What Investigate Europe does

Investigate Europe is a Germany-based nonprofit cross-border investigative journalism network that produces in-depth reporting on EU affairs, transparency, corporate accountability, environment, health, technology, and social justice. The organization operates a transnational team of reporters, editors, and producers who collaborate on stories that span multiple European countries and that national media outlets cannot address alone. Its core product is the Investigate Europe website publishing investigative articles, multimedia content, and themed series (Shady Bets, Exporting Surveillance, Secrets of the Council podcast), supplemented by a GlobaLeaks Tor-encrypted whistleblower submission platform, multilingual newsletters, and a donation program.

Investigate Europe distributes its investigations through a network of 15+ media partners across Europe, including Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), The Guardian (UK), Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy), Público (Portugal), Reporters United (Greece), infoLibre (Spain), ARTE Journal (France/Germany), IRPI Media (Italy), and Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland). The organization is registered under German law and operates in compliance with German data protection statutes (BDSG, TMG). Its technology stack includes GlobaLeaks for secure source intake, Mailjet for newsletter delivery, and a self-hosted MATOMO instance for privacy-respecting web analytics.

The business model is donation-driven: Investigate Europe solicits regular individual donations and institutional support to fund its cross-border journalism, with a public donor list referenced on its funding page. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The newsletter is free to subscribe, and content is freely accessible, with no paywall or subscription fees. Geographic coverage spans 13+ European countries plus reporting in the United States, India, and Brazil, reflecting the transnational nature of its investigations.

Name

Investigate Europe

Legal name

Investigate Europe

Website

https://investigate-europe.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Investigate Europe is a Germany-based nonprofit cross-border investigative journalism network producing in-depth reporting on EU affairs, technology, environment, and social justice, distributed through 15+ European media partners and funded by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investigative Journalism

NAICS

Investigation and Security Services (5616)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital/Online Investigations & OSINT (Non-cyber) (BPAKAEAF)

Keywords

• Investigative journalism
• Cross-border reporting
• EU affairs coverage
• Nonprofit newsroom
• Collaborative investigations

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Investigate Europe operates as a nonprofit journalism organization funded primarily through donations from individual and collective donors. The organization explicitly requests regular donations to support independent, collaborative investigative journalism.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Investigate Europe is a cross-border investigative journalism network that produces in-depth investigations on EU affairs, corporate wrongdoing, surveillance technology, gambling, environment, health, and social justice. Its output is published on its own website and distributed through a partner network of European media outlets, accompanied by free email newsletters, podcasts, and video content. The organization is supported by donations from individual and institutional donors and offers a secure whistleblowing channel for anonymous tip submission.

Product overview

Investigate Europe is a cross-border journalism organization offering investigative reporting content through its website platform. The core offering consists of in-depth investigative articles and multimedia content organized around themed series (EU Affairs, Technology, Environment, Health, Unchecked Power, Social Justice). Supporting products include a GlobaLeaks-based secure whistleblowing channel, newsletter subscriptions in multiple language combinations, and donation programs. Major investigation series like 'Secrets of the Council' podcast, 'Shady Bets' gambling investigation, and 'Exporting Surveillance' AI accountability reporting represent structured, ongoing multi-story projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investigate Europe Website

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Süddeutsche ZeitungcoreOthersMajor German daily newspaper and Investigate Europe media partner for collaborative cross-border investigations
• The GuardiancoreOthersLeading UK newspaper partnering with Investigate Europe on investigations including data centre secrecy and gambling industry coverage
• Il Fatto QuotidianocoreOthersItalian newspaper partner collaborating on EU affairs investigations, media freedom reporting, and cross-border projects
• Reporters UnitedcoreOthersGreek investigative journalism outlet partnering on gambling industry investigations and social media influence reporting
• Público (Portugal)coreOthersPortuguese newspaper partner on EU transparency investigations, gambling industry coverage, and immigration reporting
• infoLibrecoreOthersSpanish digital newspaper partner on investigations covering surveillance technology exports, AI regulation, and European affairs
• ARTE JournalcoreOthersFrench-German public broadcaster partner for multimedia investigations on EU topics
• IRPI MediacoreOthersInvestigative journalism organization in Italy specializing in transparency and accountability reporting
• AltraeconomiaminorOthersItalian cooperative magazine focused on social and environmental economics, partner on sustainability reporting
• Gazeta WyborczacoreOthersLeading Polish newspaper partner on EU affairs, Russian interference, and European democracy investigations

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CORRECTIV: German-based nonprofit investigative journalism organization working on cross-border EU accountability stories; comparable in geography, funding model, and investigative focus.
• Bellingcat: Open-source investigations outlet using OSINT techniques on transnational issues including surveillance, conflict, and accountability — closely matches Investigate Europe's investigative methodology and digital-first, donor-supported model.
• Reporters United: Greek cross-border investigative journalism collective listed as an active media partner of Investigate Europe; directly comparable in collaborative transnational reporting model.
• The Bureau of Investigative Journalism: UK-based nonprofit investigative outlet producing cross-border accountability journalism on corporate and government wrongdoing — closely comparable in funding model and partner-distribution approach.
• OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project): Cross-border investigative journalism network funding collaborative reporting across multiple countries on corruption, organized crime, and accountability — directly comparable in model, mission, and partner-amplified distribution to Investigate Europe.
• ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists): Global cross-border investigative network coordinating reporters across dozens of countries on transnational issues; structurally similar to Investigate Europe's 15+ country model and partner-distribution approach.
• IRPI Media: Italian investigative journalism outlet specializing in transparency and accountability reporting; listed as an active Investigate Europe partner with directly comparable editorial focus.
• Follow The Money: European cross-border investigative platform focused on financial flows, corporate malfeasance, and EU affairs — directly comparable in mission, geography, and cross-border reporting approach.

Broad incumbents

• ProPublica: Large, well-established US nonprofit investigative newsroom funded primarily by donations and foundation grants; comparable in donor-supported nonprofit investigative model though operates at significantly larger scale.
• The Guardian Investigative Team: Major UK newsroom with large investigative unit; listed as a core media partner of Investigate Europe and a frequent collaborator on cross-border investigations including data centres and gambling industry coverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/investigate_eu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@InvestigateEurope
• Facebookfacebook.com/investigateeurope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/investigate-europe
• Instagraminstagram.com/investigateeurope

Compliance1 record

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&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Investigate Europe