Name

Verlagsgruppe Westermann

Legal name

Westermann GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://westermann.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Verlagsgruppe Westermann is a German educational publishing group serving teachers, schools, parents, students, and other educational users through print materials, digital learning platforms, professional development, and nine German media centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Core Subject Textbooks (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) (EDAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital/Blended K–12 Courseware & Interactive Textbooks (EDAGAAAJ), K–12 Textbook Publishing (Core Curriculum) (MPAJABAA), Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting) (EDAGAIAE), Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing (MPAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Educational publishing
• Digital textbooks
• Teacher resources
• Learning platforms
• Primary education

Headquarters

HQ city

Braunschweig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print educational materials: Sale of textbooks, exercise books, and supplementary materials for primary and secondary education across Germany
2. Digital subscriptions: Annual and monthly licenses for digital products including BiBox, kapiert.de, Grundschule aktuell, and other online learning platforms
3. Events and professional development: Paid training sessions, webinars, and seminars for teachers with participation certificates
4. Teacher discounts: 20% exam discount (Prüfnachlass) for registered teachers, 25% in media centers, up to 50% for student teachers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Verlagsgruppe Westermann publishes and distributes curriculum-aligned print and digital educational materials for primary, secondary, vocational, and early childhood education across the DACH region. Its core digital platform, BiBox, delivers e-books, supplementary materials, and interactive tools under annual or monthly licenses, complemented by 9 physical media centers for product testing and consultation, 12 publishing brands covering all 16 German federal states, and a portfolio of teacher professional journals and webinars for professional development.

Product overview

Verlagsgruppe Westermann is a German educational publishing group offering a multi-format portfolio of print and digital educational media. The core platform is BiBox, a digital teaching system containing E-Books and supplemental digital materials for classroom use. It is supplemented by subject-specific online learning platforms (kapier.de, Zahlenzorro), reading and diagnostic tools (Antolin, Onlinediagnose, GIDA-Mediathek), the self-testing LÜK system, the professional journal portfolio (Fachzeitschriften), and the Westermann Akademie for webinars and professional development. The group also operates nine physical Medienzentren across Germany and publishes under multiple sub-brands including Arena Verlag, Westermann Lernwelten, and Westermann Berufliche Bildung. Individual products like Fit fürs Abi, Digitale Arbeitshefte, and EinFach Digital are delivered through BiBox, while publications are available across print and digital formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BiBox: Digital teaching system and learning platform offering digital textbooks, teaching materials, and interactive content for schools
• Antolin
• Schroedel aktuell
• LÜK
• Grundschule aktuell
• kapiert.de

Products and services

• BiBox Digital teaching system and platform containing digital textbooks (E-Books), supplemental materials, and interactive tools for classroom use across multiple subjects and German federal states, sold under annual or monthly licenses. Connects with IServ school management system via Eduplaces for seamless classroom integration.
• kapiert.de Online learning platform offering individual subject licenses (German, English, Math) and all-subject packages for self-directed student learning at home and school.
• Antolin Reading platform for students to complete interactive reading quizzes and track reading progress, available for testing at Westermann Medienzentren.
• Onlinediagnose Online diagnostic tool for identifying student learning gaps and tracking progress, available for testing at Westermann Medienzentren.
• GIDA-Mediathek Media library offering video and educational media content for classroom use, available for testing at Westermann Medienzentren.
• LÜK Self-testing and learning system for children covering a wide range of subjects, offered as part of the Westermann portfolio for parents, students, and teachers.
• Schroedel aktuell Weekly news review service providing current events content and teaching materials for classroom use across subjects.
• Grundschule aktuell Elementary school news and teaching resource platform offering current educational content for primary school teachers.
• Westermann Akademie Professional development and seminar platform offering webinars, online conferences, and in-person events for teachers on Westermann products and teaching methods.
• ALFONS Individual license product for parents and teachers providing structured digital learning exercises for elementary school students.
• Zahlenzorro Math-focused digital learning platform for elementary school students, available as an individual license.
• Westermann Medienzentren Nine physical media centers across Germany (Berlin, Braunschweig, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Köln, München, Stuttgart) offering in-person consultation, product testing, and purchasing of printed and digital educational materials.
• Fachzeitschriften (Professional Journals) Subscription-based professional journals for teachers covering subjects including German, Geography, Mathematics, Philosophy, Ethics, English, History, Politics, and Social Studies (e.g., Praxis Deutschunterricht, Geographische Rundschau, Mathematik differenziert, Winklers Illustrierte).
• EinFach Digital Digital subject series for upper-level secondary education, available through BiBox, covering content aligned with specific curriculum requirements.
• Digitale Arbeitshefte Digital workbooks published by Westermann Bildungsmedien Verlag GmbH, available via BiBox as interactive practice materials.
• Fit fürs Abi E-Book Exam preparation E-Books for upper-secondary students, available through BiBox and published by Westermann Lernwelten GmbH.
• Lies mit Taps! Reading support series for early readers in grades 1-2 featuring the Red Panda character Taps that motivates children through syllable-to-word-to-text progression. Six workbooks for classroom and home use.
• Westermann-Wandkalender 2026/27 Wall calendar for the 2026/27 school year, available for free pickup at Westermann Medienzentren.
• Arena Verlag E-Books E-Books published by Arena Verlag GmbH, a subsidiary of Westermann Gruppe, covering children's and youth literature and educational content.
• Mein Schreibtisch Personalized online customer dashboard providing access to favorite applications, order history, account management, event information, and school consulting services.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IServcoreTechnology or IntegrationBiBox digital teaching platform connects with IServ school management system. Integration allows teachers and students to access BiBox directly through IServ via Eduplaces. Single sign-on and seamless classroom workflow.
• Facebook/MetaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFacebook Pixel used for conversion tracking and advertising optimization. Enables targeted advertising based on website visitor behavior.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle Ads (formerly Google AdWords) used for online advertising and conversion tracking. YouTube embedded for video content delivery.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Duden (Bibliographisches Institut): Iconic German language reference publisher now owned by Cornelsen, producing dictionaries, learning aids, and increasingly digital language learning content; overlaps with Westermann's German language portfolio but is not a direct textbook adopter competitor.

Emerging players

• Bettermarks: Berlin-based adaptive math learning platform used by German schools as a supplementary tool; competes with Westermann's Zahlenzorro and kapiert.de math modules for teacher wallet share in the supplemental learning budget.
• simpleclub: German EdTech platform offering video-based learning for math, science, and other subjects with strong teacher and student adoption; overlaps with Westermann's kapiert.de digital learning modules in the supplemental self-study category.

Direct peers

• Oldenbourg Verlag: Cornelsen-owned publisher of secondary school textbooks, particularly strong in mathematics, sciences, and social studies; competes with Westermann Bildungsmedien on state textbook approvals in Bavaria and other southern states.
• Mildenberger Verlag: Offenburg-based German educational publisher specializing in primary school textbooks, workbooks (similar to Westermann's LÜK), and digital learning materials; competes head-to-head in Grundschule state adoptions, particularly in southern Germany.
• Ernst Klett Verlag: Stuttgart-based educational publisher and the third member of the German 'Big 3' alongside Westermann and Cornelsen, offering parallel state-specific textbook series, digital learning platforms, and teacher training across all German federal states.
• C.C. Buchner Verlag: Bamberg-based educational publisher focused on secondary school textbooks and digital materials (Click & Study), competing with Westermann in Gymnasium and Realschule state approvals across multiple German federal states.
• Cornelsen Verlag: One of Germany's two largest educational publishers alongside Westermann, directly competing on state textbook approvals, digital platforms (Cornelsen Click & Teach), and teacher professional development across primary, secondary, and vocational education in the DACH region.
• Helbling Verlag: Innsbruck-based educational publisher with strong DACH presence (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) producing textbooks, digital learning platforms (e-zone), and teacher materials, competing directly with Westermann's Austrian subsidiaries (Hölzel, Westermann Dorner).
• Schöningh Verlag (Westermann competitor brand): Part of the Cornelsen Group, Schöningh publishes secondary and academic textbooks competing with Westermann's Schroedel and Westermann Berufliche Bildung brands in upper-secondary and vocational education across Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verlagsgruppe-westermann

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries11 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 Verlagsgruppe Westermann