neobooks

What neobooks does

neobooks is a German-language self-publishing e-book platform operated by Neopubli GmbH, a Berlin-based private limited company and subsidiary of Holtzbrinck Publishing Group (Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck). Founded in 2008, the platform targets individual aspiring and established authors who want to publish without the constraints of traditional publishing contracts. Authors retain full rights to their works and can publish e-books free of charge, with paperbacks produced via sister company epubli on a print-on-demand basis.

The core technology is described as a media-transformation software engine that converts author-uploaded manuscripts into multiple formats (online reader, downloadable e-book, mobile book) and distributes them across more than 300 online retailers, including Amazon, Thalia, Google Play, iBooks, Kobo, and Weltbild. The platform supports a self-serve three-step publishing flow with no contract term, provides free ISBN assignment, and offers cover and e-book creation tools alongside a marketing-tips blog and a closed Facebook author community. A distinctive addition over typical self-publishing platforms is the Verlagspartner scouting program, through which major German publishers — Droemer Knaur, Rowohlt, Ullstein (Midnight, Forever), Piper Digital, Tor Online, and Kiwi — discover and sign authors, with Rowohlt holding a 12-week right of first refusal.

The business model is a transaction-based commission on net sales: authors receive 70% of net proceeds (after retailer margins, distribution costs, and taxes), while Neopubli retains 30% as its primary revenue stream. Publishing, ISBN, and retailer distribution are provided at no upfront cost to authors. Customer acquisition is product-led and self-serve, supplemented by content marketing through a blog (Selfpublishing-Know-How, Marketing-Tipps, Scouting mit dem Verlag), a 13,000+ subscriber weekly newsletter, social-media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Lovelybooks, a closed Facebook author group, and participation in German literary events (Leipziger Buchmesse, lit.COLOGNE, Self-Publishing-Day). The platform reports lifetime outputs of 5,000,000 e-books sold and 300 authors discovered and contracted by publishing partners.

Name

neobooks

Legal name

Neopubli GmbH

Website

https://neobooks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

neobooks is a German-language self-publishing platform operated by Neopubli GmbH (Berlin), enabling individual authors to publish e-books and print-on-demand paperbacks for free and distribute them across 300+ online retailers, with a scouting program that connects authors to traditional publishers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Self-Publishing Platform

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJAMAA

E-book Retail & Reading Platforms (Stores, Apps, Devices)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Digital Publishing Platforms (E-books & Online Articles)

SECONDARYMPAJAAAA

General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Book Publishing (Trade & Consumer)

Keywords

• Self-publishing platform
• E-book publishing
• Digital book distribution
• Print-on-demand publishing
• Author royalty management

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commission on e-book sales: Neobooks acts as a commission agent for self-publishers. Authors receive 70% of the net proceeds from e-book sales, while Neopubli retains a 30% commission as its primary revenue stream. Net proceeds equal the sales price minus distribution costs, retailer margins, and applicable taxes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

neobooks is a German self-publishing platform that enables individual authors to publish e-books and paperbacks for free, with automatic ISBN assignment and distribution to over 300 online retailers including Amazon, Thalia, Google Play, iBooks, and Kobo. Authors retain full rights to their work and earn 70% of net sales proceeds while neobooks retains a 30% commission. Paperback printing is handled through sister company epubli.

Product overview

neobooks is a German self-publishing platform operated by Neopubli GmbH based in Berlin. The platform consists of a core self-publishing service for both ebooks and print books, offering authors free publication with ISBN and distribution across 300+ online retailers. Key products include the ebook publishing module (with free ISBN and formatting), paperback publishing via sister company epubli, the Autorenwerkstatt (Author Workshop) for writing guidance, and a publishing partner scouting program connecting authors with traditional publishers (Droemer Knaur, Rowohlt, Piper, Ullstein, Tor Online, Kiwi). Revenue model is 70/30 split favoring authors, with no contract duration requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000,000 e-books sold through the platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Verlagsgruppe Droemer KnaurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDroemer Knaur is a major German publishing group that scouts authors on neobooks for potential traditional publishing contracts. Bodo Manstein was discovered through neobooks and signed with Knaur for his Sylt crime series.
• Rowohlt VerlagcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRowohlt is a German publishing house that partners with neobooks for author scouting. Mentioned in the AGB as a Kooperationspartner with a right of first refusal for 12 weeks.
• Ullstein Buchverlage (MIDNIGHT, FOREVER)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUllstein's digital imprints MIDNIGHT and FOREVER have partnered with neobooks since March 2017 for author scouting. Bodo Manstein was subsequently signed by MIDNIGHT by Ullstein.
• Kiwi VerlagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a publishing partner on the neobooks website.
• Tor Online VerlagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a publishing partner on the neobooks website.
• Piper Verlag (Piper Digital)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a publishing partner on the neobooks website.
• Story ITminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a publishing partner on the neobooks website.
• epublicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorepubli is the sister company of neobooks, handling paperback/print-on-demand publishing. Authors can use epubli to bring their printed books to retail through neobooks.
• BuchDealsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuchDeals is a marketing partner offering price promotions for e-books. neobooks offers a 20% discount code (NEOBOOKS20) for authors using BuchDeals services. Partnership referenced in blog marketing articles.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lulu: Self-publishing platform offering print-on-demand, e-book distribution, and ISBN services to authors globally. Comparable service mix (e-book + print + retail distribution) and similar target customer (individual self-publishing authors).
• BookRix: Munich-based self-publishing platform with strong presence in German-language markets, offering e-book and print publishing with distribution to major retailers. Closely comparable DACH focus and self-publishing service offering to neobooks.
• Draft2Digital: E-book aggregator distributing self-published titles to major retailers including Amazon, Apple, Kobo, and library platforms. Closely analogous aggregator model and royalty split structure to neobooks, though English-language focused.
• BoD (Books on Demand): German self-publishing platform offering print-on-demand and e-book services to authors. Closely comparable business model, target audience (DACH/German-speaking authors), and product offering including ISBN assignment and retail distribution.
• Tolino Media: Self-publishing arm of the Tolino alliance of German-language booksellers, distributing e-books to leading DACH retailers including Thalia and Weltbild. Direct competitor for the same German-language author base and overlapping retail distribution.
• Smashwords: Global e-book aggregator and self-publishing platform distributing to major retailers. Comparable business model as an aggregator/commission agent for self-published authors, though primarily serving English-language markets.
• epubli: Sister company of neobooks under Neopubli GmbH, offering print-on-demand paperback publishing and book retail distribution in the German market. Directly comparable service offering focused on the same DACH author segment.
• IngramSpark: Self-publishing platform from Ingram Content Group offering print-on-demand and e-book distribution to a wide retailer network including Amazon and bookstores. Comparable in combining free ISBN, broad retail distribution, and author-friendly economics.

Broad incumbents

• Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing): Amazon's flagship self-publishing arm for e-books and paperbacks, distributing directly to the world's largest e-book retailer. Comparable to neobooks in core self-publishing functionality, but vastly larger scale, global reach, and tighter integration with the Amazon retail ecosystem.

Regional players

• Barnes & Noble Press: Self-publishing platform from Barnes & Noble primarily serving the US market with e-book and print distribution through the Barnes & Noble retail network. Comparable product offering but operates in a different geography from neobooks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/neobooks_com
• Facebookfacebook.com/neobooks
• Instagraminstagram.com/neobooks
• Pinterestpinterest.com/neobooks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neobooks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 neobooks