What Special-E.de does

Special-E.de is a German-language online magazine covering alternative mobility, operated by goldjunge publishing e.K., a privately-held Einzelunternehmen headquartered in Krummhörn, Germany. The publication delivers editorial content across multiple mobility verticals — e-bikes, cargo bikes, green/electric cars, scooters and motorcycles, and conventional bicycles — organized into dedicated category sections with formats including Fahrbericht (test ride reports), Praxis-Check (practical reviews), Neuheiten (new product announcements), Präsentation (presentations), Feature, and Unboxed. Supporting the core editorial platform is a Fachhändler-Finder (specialist dealer finder) covering Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, a Regio-News service segmented by postal code, branded Sonderveröffentlichungen (special publication PDFs) for advertisers, and a free email newsletter. The technology stack is a WordPress-based website with social media distribution through Instagram (@specialealternative) and Facebook.

The business model is advertising- and sponsorship-led, with no paywall or paid subscription. Revenue is generated through banner advertising, sponsored content blocks, brand partnerships, and productized Sonderveröffentlichungen sold to bicycle, e-bike, automotive, and accessory brands. The publication serves two customer segments: end consumers researching alternative mobility purchases (the audience) and brands/dealers seeking access to that audience through editorial credibility. Notable commercial partnerships include official media partnerships with IFA Berlin 2026 and INTERMOT 2027, plus a planned collaboration with KNIPEX. The visible premium brand directory includes Cannondale, Giant, Haibike, Kalkhoff, HP Velotechnik, Ghost, Hepha, Coboc, BH Bikes, Babboe, Fidlock, Flyer, Hase, KTM, Stevens, and isy among others, indicating a distributed advertiser base within the DACH mobility retail ecosystem. No headcount, revenue, or funding data is disclosed, and the company appears independently owned with no parent company or institutional investors identified.

Name

Special-E.de

Legal name

goldjunge publishing e.K.

Website

https://special-e.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Special-E.de is a German online magazine covering alternative mobility — e-bikes, cargo bikes, electric vehicles, scooters, and bicycles — operated by goldjunge publishing e.K. and monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and branded Sonderveröffentlichungen serving DACH-region consumers and mobility brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Mobility Media

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive & Transportation Magazines (MPAJAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Travel & Outdoors Magazines (MPAJAEAH)

Keywords

• Online editorial publishing
• E-mobility journalism
• Cycling industry news
• Digital brand advertising
• Alternative mobility media

Headquarters

HQ city

Upleward

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising and sponsorship: Special-E.de is a free online magazine monetized primarily through advertising and sponsorship arrangements with bicycle, e-mobility, and automotive brands. The site displays sponsored content blocks, brand banners, and partner advertisements throughout its editorial pages and category sections.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Special-E.de is a free German-language online magazine covering alternative mobility, including e-bikes, cargo bikes, electric cars, electric scooters, motorcycles, and conventional bicycles. It publishes editorial content (news, test reports, practical reviews, product presentations), distributes a free newsletter, and provides a Fachhändler-Finder dealer locator and postal-code-organized Regio-News across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Revenue is generated through advertising and sponsored Sonderveröffentlichungen (special publications).

Product overview

Special-E.de is a German online magazine for alternative mobility, operating as a unified content platform rather than a modular software product. The core offering is editorial coverage of alternative mobility including e-bikes (E-Bikes), green cars (Grüne Autos), electric scooters and motorcycles (Scooter & Motorrad), cargo bikes (Cargo-Bikes), and regular bicycles (Fahrräder). Supporting features include a dealer finder (Fachhändler-Finder) for locating specialist retailers, regional news sections organized by postal code areas (Regio-News), and special publication PDFs (Sonderveröffentlichungen). The platform also provides a Pedelec-Assistent tool for readers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Special-E.de Online Magazine
• Sonderveröffentlichungen (Special Publications)
• Special-E.de Newsletter

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IFA BerlincoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Special-E.de is an official media partner of IFA 2026 (Berlin, Germany). The partnership involves editorial coverage of IFA's Show Areas, with a focus on technology stories related to future mobility, living, working, and play. Special-E.de is actively seeking the most compelling technology stories of the year as part of this coverage.
• KNIPEXminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026KNIPEX, the German tool manufacturer, is planning a collaboration with Special-E.de. The article 'Werkzeughersteller KNIPEX plant Zusammenarbeit mit Special-E.de' indicates a planned content or sponsorship relationship, with KNIPEX's hand tools being featured in practical checks and reviews on the platform.
• INTERMOTcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecial-E.de is a media partner of INTERMOT 2027 (February 19–21, 2027, Cologne), covering preparations, new products, electric mobility, and key industry developments in the two-wheeled vehicle sector. The site is running editorial series to accompany the trade show.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bike Europe: European cycling industry trade publication covering e-bikes, cargo bikes, and micromobility. Comparable DACH+EU advertiser base and OEM-launch coverage.
• MOTORRAD: Germany's leading motorcycle magazine. Directly competes with Special-E's 'Scooter & Motorrad' vertical and adjacent e-motorcycle OEM advertisers.
• Heise Online: Large German tech and mobility publisher. Overlaps on the technology-and-mobility editorial and OEM advertiser base, though it is far broader than Special-E's vertical.
• RadMarkt: Established German cycling trade journal for the bicycle retail and wholesale industry. Overlaps with Special-E's Fachhändler (dealer) audience and OEM coverage.
• velobiz.de: Leading German B2B cycling industry trade publication covering bike retail, e-bikes, and micromobility. Same DACH advertiser base (OEMs, dealers) and same editorial-adjacent category.
• auto motor und sport: Germany's largest auto-mobility media brand, covering EVs and traditional cars. Competes for the same green-cars ad budgets though as a generalist, much larger incumbent.

Direct peers

• ElektroRad: German-language digital magazine dedicated to e-bikes and pedelecs. Direct editorial overlap with Special-E's E-Bike and cargo-bike coverage and same DACH audience.
• e-bike Magazin (Delius Klasing): Print + digital e-bike specialist magazine from established German cycling publisher Delius Klasing. Closest direct competitor in e-bike editorial and reviews.
• Elektroauto-News.net: Long-running German-language online publication focused on electric cars and plug-in vehicles. Direct overlap with Special-E's 'Grüne Autos' category and e-mobility advertisers.

Emerging players

• Pedelec Adventures: German-language e-bike lifestyle/travel blog and YouTube channel covering pedelec tours and gear. Adjacent audience overlap with Special-E's outdoor/test-ride content.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/specialealternative
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialealternative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Special-E.de