The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing financing of up to €20 million to Bitmovin, an innovative developer of video streaming technology. The company powers world-leading video streaming services offered directly to viewers over the Internet, otherwise known as over-the-top (OTT) media services. Its clients include the BBC, fuboTV, Hulu Japan, RTL, and iFlix.
The project will allow Bitmovin to strengthen its research and development and product development team in Austria and support investments in sales and marketing to scale up its distribution network. The EU bank’s loan is backed by a guarantee from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe - the Juncker Plan - under which the EIB and the European Commission are working together as strategic partners and the EIB’s financing operations are boosting the competitiveness of the European economy.
EIB vice-president, Andrew McDowell, who is responsible for operations in Austria at the Bank, said: “Bitmovin has developed an intelligent approach to delivering an optimised video experience and solving bandwidth issues, utilising a software-driven solution uncoupled from hardware. Young and innovative companies are key ingredients for ensuring sustainable growth and creating high-value jobs. They play an important part in driving long-term competitiveness. For the EIB, the EU bank, this is a top priority. Supporting investment that is geared towards innovation, skills and greater competitiveness is part of our mission to foster sustainable growth and jobs in Europe. I therefore very much welcome our new cooperation with Bitmovin.”
European Commissioner Carlos Moedas, responsible for research, science and innovation, said: “By providing financing to this growing tech company, the EIB and the Juncker Plan are supporting European innovation. Investing in research and development is crucial to any business and I am proud that the EU is helping our European tech entrepreneurs scale up and develop their products and services.”
Bitmovin's CEO, Stefan Lederer, said: “We feel very honoured to receive this EIB funding. Since founding Bitmovin it was our vision to shape the future of video and provide the best streaming experiences for our customers and viewers. Our founding team started by contributing research and development to modern video standards, and now we’re excited to accelerate that effort with this investment.”
