RTL Deutschland sets up media tech investment outfit

RTL Deutschland has set up a new unit, RTL Ventures, to invest in consumer tech companies.

Beate Koch & Ute Henzgen

The media outfit said the aim of the move is to build up a portfolio of innovative European firms that could be market leaders in their field the long term and which have strong prospects in the German-speaking part of Europe.

RTL said its investment team will be able to call on substantial cash and media resources.

RTL Ventures will give the companies in its portfolio access to media brands including RTL, VOX, ntv, Stern and Gala with a large audience reach in different target groups, which it said will help the companies build and scale up their brands during the growth phase as part of a marketing mix. Ute Henzgen, general director sales at Ad Alliance Unit 3 and her team are responsible for media performance and media consulting for the investments

The investments themselves are the responsibility of a separate team led by Beate Koch, SVP, growth and investments at RTL Deutschland.

Urs Cete, managing partner of the Bertelsmann Investment Fund BDMI, will be part of the RTL Ventures investment committee and will work together with the investment team.

Koch said: “By launching RTL Ventures, we have the chance 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’ll have the benefit of the support provided by Urs Cete and his team at BDMI. We have big plans for the near future.”

Henzgen said: “We’ve 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 huge wealth of experience. We know the right media strategy to adopt, as well as providing assistance and advice. Our partners stay with us for the 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.”