Euronews Ventures to launch a Media for Equity partnership for start-ups in Europe
Euronews concludes deals with its first fund partners: 5M Ventures and Nekko Capital to initiate its start-ups investment programme. It is part of its Diversification strategy to reinforce Euronews Ventures activities, its programme to back start-ups.
Lyon, France – 1st March 2018 – Euronews Ventures, the Euronews Group programme designed in 2016 to back start-ups that develop innovative products and services for consumers worldwide, opens its Media for Equity initiatives.
To launch a complementary offer joining together media with cash investment in start-ups, Euronews Group is partnering with two specialized and renowned funds: 5M Ventures, France’s leading Media for Equity fund and Nekko Capital, venture capital fund specialised in the internationalisation of start-ups across Europe and Asia.
Joint deals with respective funds will start in Q1 2018 with a main focus on consumer services & goods in financial, insurance, real-estate, mobility and travel.
As part of these partnerships, ads campaigns will be broadcast on the group’s TV and digital media (Euronews and Africanews) for a total amount of €5m over the next 2 years.
Michael Peters, CEO
“Since its inception, Euronews is always looking to develop new experiences to stay ahead of our business sector activity. For 25 years, we have met a lot of talented and ground-breaking entrepreneurs.
Today, I am very pleased that Euronews Group will participate in this smart and innovative model for start-ups, as Europe is leading the Media for Equity market.
With the support of our partners 5M Ventures and Nekko Capital, we will boost start-ups brand awareness and growth thanks to advertising space granted by Euronews. In return Euronews Group will take a minority stake in their equity.”
Europe’s Media for Equity market
The venture capital European market has been enjoying an impressive growth acceleration since 2013. Paris, London, Barcelona and Berlin are among the most dynamic European city hubs concentrating most of the €12.3bn funds raised by European venture capital firms in 2016 (1) and hosting major start-up accelerators.
Media groups have started taking part into that venture capital dynamic by launching start-up incubators and developing partnership models such as Media for Equity.
In Europe, 140 start-ups have benefited from 230 Media for Equity investments (2) up to date involving 20 major media companies (ProSiebenSat.1, Clear Channel, TF1 Group, Mediaset,…) and 10 active funds (5M Ventures, German Media Pool, Aggregate Media Funds…).