RTL Deutschland Launches RTL Ventures
RTL Deutschland has launched its own investment fund: RTL Ventures will support start-ups with capital and media exposure. RTL Ventures will focus on European consumer tech companies with relevant growth potential in the German-speaking territories.
RTL Deutschland has set up a new unit, RTL Ventures, to invest in consumer tech companies. The idea is to build up a portfolio of innovative European firms with the long-term aspiration of becoming market leaders in their category, and for which the German-speaking countries (DACH or GSA) offers relevant growth potential. According to RTL, the RTL Ventures investment team can draw on substantial cash and media resources to achieve this.
RTL Ventures offers the companies in its portfolio access to strong media brands such as RTL, VOX, NTV, Stern, and Gala across a wide range of media: TV, ATV, digital, and print. Its key asset is large audience reach in different target groups, which will help the companies build and scale up their brands during the growth phase with a marketing mix.
The investments are the responsibility of a separate team led by Beate Koch. Ute Henzgen and her Unit 3 team are responsible for media performance and media consulting for the investments. Urs Cete, Managing Partner of the Bertelsmann Investment Fund BDMI, will be part of the RTL Ventures investment committee with his many years of experience and will work with the investment team.
Beate Koch, Senior Vice President Growth & Investments at RTL Deutschland, commented: “Launching RTL Ventures gives us the opportunity to develop a new portfolio at an ideal time in the market. We will invest with a focus on yield, independence and partnership, and will always be there for our entrepreneurs. I’m delighted that we will benefit from the support provided by Urs Cete and his team at BDMI. We have big plans for the near future.”
Ute Henzgen, General Director Sales at Ad Alliance Unit 3, said: “We have been working closely and successfully with German and international start-ups and e-commerce businesses for the past decade, and have a wide-reaching portfolio and a wealth of experience. We know the right media strategies to adopt, as well as providing assistance and advice. Our partners stay with us long-term because we give them all the ingredients for a successful partnership: publicity, branding and performance. We look forward to passing this experience on to new entrepreneurs.”
