Blendle is a platform that allows readers to pay for individual articles from major publishers instead of a monthly subscription. The company sells articles from most of the important Dutch papers and some Belgian publishers and magazines, including The Economist
Founder
Alexander Klöpping, Marten Blankesteijn.
Founding date
2014
Location
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Investor
Axel Springer Digital Ventures
Investment
$3mn
Year
2014
New Market
The Netherlands; Germany; Belgium
Timeline
2015

Objective

The media-for-equity investment served as a growth strategy in their expansion to Germany and Belgium.

Outcomes

In 2020, the company had around 50,000 paying subscribers and 30,000 trial members. Today the platform currently sits on 130,000 app installs and approximately 230,000 monthly web visitors. Blendle has been acquired for an undisclosed amount by French peer Cafeyn. 

Blendle will fully integrate into Cafeyn as it strives for European market leadership. The combined group will have 2,500 newspapers and magazines in its digital kiosk.