Bertelsmann is steadily expanding its global network of startup participations: After making more than 40 new investments in 2017, the media, services and education group again made around 40 new and follow-up investments in 2018 through the four funds that comprise its Bertelsmann Investments division.

The Series B round will be utilised for product investment and technological expansion

The company aims to leverage the capital infusion toward product technology, talent acquisition, and further expanding the 25 million Roposo community.

After nine months of 2018, the international media, services, and education company Bertelsmann continues to record a positive business performance, with revenue growth and operating EBITDA at a high level.

Bertelsmann is using its local fund in India to create strategic options for building digital business models. The Group has holdings in Pepperfry, the country’s leading online marketplace for furniture, and in the corporate training company Eruditus Executive Education.

With more than 300% percent growth year on year, Licious has etched its path to becoming India’s leading food brand operating in the fresh meat and seafood category.

Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), the strategic investment arm of the Germany based Bertelsmann SE & Co KGaA, launched its first podcast ‘Building It Up with Bertelsmann’ focusing on the growth-pangs of a start-up.

The key performance drivers were RTL Group; the music company BMG, which generated revenues of over €500 million for the first time; the services subsidiary Arvato; and the education activities pooled in the Bertelsmann Education Group.

With this new round of funding, the company’s cumulative equity and debt raising will exceed US$ 173 million (INR 1129 crores). The funds from this round will enable Lendingkart to further strengthen its technological and analytics capabilities.

Bertelsmann is stepping up its activities in India with follow-on investments in two digital startups: The international media, services and education company is participating in a $34-million round of financing for Treebo, an online marketplace for budget hotels, and in a round of approx. $10.5 million for the fintech company Lendingkart.