Bertelsmann Investments (BI) made 54 new and 31 follow-on investments in companies and funds in the past financial year. BI pools Bertelsmann’s global venture capital activities and the newly created growth unit Bertelsmann Next, which advances the entrepreneurial development of new growth sectors and lines of business for Bertelsmann. Here, BI strengthened its commitment in the Digital Health business especially, through various fund and direct investments totaling €60 million.
Carsten Coesfeld, CEO of Bertelsmann Investments, said: “Bertelsmann Investments had a successful year in 2022 with a high level of investment activity. In the current financial year, besides investing in our funds, we will place a special emphasis on Bertelsmann Next. The main focus in the expansion of our new growth areas is on digital health, where we see great potential, especially in the U.S.”
Bertelsmann Next investments included capital commitments to the General Catalyst, YZR, and Rock Health funds, as well as acquisitions of shares in innovative healthcare companies including Ada Health, a symptom checker app, and SubjectWell, a pharmaceutical services provider. Additional investments were made earlier this year in Paytient, a provider of patient financing solutions, and in the radiology AI company Deepc.
Deniz Pielsticker, CFO of Bertelsmann Investments, explains: “Under the Group’s Boost and Next programs, Bertelsmann Investments will invest substantially in the establishment and expansion of growing companies worldwide in the years ahead. In doing so, we invest according to clearly defined criteria and aim to achieve a sustainable increase in the value of our investment portfolio.”
more at: https://www.bertelsmann.com/news-and-media/news/bertelsmann-investments-plans-to-continue-high-investment-activity-in-2023.jsp?atn=2862170&abp=2862170,2862222,