house, digital economy, entrepreneurship, venture capital events, NGIN Mobility, NGIN Food, Axel Springer, media acquisition, online magazines, founder conference, tech events, German startups, digital publishing, business networking, VentureVillage, Spätschicht, HEUREKA Conference