What Müller Medien does

Müller Medien is a family-owned, Nuremberg-headquartered media company founded in 1950 that operates as a federation of more than 100 partner companies across 26+ domestic and international locations. The group spans publishing (notably TESSLOFF Verlag and the WAS IST WAS brand, which has sold over 100 million copies), SME digitalization services (SELLWERK with 150,000+ members), freelancing platforms (freelancermap), broadcasting (over 40 years as a pioneer in German private radio and television), and healthcare/directory digital assets built through a sustained acquisition program from 2014 onward.

The company's product portfolio combines legacy media IP (children's book publishing, radio/TV channels) with operating platforms that aggregate and serve Germany's small and medium enterprise (SME) segment. Under the "müller x net" framing, the group functions as an "international family of companies" connecting more than 200,000 SMEs across its network, with technology stack investments in SME digital marketing tools, online directories, and — most recently — an investment in Mozaik, an AI-powered corporate video platform.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across publishing royalties and book sales, subscription/membership fees from SELLWERK's 150,000+ member base, advertising across broadcasting and digital properties, and platform/directory monetization through acquired healthcare and digital directory assets (ARZTE.DE, Arzttermine.de, FAIRRANK, Portal United, DS Digitale Seiten, Kyto). Go-to-market is primarily B2B for SME digital services and B2C for publishing, with continued M&A as a core inorganic growth lever led by a dedicated Head of New Business / M&A function.

Name

Müller Medien

Legal name

Müller Medien

Website

https://mueller-medien.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Müller Medien is a family-owned German media group operating 100+ partner companies across publishing (TESSLOFF, WAS IST WAS), SME digitalization (SELLWERK), freelancing (freelancermap), and broadcasting, serving over 200,000 SMEs through its network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media and Publishing Services

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (51321), Software Publishers (513210), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM & Engineering Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Author Website, Storefront & Direct-to-Reader Commerce (D2C Sales) (MPAJAJAE), Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers) (MPAJAJAL)

Keywords

• Media publishing services
• Business network platform
• SME digitalization services
• Educational book publishing
• Private broadcasting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nuremberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Core offering

Müller Medien (operating as müller x net) is a family-owned German media and publishing group that runs an international network of partner companies serving over 200,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. Its portfolio includes educational publishing (TESSLOFF Verlag / WAS IST WAS), SME digitalization services (SELLWERK), and a freelancer platform (freelancermap), backed by more than 40 years of heritage in private radio and television. The group supports start-ups, young companies, and established firms through partnership, M&A, and growth concepts.

Product overview

Müller x net operates as a multi-brand portfolio/network platform that serves as a home for people and brands who see change as an opportunity. The company maintains a portfolio of subsidiary and partner brands including TESSLOFF Verlag (with its flagship WAS IST WAS educational publishing series), SELLWERK (a digitalization network for businesses with over 150,000 members), and freelancermap (a leading freelancer platform). The network leverages 75 years of experience, SME expertise, and connections to over 200,000 small and medium-sized enterprises to promote innovative growth concepts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• müller x net International family of companies network platform that serves as a home for people and brands who view change as an opportunity, connecting start-ups, SMEs, and established companies to a network of 200,000+ SMEs and 100+ partner companies.
• TESSLOFF Verlag (WAS IST WAS) Educational book publishing brand best known for the WAS IST WAS series, with 100M+ copies in circulation, focused on product innovations and social commitment for children and general readers.
• SELLWERK Digitalization network for SMEs, evolved from a telephone directory, offering digital solutions and services for businesses with over 150,000 members.
• freelancermap Online platform connecting freelancers with project opportunities, scaled from an initial idea to a leading marketplace for freelance work.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Upwork: Global freelancer marketplace platform. Directly comparable as the primary global competitor to freelancermap, illustrating the platform-economy competition Müller Medien's marketplace business faces.
• Haufe Group: German family-owned media, publishing, and business services platform of comparable scale (~1,500+ employees). Most directly comparable as a fellow DACH SME-services conglomerate; also co-invested alongside Müller Medien in Mozaik, confirming the close ecosystem adjacency.

Broad incumbents

• Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck: German family-owned publishing group with book publishing, newspapers (Die ZEIT), and digital investments. Comparable as a multi-decade family publishing business with a portfolio approach to media assets.
• Axel Springer: Major German media company with digital publishing (BILD, WELT) and classifieds platforms. Comparable as a German media house transitioning legacy print assets into digital platforms serving consumers and SMEs.
• Funke Mediengruppe: German family-owned regional newspaper and magazine publisher with growing digital services portfolio. Comparable in family ownership, German market focus, and the print-to-digital pivot.
• Bertelsmann: Largest German family-owned media conglomerate spanning publishing (Penguin Random House), broadcasting (RTL), and services. Comparable as a family-controlled multi-vertical media platform, though materially larger and globally diversified.
• Bauer Media Group: European family-owned publisher with magazines, digital audio, and comparison platforms. Comparable as a multi-country publisher with portfolio diversification and SME/comparison services.
• Hubert Burda Media: German family-owned media company with magazines, digital marketplaces, and investments. Comparable as a family-controlled diversified media house with international footprint and an active investment arm.
• Ströer SE & Co. KGaA: German public-listed digital and out-of-home media company with local SME advertising platform (Stroeer Digital Media). Comparable as a DACH media company focused on local/SME digital advertising.

Regional players

• Ringier AG: Swiss family-owned media company operating across DACH, Eastern Europe, and Africa with classifieds and marketplaces. Comparable as a family-controlled DACH-rooted media conglomerate running digital marketplaces.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MuellerMedien

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments42 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Müller Medien