BERLIN and SAN JOSE, Calif. and TOKYO, July 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Acrolinx, the leading provider of AI software for enterprise content creation, announced today the majority acquisition and equity growth funding by GENUI in a transaction with a volume of approx. $60m. Bernd-Michael Rumpf, former CEO of SAP SI will invest alongside GENUI, and Acrolinx management is expanding its shareholding in the company as part of the transaction. The investment will help accelerate Acrolinx’s continued global expansion and market leadership. 

“Content matters now more than ever. To reach, engage, and retain customers, you need a lot of high-quality content. While many companies have solved the problem of content distribution, scaling the creation of great content remains a huge challenge. We have shown how Artificial Intelligence is a great way to solve that problem,” says Andrew Bredenkamp, Founder and CEO of Acrolinx. “We are confident that the experience and networks of GENUI and Bernd-Michael Rumpf will bring enormous value for Acrolinx. Together with GENUI, a strong partner with a long-term focus, we will be able to further scale our go-to-market strategies, broaden and accelerate product development, and execute on our vision even more rapidly,” added Ulrich Callmeier, COO & CTO of Acrolinx.

Acrolinx is the only AI software platform that uses a unique linguistic engine to “read” content and provide immediate guidance and powerful analytics to make it more effective. The company’s technology is transforming how over 300 of the world’s biggest brands create high-performing content on-brand, on-target and at scale. The Acrolinx AI engine integrates with all major content tools, giving content contributors real-time advice on everything from brand, tone, clarity, compliance and consistency as they create content.

Acrolinx were recently recognized by Forrester Research as one of the breakout vendors in the field of “Content Intelligence.”

“Acrolinx delivers a unique and compelling value proposition for its customers – a proprietary AI-powered linguistics engine technology to help companies align, enhance, and enrich their marketing and product content. We are committed to jointly accelerate growth with new and existing customers and further sharpen the various use cases along the customer journey,” said Bernd-Michael Rumpf.

“The Acrolinx offering is unique, easy to implement, and has a clear ROI for its customers,” said Patrick Gehlen, Partner at GENUI. “In our discussions with customers, they confirmed the strong value add through cost savings in the content creation process, faster time to market as well as increasing revenues through more effective content. This has enabled Acrolinx to capture an impressive global customer base with 70%+ revenues abroad with largely blue chip customers like Google, SAP, IBM, Amazon, Volvo, Siemens, Facebook and Nestle. GENUI is excited to support the company to further expand its global leadership position.” With GENUI as a partner with a long-term view providing capital and expertise, Acrolinx will benefit from a stable shareholder structure, enabling management to pursue its strategy, focused on sustainable growth.

Bernd-Michael Rumpf, Patrick Gehlen and Max Odefey of GENUI will join as members of the company’s board of directors.

“We are excited to see Acrolinx move to the next stage of the company’s development together with GENUI,” said Hans-Christian Perle, Partner at international growth equity investor Kennet who has supported Acrolinx as a major shareholder over many years. “We are convinced that this transaction will enable Acrolinx to expand and reinforce its global leadership position in AI software for enterprise content creation.”

Acrolinx had also previously received investment from Harbert European Growth Capital, who provides flexible, long term and permanent debt capital for technology and life sciences businesses across Europe.

Global technology investment bank Drake Star Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Acrolinx on this transaction.

About Acrolinx:

Acrolinx is a leading global provider of highly scalable and proven AI software for enterprise content creation. Acrolinx technology helps large global brands, including IBM, Nestle, Siemens, Google, Facebook, Boeing, SAP and Amazon, create content that’s on-brand, on-target, at enterprise scale. The company is a spin-off of Germany’s DFKI, one of the world’s leading research institutes in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Learn more at acrolinx.com.

About GENUI:

GENUI is a private investment firm established by a group of exceptional entrepreneurs and investment professionals which takes long-term stakes (10+ years) in medium-sized growth companies in the German-speaking countries. With GENUI, companies gain a shareholder that contributes unique expertise and a valuable network of contacts from entrepreneurs, as well as ensuring professional, growth-oriented governance.

CONTACT: Deb Symon, 781-454-6670, deb.symons@acrolinx.com

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SOURCE Acrolinx