Key Takeaways
- • Bertelsmann Investments achieved 19% organic revenue growth in 2025, reaching €623 million (up from €563 million in 2024), with operating EBITDA adjusted improving to €84 million from €75 million, demonstrating profitable expansion across its portfolio.
- • BI expanded venture capital operations with two new thematic funds: Futurepresent (focused on AI and technology) and Bertelsmann Healthcare Investments (BHI), complementing existing regional vehicles Bertelsmann Asia Investments and Bertelsmann India Investments.
- • In 2025, BI completed 51 new investments and 23 follow-on investments through its venture capital activities, adding LetsTransport (a logistics marketplace) to its Bertelsmann Next growth unit in India as part of a strategic India expansion.
- • Since inception in 2006, BI has deployed approximately €2.3 billion in total investment volume (€2.1 billion in direct company and fund investments plus €200+ million in Bertelsmann Next growth businesses), with cumulative distributions of €1.5 billion.
- • Bertelsmann Next, BI's core growth platform spanning mobile ad tech, HR tech, pharma tech, and India-focused businesses, drove the primary revenue base, with organic revenues growing from €172 million in 2022 to €545 million in 2025—representing 47% average annual growth.
Summary
Bertelsmann Investments closed its 2025 financial year with strong profitability metrics, posting 19% organic revenue growth to €623 million while improving operating EBITDA adjusted to €84 million. The growth was primarily driven by Bertelsmann Next, BI's internal growth platform operating across mobile ad tech, HR tech, pharma tech, and India-based ventures. This performance underscores the firm's "company building" model, which CEO Carsten Coesfeld characterized as delivering "substantial profitable organic growth" in a challenging macroeconomic environment.
The investment arm executed significant portfolio expansion activity in 2025, completing 51 new investments and 23 follow-on investments across its venture capital operations. BI strategically deepened its India footprint by acquiring LetsTransport, a logistics marketplace, into its Bertelsmann Next growth unit—a move aligned with Coesfeld's stated commitment to "double down on India." Simultaneously, the firm established two new thematic venture capital vehicles: Futurepresent, targeting artificial intelligence and technology companies in the U.S. and Europe, and Bertelsmann Healthcare Investments (BHI), which consolidates all healthcare sector investment activities. These additions complement BI's existing regional investment platforms, Bertelsmann Asia Investments and Bertelsmann India Investments.
Since its 2006 launch, BI has invested approximately €2.3 billion in total (€2.1 billion in direct company and fund investments plus growth business capital), generating approximately €1.5 billion in cumulative distributions. The Bertelsmann Next platform itself illustrates the effectiveness of this approach: organic revenues grew from €172 million in 2022 to €545 million in 2025, representing a compound average annual growth rate of 47%. This trajectory positions BI's venture capital and growth equity activities as a material contributor to the broader Bertelsmann Group, which reported €19.0 billion in consolidated revenues for 2025 with 1.9% organic growth.
The investment arm executed significant portfolio expansion activity in 2025, completing 51 new investments and 23 follow-on investments across its venture capital operations. BI strategically deepened its India footprint by acquiring LetsTransport, a logistics marketplace, into its Bertelsmann Next growth unit—a move aligned with Coesfeld's stated commitment to "double down on India." Simultaneously, the firm established two new thematic venture capital vehicles: Futurepresent, targeting artificial intelligence and technology companies in the U.S. and Europe, and Bertelsmann Healthcare Investments (BHI), which consolidates all healthcare sector investment activities. These additions complement BI's existing regional investment platforms, Bertelsmann Asia Investments and Bertelsmann India Investments.
Since its 2006 launch, BI has invested approximately €2.3 billion in total (€2.1 billion in direct company and fund investments plus growth business capital), generating approximately €1.5 billion in cumulative distributions. The Bertelsmann Next platform itself illustrates the effectiveness of this approach: organic revenues grew from €172 million in 2022 to €545 million in 2025, representing a compound average annual growth rate of 47%. This trajectory positions BI's venture capital and growth equity activities as a material contributor to the broader Bertelsmann Group, which reported €19.0 billion in consolidated revenues for 2025 with 1.9% organic growth.
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