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Press Release
Frankfurt am Main,

QualiFiction Named Content Startup of the Year 2019

Annual startup award given to AI-based text analysis tool | Winner to receive 10,000 Euros in sponsorship | Content Shift accelerator will continue in 2020 | Book and publishing companies invited to become sponsors and gain a spot on next year’s jury

The German startup QualiFiction was named "Content Startup of the Year" at the Frankfurt Book Fair today. QualiFiction uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse the content, style and marketability of texts. In so doing, it makes it possible for publishers and authors to automate the way they classify fictional texts, enhance metadata and predict a book’s sales potential. The jury of the Content Shift accelerator, which is a funding programme set up by the Börsenvereinsgruppe, selected the Startup of the Year from among five candidates that had made it to the final round. A total of 36 startups from seven countries originally applied to participate in Content Shift. QualiFiction will take home a 10,000 Euros incentive bonus.

Jury spokesman Hermann Eckel, managing director of Tolino Media and co-spokesperson for the Börsenverein’s digital interest group IG Digital, explained the jury’s decision: "QualiFiction convinced us on all fronts. The startup addresses a major challenge facing all publishers: How can I find books that fit my product range amid the flood of available manuscripts? And how can I improve the visibility of my titles in the online market? QualiFiction provides assistance in the pre-selection phase as well as with targeted marketing, helping publishers work more efficiently, reduce costs and better calculate expenses. At the same time, QualiFiction is also aimed at authors who can have their texts analysed and thereby receive valuable information on how to optimise their manuscripts. As a jury, we are thrilled with the resolve of the QualiFiction team to drive forward an innovative solution for the entire industry with a clear vision and perseverance."

Among the other startups on the shortlist in addition to the winners were the following: EasyCorrect (Denmark, digital correction and feedback tool for teachers and students), Jellybooks (England, digital reading samples with integrated reader analytics), Mitmalfilm (Germany, analogue colouring templates allow kids to create digital animation films), Varia (Germany, enables readers to overcome filter bubbles by providing quality news from different perspectives).

Content Shift will enter its fifth year in 2020, and companies are already invited to get involved as investors in next year’s competition. By investing in the programme, companies receive a spot on the jury as well as direct and exclusive access to all participating startups.

In 2019, the Content Shift jury comprised the following members in addition to Hermann Eckel: Detlef Büttner (board member, Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Lehmanns Media), Per Dalheimer (Hugendubel Digital), Daniel Ebneter (S. Karger AG), Bernd Fakesch (Nintendo), Leif Göritz (Thalia), Nina Hugendubel (Hugendubel), Ronald Schild (MVB), Marc Schindelholz (Karger), Andrea Soprek (Ravensburger Buchverlag) and Dominik Strähle (Thalia).

In the course of this year’s Content Shift programme and competition, the following experts acted as mentors to the startups: Daniel Ebneter mentored EasyCorrect and Hermann Eckel mentored QualiFiction. Nina Hugendubel and Per Dalheimer mentored Mitmalfilm. Ronald Schild mentored Jellybooks and Detlef Büttner mentored Varia.

Prof. Dr. Okke Schlüter and Dr. Harald Henzler also accompanied Content Shift and contributed to the programme as startup coaches.

More Informations

Materialien zum Herunterladen

About the Content Shift accelerator

The Content Shift accelerator is a four-month international programme organised by the Börsenvereinsgruppe to promote startups. Each young company receives comprehensive coaching and advice from experts and is given access to an exclusive network of industry players, founders and investors.
www.contentshift.de | www.twitter.com/shiftingcontent

About the Börsenvereinsgruppe

The Börsenvereinsgruppe (Group of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association) represents the interests of Germany's book industry and provides its members with advisory and practical services. The group comprises the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e. V. and its business subsidiaries, which include Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH, MVB GmbH, mediacampus frankfurt | die schulen des deutschen buchhandels gmbh as well as the Holding Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH. The Börsenvereinsgruppe supports the book industry and media sector via services that include representational activities, cultural projects, the organisation of trade fairs, training programmes and publishing and technology services.
www.boersenvereinsgruppe-jobs.de


About MVB

Technology and information provider MVB makes books visible. Major platforms, based on international metatdata standards, enable publishers and bookstores to promote their products successfully and efficiently in their home markets and abroad. Editorial and advertising formats as well as face-to-face networking give orientation in different book markets. In close cooperation with customers and market players from all areas of the book industry, the teams located in Frankfurt am Main, New York und São Paulo continuously work on innovative Infrastructure solutions for the book trade of the future.
www.mvb-online.de | www.facebook.com/mvbfrankfurt | www.xing.com/companies/mvbgmbh

Contact

Thomas Koch | Head of Public Relations Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels
Tel.: +49 69 1306-293
t.koch@boev.de

Markus Fertig | PR Manager MVB
Tel.: +49 69 1306-374 | Fax: +49 69 1306-17374
m.fertig@mvb-online.de