Media Innovation Network

What Media Innovation Network does

Media Innovation Network, operating as MINDS International e.V., is a non-profit global network of leading news agencies headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany with an operational office in Vienna, Austria. Founded in September 2007 as a registered society (e.V.) under German law, MINDS functions as a membership consortium bringing together 20+ leading news agencies from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, including AFP, The Associated Press, Reuters, ANSA, EFE, dpa, Kyodo News, and PTI. The organization's core activity is executive-level knowledge sharing and collaboration: it runs the annual MINDS Conference (the 39th held in Rome in October 2025; the 41st scheduled in Stockholm), facilitates cross-linking among CEOs, editors-in-chief, and technology directors of member agencies, and coordinates joint initiatives such as the MINDS Global Spotlight investigative journalism project and the 2024 MINDS Manifesto.

MINDS does not operate a proprietary software platform; its value proposition is relational and coordinative, providing members with access to peer expertise, joint R&D, preferred-vendor discounts with technology partners (PicRights, Ezyinsights, Cosmia), and a trusted community for debating digital transformation, AI disruption, and trust in news. Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues paid by participating news agencies under a subscription/recurring model, with conference activities providing supplementary engagement; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

The organization is governed by a five-member Board of Directors elected annually by the General Meeting (one vote per member, regardless of size) and operates with a small executive team led by Managing Director Wolfgang Nedomansky and Research & Communications Lead Ivaylo Petrov, with Kimmo Laaksonen (CEO of STT, Finland) serving as MINDS President. MINDS has no disclosed external investors, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity; its 2025 strategic highlights include a private papal audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, signaling elevated public-good positioning around truth and trust in media.

Name

Media Innovation Network

Legal name

MINDS International e.V.

Website

https://minds-international.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Media Innovation Network (MINDS International) is a Frankfurt-based non-profit global network of 20+ leading news agencies that facilitates executive-level knowledge sharing, joint R&D, and annual conferences to support digital transformation and innovation in the news industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media industry association / news agency network

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAO

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYHSACADAA

Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination

Home & Personal Services/Event & Personal Concierge Services/Corporate Event & Meeting Services

Keywords

• News agency network
• Media industry collaboration
• Digital media innovation
• News agency conferences
• Media industry think tank

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MINDS International operates as a non-profit organization. The network provides members (news agencies) access to know-how, innovative products, and collaborative research and development. Revenue appears to come from membership dues paid by participating news agencies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MINDS International is a non-profit global network of leading news agencies that supports the digital development of news agencies and the broader media industry. As a research and development unit for its partners, it centrally pools knowledge and gives members access to know-how, innovative products, and joint activities, regularly cross-linking senior managers from all areas of member agencies. The primary delivery mechanism is the MINDS Conferences series, complemented by initiatives such as MINDS Global Spotlight and the MINDS Manifesto.

Product overview

MINDS International is not a product company but a non-profit global network organization comprising leading news agencies from around the world. The organization serves as a think tank and business development unit for its members, facilitating knowledge sharing, collaborative research, and executive-level networking through conferences. The network provides member agencies access to know-how, innovative products, and joint development activities. MINDS does not offer a unified software product or platform; instead, it coordinates collaborative initiatives and connects senior managers from news agencies to share business development ideas, technology insights, and media trends.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MINDS Conference: Annual conference bringing together senior managers from MINDS member news agencies to discuss media trends, technology, and business development.
• MINDS Global Spotlight
• MINDS Manifesto

Products and services

• MINDS Conference series Annual executive-level conferences for CEOs, editors-in-chief, business and technology directors of leading global news agencies, focused on business development, technology sharing, and strategic discussion on media trends. Open to members of MINDS International.
• MINDS Global Spotlight Collaborative cross-border investigative journalism initiative among MINDS member news agencies addressing significant global issues, with the inaugural project in 2017 covering migrant smuggling. Targeted at member news agencies and their editorial teams.
• MINDS Manifesto Strategic document reaffirming the core values, mission, and benefits of MINDS International membership, signed by delegates at the 37th MINDS Conference in Berlin. Targeted at MINDS member agencies and external media stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 20 news agencies collaborate through the network
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PicRightsminorOthersAssociated member of MINDS offering end-to-end copyright enforcement services for news agencies. Simplifies copyright enforcement using proprietary advanced recognition technology. Current clients include AFP, ANSA, AP, APA, CP, CTK, AAP, dpa, epa, LaPresse, PA Images, Profimedia, Reuters and others. Provides 20% discount to MINDS agencies.
• Anadolu Ajansi (AA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Global news agency delivering news across the world in 13 different languages with 101 years of experience, 41 office locations, representatives in 100 countries, and 1,700+ employees.
• AFP (Agence France-Presse)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Global news agency with 2,260 staff and stringers of 80 different nationalities across 165 countries and 200 bureaus.
• AP (The Associated Press)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. The largest and oldest news organization in the world, serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television and online customers.
• ReuterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. World's largest multimedia news provider with unmatched coverage in over 16 languages serving billions of people worldwide.
• ANSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Italy's leading newswire with 22 offices in Italy and 92 bureaus in 90 countries across 5 continents.
• APA (Austria Presse Agentur)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International and one of the founders. National news agency and leading information service provider in Austria.
• ANP (Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International and one of the founders. Central national news provider of publishers and broadcasters in the Netherlands.
• Kyodo NewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Leading news agency in Japan founded in 1945 as non-profit cooperative, completely independent of government and commercial interests.
• EFEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Leading Spanish language news agency and one of the largest in the world with 3,000+ professionals in 180 cities in 110 countries.
• dpa (Deutsche Presse-Agentur)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Trusted, accurate and independent provider of news serving print, radio, online and mobile providers in over 100 countries.
• PTI (Press Trust Of India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. India's largest news agency with more than 600 journalists and 800 stringers covering India and global news.
• Keystone-SDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. National Swiss news agency with 180,000 news edited per year and 10 million picture archive spanning 150 years.
• AAP (Australian Associated Press)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Australian media news service founded almost 90 years ago with principles of impartiality, independence, accuracy, reliability and speed.
• Belga News AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Evolved from classic press agency into multimedia information centre for multi-lingual Belgium.
• NTB (Norsk Telegrambyrå)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Leading provider of news in Norway established in 1867 serving media houses, broadcasters and public/private sector.
• STT (Finnish News Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Independent national news provider and only organization in Finland producing real-time comprehensive news agency service.
• PA MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. National news agency for UK and Ireland with revenues over £112 million in 2023.
• Ritzaus BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Reliable and fast Danish news agency delivering targeted news products and media services.
• TT NyhetsbyråncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Full service B2B content provider for Swedish media industry with 330 employees.
• The Canadian PresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Canada's most trusted news source providing real-time bilingual multimedia content for online, mobile and emerging platforms.
• Bulgarian News Agency (BTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Independent national news organization of Republic of Bulgaria established in 1898.
• Česká tisková kancelář (ČTK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Czech national news and information agency, public institution created by law, politically and economically independent.
• LETAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Latvian national information agency, one of the most innovative media companies in the Baltics with unique scientific and technical developments.
• LUSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Biggest news agency in Portuguese language since 1987 with 200 journalists and 80 correspondents abroad.
• Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Leading provider of news content in the Balkans since 1905 with news in Greek, English and French.
• PAP (Polska Agencja Prasowa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member of MINDS International. Polish Press Agency, most trusted source of real-time news with over 250 journalists and 50 photographers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Online News Association (ONA): U.S.-based non-profit organization for digital journalism, convening newsrooms, journalists, and technology partners. Comparable to MINDS as a non-profit industry membership body with an annual conference and focus on innovation, but focused on digital journalism practitioners rather than national news agencies.
• Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Oxford-based research center studying global media and journalism, affiliated with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Comparable to MINDS as a research and convening organization focused on the news industry, though academic in nature rather than a peer-driven member network.
• Native Advertising Institute: Membership organization providing training and resources on native advertising and sponsored content for media companies. Comparable to MINDS as a non-profit-adjacent membership body that supports media industry innovation through training and convening, though narrower in topical focus.

Direct peers

• WAN-IFRA: World Association of News Publishers, the global industry organization for the news publishing sector. Directly comparable to MINDS as a non-profit membership association serving news publishers and agencies worldwide, with similar convening, advocacy, and knowledge-sharing functions.
• European Broadcasting Union (EBU): The leading association of public service media organizations in Europe. Comparable to MINDS as a membership-based non-profit serving media organizations with shared services, knowledge exchange, and senior-executive convening, though focused on broadcasters rather than news agencies.
• News Media Alliance: U.S.-focused trade association representing news publishers. Comparable to MINDS as a non-profit industry membership organization that advocates for the news industry, runs collaborative initiatives, and convenes leadership — though U.S.-centric in scope.
• European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA): European trade body representing newspaper publishers. Comparable to MINDS as a regional non-profit membership association for media organizations, focused on advocacy and cross-industry collaboration in the European market.
• International Press Institute (IPI): Global network of editors, media executives, and journalists dedicated to press freedom and quality journalism. Comparable to MINDS as a global non-profit membership organization focused on cross-border media industry collaboration, though IPI's emphasis is on press freedom rather than commercial innovation.

Broad incumbents

• Digital Content Next (DCN): U.S. trade association for digital content companies. Comparable to MINDS as a non-profit membership organization serving digital-era media businesses with advocacy, research, and convening, though focused on digital content brands rather than traditional news agencies.

Regional players

• Foreign Press Association (FPA): U.S.-based membership association for foreign journalists and correspondents. Comparable to MINDS as a non-profit membership organization convening international media professionals, though focused on individual correspondents in a single market rather than national news agencies globally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/minds_internat
• Facebookfacebook.com/MINDSInternat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minds-international

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 Media Innovation Network