The Local
The Local Europe AB is a Stockholm-based digital media company publishing English-language news, practical guides, and editorial coverage across nine European country editions (Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Norway) for English-speaking expatriates and international residents, monetized through annual memberships, corporate memberships, advertising, and a recruitment jobs portal.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Local does
The Local is a privately held digital media company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden (The Local Europe AB, Västmannagatan 43), that operates multi-edition English-language news publications for nine European country markets — Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and Norway — each delivered through a country-specific domain (e.g., thelocal.se, thelocal.de, thelocal.fr) and unified under a single membership and brand. It is led by CEO and Publisher James Savage. Its product surface consists of a core news and guides website built on a standard CMS, native mobile applications on iOS and Android, a jobs marketplace portal (jobs.thelocal.com) where employers can post recruitment advertisements, and an audio extension via the Talking France podcast.
The company serves English-speaking expatriates and international residents living across Europe who need local news, practical information (housing, taxation, citizenship, employment), and cultural context in English. Its content combines breaking and editorial coverage with evergreen practical guides and is produced by locally based editors who write in English. Distribution is primarily organic via SEO, country-domain SEO, email newsletters, and apps, supplemented by social media.
The Local operates a hybrid revenue model: (1) individual recurring annual membership subscriptions that unlock premium content behind a paywall, with free articles available to non-members; (2) corporate membership packages sold to businesses; (3) third-party display and targeted advertising (with IAB Europe TCF consent management); and (4) recruitment-advertising revenue through its jobs portal. The company is GDPR- and CCPA-compliant, uses Google reCAPTCHA for spam protection, and has participated in three disclosed funding rounds between 2007 and 2011 (totaling roughly $3.94M from IQube, The Sixth AP Fund, and Almi Invest) plus a 2008 acquisition of Toytown Germany.
The Local firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Local
- Legal name
- The Local Europe AB
- Website
- https://thelocal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Local Europe AB is a Stockholm-based digital media company publishing English-language news, practical guides, and editorial coverage across nine European country editions (Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Norway) for English-speaking expatriates and international residents, monetized through annual memberships, corporate memberships, advertising, and a recruitment jobs portal.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Local industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online News Publishing
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (51311), Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB), Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers (MPAJADAG)
Keywords
Where The Local is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stockholm
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Local business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: The Local generates revenue through individual membership subscriptions that provide access to exclusive articles and content, with free content available to non-members. The company also offers corporate membership packages for businesses.
- Advertising: The site displays third-party advertising from external advertising companies, using cookies for targeted advertisements based on user visits across sites.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual membership with access to exclusive content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Local product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Local publishes English-language news, opinion, and practical guides across nine country-specific European editions (Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Norway). Its core offering combines free editorial coverage with a paid individual and corporate membership that unlocks member-exclusive analysis and the Talking France podcast. The company has reported approximately 50,000 supporters/members and distributes content via the web and mobile apps.
Product overview
The Local is a multi-edition English-language news publication offering coverage of European countries (Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and Norway). The product portfolio consists of a core news website with localized editions, a mobile app available on iOS and Android platforms, a membership subscription service providing exclusive content, and a jobs portal for European employment opportunities. The company operates under a franchise model with country-specific editions (e.g., thelocal.se for Sweden, thelocal.de for Germany, etc.).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Local News Website (multi-edition) Multi-edition English-language news publication providing news, opinion, analysis, and practical guides about nine European countries, with country-specific domains and a unified editorial brand.
- The Local Mobile App Native mobile applications available on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, providing English-speaking readers access to The Local's European news, opinion, and practical-guide content on smartphones and tablets.
- The Local Membership Recurring annual subscription offering with individual and corporate access tiers that unlocks exclusive editorial content, member-only analysis, and an enhanced reading experience across all country editions.
- The Local Jobs Portal Employment portal where employers can post job advertisements aimed at English-speaking job seekers across The Local's European audience, with the public-facing job listings surfaced via a dedicated Jobs tag on the news site.
- Talking France Podcast Audio podcast covering French politics and current events, produced by The Local's France editorial team and distributed to the brand's English-speaking audience.
Companies that use The Local
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Local technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
The Local partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RDC DeutschlandcoreRDC Deutschland is the German partner of Swedish train company SJ, which took over operation of the Stockholm-Berlin EuroNight train route after SJ discontinued it. The partnership ensures continued international rail connectivity.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Local competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Local social profiles
Digital presenceThe Local compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Local financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Local leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Local funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Local M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Local
What does The Local do?
The Local publishes English-language news, opinion, and practical guides across nine country-specific European editions (Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Norway). Its core offering combines free editorial coverage with a paid individual and corporate membership that unlocks member-exclusive analysis and the Talking France podcast. The company has reported approximately 50,000 supporters/members and distributes content via the web and mobile apps.
Is The Local a public or private company?
The Local is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The Local founded?
The Local was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Local based?
The Local is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does The Local make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising.
Does The Local have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Local.
What industry is The Local in?
The Local's product category is Online News Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAA, National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital), with a secondary code of MPAJADAB, Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital). Its NAICS code is 51311 and its SIC code is 2711.