The Big Exit: The Unbelievable Tale of a German Start-Up’s Incredible Sale

In today’s fast-paced world, people are constantly looking for ways to optimize their learning process. One company that has taken bold steps towards enhancing the learning experience of its users is Go1. The world-leading learning expert and double unicorn just acquired Blinkist, a Berlin start-up known for summarizing the key ideas from the world’s most powerful books into bite-sized nuggets of knowledge. This acquisition is set to create new opportunities for learners around the world and signals a major shift in the online learning industry.

Blinkist’s & GO1’s founders are very excited about this new chapter that their companies are writing.

The move marks a significant milestone for Blinkist, which has grown rapidly since its launch only a few years ago. Created by four friends at university who share a passion for learning, the company initially struggled with only 100 downloads in the first few months, but now they can boast over 26 million users and counting.

Backed by more than $35 million in VC funding, it is now able to employ over 160 people and ignites millions of curious minds. Major publications such as LinkedIn have since named it the best startup employer in Germany, while Apple has recognized it as “one of the best apps in the world”. Blinkist even received a stamp of approval from the United Nations as a Global Leader in Learning and Education.

“When we started most apps were for social media or gaming. We wanted to do something different and build an app that would add genuine value to someone’s life.” –Holger Seim, CEO of Blinkist

The Future of Learning Is Now

Blinkist is an app that is changing the way we read by providing key insights from over 5,700 of the world’s best nonfiction and fiction titles. Through both audio and text form, they are designed to help busy professionals learn new skills and ideas in a fraction of the time it would take them to read a full-length book. From biographies to productivity, a user can choose from topics across 27 categories to broaden their perspective.

The company has not only caught the eye of Go1 but also of over 26 million users. Among the people who are already benefiting from this powerful solution are Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, as well as early investors in Twitter and HelloFresh. The latter even regard Blinkist as one of the leaders in the microlearning segment.

Knowledge right at your fingertips

When looking at Blinkist’s portfolio, there is no doubt why there is so much buzz around the German start-up: Reading a book can offer you a whole universe of knowledge. Unfortunately, reading takes a lot of time, and time is a resource that many of us don’t have enough of.

The experts at Blinkist saw this and found a solution: they created an easy and powerful way to make the most of a user’s reading time by presenting them in quick, readable servings known as “blinks”. These are brief summaries that contain stripped-down and easy-to-digest key points that you can read (or listen to) on any device, anywhere at any time.

Filled with actionable advice as well as relevant examples, users are less likely to forget what they’ve read. Thanks to exciting new features that tackle the trend of the social as well as guided learning principles, users are also aided in remembering the learned information for longer periods of time and in implementing them into their lives.

“Blinkist is a whole new category of self-optimization.” –Vice President of Insight Venture Partners, Harley Miller

Built by Humans – For Humans

With the use of cutting-edge neuroscientific research, the experts at Blinkist have created an app that helps its users learn and retain more information than ever before. It is specifically designed to make it easy for users who want a quick but thorough overview of any given topic. This ensures all learners can benefit from what’s being taught in as little time as possible.

To guarantee that users get the best content possible, Blinkist employs a team of some of the smartest people in the field – from PHDs to Google graduates.

The App That Is Loved By Millions

This concept helped turn Blinkist into one of the most beloved learning brands. It has been downloaded millions of times and received over 94K five-star ratings on the App and Google Play Store from intellectuals all over the world. In fact, nearly 75% of all user ratings for Blinkist were five stars. What some users enjoy most about Blinkist is how the learning experience can fit around their lives. Just take a look at what some users are saying:

“I read a lot of management, self-improvement, and entrepreneurial books through Blinkist because I can gain specific knowledge on my industry or on ways to improve myself.” –Steven Renwick, CPO of Regis24“linkist has helped me read more – period. I love that I can get the key learnings from 10+ books a week, and immediately implement them in my own life.” –Hitha Palepu, entrepreneur and author

Enter a World of Limitless Learning Potential

It makes sense that Go1, a leading global learning platform, decided to combine its strengths with Blinkist. As a global content aggregator for high-quality training, Go1 is already helping millions of learners with their personalized skill development courses.

“The combination of Go1 and Blinkist offers something not replicated in any corner of the corporate learning market: an experience of ongoing learning that serves professional goals while being personally engaging.” –Andrew Barnes, co-CEO of Go1.

With this business move, the company will be able to leverage Blinkist’s content and technology to offer even more value to its users. Instead of having to do so in a corporate setting, professional learners can now satisfy their craving for new knowledge in their day-to-day lives. Whether it’s during a commute, at the gym, or even right before falling asleep: Blinkist helps users learn wherever they are and whenever they want to. This business move marks an exciting outlook into the future of learning.

Want to be a part of the movement? Download the Blinkist app here and get a head start on your learning journey.