Wonderz closes Pre-Series A funding round for its new WunderBox content distribution platform
August 4th, 2021 - The Berlin-based SaaS start-up Wonderz closes a successful seven-digit pre-Series A funding round to expand its digital distribution platform WunderBox bringing together IBB Ventures, JCMB, Scope Hanson and Janosch film & medien AG as investors.
With renowned international clients such as Skyship Entertainment, Canada and Warner Media, EMEA already using the company’s WunderBox service, this fresh capital now enables the next growth step for the company: Wonderz can push ahead with the democratisation of digital content distribution.
The goals are to expand the feature set of the WunderBox software and to launch the first self-service version. In addition, the funding will also be used to scale up sales, marketing and support teams.
"With the help of the investment, we will automate WunderBox to the point where customers can easily create, publish and update apps directly from our website," said Sebastian Wehner, CEO and co-founder of Wonderz”
The digital distribution solution provided by Wonderz has become even more relevant because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last few years the market had already been shifting from the dominance of the large platforms to a variety of independent direct-to-consumer solutions. The pandemic has simply accelerated this process. "We have found that content creators and owners have a very strong need to find a new and independent way to distribute their products," added Sebastian Wehner. "We are providing them with an easy and lucrative way to do this"
"The very experienced team, the renowned international customers and the high quality of the product convinced us to support Wonderz in realizing their vision," said Rayk Reitenbach, Investment Director at IBB Ventures.
"There is a really unique opportunity here to drive the democratisation of the content market with a platform offering content creators the possibility to market their content. Shopify, for example, has shown the way forward in the e-commerce vertical so that technology providers like Wonderz can bring about real change in the market and add value," added Philipp Roth, Investment Manager at Scope Hanson.
The Software-as-a-Service platform, WunderBox enables content creators to publish their content on mobile devices (Android, iOS) and AppleTV. Users can use this platform without having to manage a special development team. Book publishers, TV broadcasters, influencers, film, game and TV producers can diversify their content offering with little financial risk and reach audiences worldwide. This broadens brand awareness for the content and leads to a significant increase in new revenue.Through its ease of use and support of a wide variety of formats (audio, interactive books, games, video)
About Wonderz
Wonderz GmbH was founded in Berlin in February 2017 with a mission to democratise the distribution of digital content. With WunderBox, its flexible distribution platform for Android, iOS and tvOS, creators can distribute mult-imedia content (audio, e-books, games and video) directly to their customers.
Press contact
Anastasia Rother / Sebastian Wehner
Wonderz GmbH
Köpenicker Str. 148
10997 Berlin
Phone: +49 (30) 95 999 63 00
pr@wonderz.eu
About IBB Ventures
IBB Ventures has been providing venture capital to innovative Berlin-based companies since 1997 and has established itself as the market leader in early stage financing. The funds are primarily used for development and market launch of innovative products or services as well as for business concepts from creative industries. Two funds with a total value of EUR 100 million are currently in the investment phase. Both VC funds are financed by the Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the State of Berlin.
In addition, IBB Ventures invests in startups affected by the Corona crisis from its "Corona Aid for Startups" programme. IBB Ventures has already invested in more than 240 creative and technology companies in Berlin; in syndicates with partners, the start-ups received approximately EUR 1.62 billion, of which IBB Ventures has invested EUR 240 million as lead, co-lead or co-investor. IBB Ventures is the umbrella brand for the VC activities of IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft.
Contact
Rayk Reitenbach
IBB Ventures
Bundesallee 210
10719 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0)30 2125 3201
info@ibbventures.de
www.ibbventures.de
About Janosch film und medien AG
Janosch film & medien AG holds comprehensive rights to the works of the well-known author and illustrator Janosch. In addition to exploiting the Janosch rights, we are increasingly involved in the development of new character worlds and as an investor in interesting young companies.
Contact
Janosch film & medien AG
Hans Häge
Oranienburger Str. 27
10117 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0)30 28093243
info@janosch-medien.de
About JCMB
JCMB from Hamburg invests as a single-family office in young companies with scalable business models. As entrepreneurs ourselves, we have been "in the shoes" of the founders several times and invest in exceptional and complementary teams in early phases in order to move big things together.
Contact
Marcel Uhlemann
JCMB Beteiligungs GmbH
Kleine Johannisstr. 6
20457 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 7344 098 75
marcel.uhlemann@jcmb.de
About Scope Hanson
Scope Hanson is the investment company of the Bremke family office and invests in strong entrepreneurs who develop and implement business ideas with high potential. As a business partner, we always act with an entrepreneurial mindset and aim to create sustainable, successful companies and values. Fundamentally, we invest both debt and equity capital and focus on three areas: real estate projects, medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. As an integral part of the Bremke Family office, we champion trust, a young spirit and values based on good partnerships.
Contact
Philipp Roth
Scope Hanson
Alt-Moabit 103 (Courtyard)
10559 Berlin
Phone: +49 151 4074 7785
pr@scopehanson.com