Independent advice for publishing, knowledge and digital businesses

We turn change into progress.

fullstopp helps leaders make clear decisions, build resilient business models and turn transformation into measurable progress. The work draws on more than 25 years of experience—while staying curious, open and ready to learn.

What we do

Deep sector knowledge.
Clear judgment.

Direct, independent and hands-on support—from the first strategic question to implementation.

Consulting

Strategy, positioning, business models and transformation grounded in industry reality.

Advisory

Independent counsel for owners, executives and founders facing high-impact decisions.

Entrepreneurship

Support for building, validating and scaling new ventures and services.

Strategic Investments

Market screening, strategic fit and alignment between established companies and start-ups.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Clear judgment in complex situations.

Mergers and acquisitions in publishing are rarely just financial transactions. They involve people, intellectual property, technology, culture and long-standing relationships. Success depends on understanding how these elements fit together — and on retaining perspective when the situation becomes complex.

fullstopp has advised on 12 M&A transactions, all within the publishing industry. This advisory experience is complemented by hands-on management responsibility for more than 20 additional transactions.

This combination of advisory and operational experience helps owners, management teams and investors assess opportunities realistically, identify risks early and maintain a clear view of the whole picture. Discretion and trust are essential throughout: from the first confidential conversation and strategic assessment to negotiations, due diligence, integration or exit.

12M&A transactions as advisor
20+Transactions with management responsibility

Artificial Intelligence & Business Models

From capability to
viable business.

Artificial intelligence can lower costs, improve products and create new revenue—but only when it is embedded in a coherent value proposition and a sustainable business model.

Product & Value

Identify where AI solves a real customer problem, improves an existing offer or enables a genuinely new service.

Economics

Test data, compute, workflow integration, pricing and margins before technical possibility is mistaken for commercial viability.

Rights & Trust

Design for intellectual property, provenance, governance and transparency—especially in publishing and knowledge markets.

We help publishing and knowledge businesses identify defensible use cases, test commercial assumptions and build models that remain

Strategic investments

International by design.

From Berlin, fullstopp has built an international portfolio across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific—supporting founders and specialist teams in publishing, research infrastructure, media, AI-enabled research services and digital knowledge products.

Litmaps logo

Litmaps

Since April 2025 · Auckland, New Zealand

Active ↗
dskrpt logo

dskrpt

Since February 2025 · Hamburg, Germany

Active ↗
Atom Grants logo

Atom Grants

Since September 2024 · New York, United States

Active ↗
SY

Sylla

September 2024 — February 2026

Exit
Signals logo

Signals

Since June 2024

Active ↗
Anywyse logo

Anywyse

May 2024 — December 2025

Closed
Knowledge Gate Group logo

Knowledge Gate Group

Since March 2023

Active ↗
Chime logo

Chime

Since January 2023

Active ↗
Ex Ordo logo

Ex Ordo

Since December 2022

Active ↗
Reviewer Credits logo

Reviewer Credits

Since 2022

Active ↗
UN

UNFIA

April 2022 — December 2025

Closed
SISTRIS logo

SISTRIS

Since December 2021

Active ↗
SciFlow logo

SciFlow

Since October 2020

Active ↗
Zapnito logo

Zapnito

Since May 2020

Active ↗
JoMI logo

JoMI

Since June 2016

Active ↗
Knowledge Unlatched logo

Knowledge Unlatched

March 2016 — December 2021 · Acquired by Wiley

Exit
SS

Sample of Science

December 2015 — June 2022

Closed
Labiotech logo

Labiotech.eu

November 2015 — January 2022 · Exit at the end of the investment phase

Exit
Inkitt logo

Inkitt

November 2015 — August 2019 · Exit at the end of the investment phase

Exit

Publications

Writing & research

DOI links lead to the respective publication records; access conditions may vary.

2026

Startups to watch – Innovators of tomorrow

2026-01-14 | Preprint
Open DOI ↗

2024

Openness and Transparency in Peer Review

Septentrio Conference Series · 2024-11-04 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

Is the tail wagging the dog? Understanding the value of incentives in peer review

Information Services & Use · 2024-08-23 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

Recognition and reward in peer review: The ReviewerCredits vision

Minerva Cardiology and Angiology · 2024-06-01 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

2021

Neue Wildnis in geordneten Märkten

Bibliotheksdienst · 2021-10-05 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

2019

Open Access Monographs in the UK: A data analysis

2019-10-08 | Report

Der Conférencier der Wissenschaftsverlage: Arnoud de Kemp zum 75.

Information – Wissenschaft & Praxis · 2019-08-06 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

Das Große Abendländische Schisma im Open Access: Warum Bücher und Zeitschriften angeblich so unterschiedlich sind – und das dem Modell schadet

Bibliotheksdienst · 2019-08-05 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

Choosing Independence or Feeding the Beast? The Big Deal and Small or Society Publishers

Against the Grain · 2019-01-24 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

Learning from Knowledge Unlatched 2016: Making OA Work

Against the Grain · 2019-01-24 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

Misleading Perceptions of the Open Access Book Market

Against the Grain · 2019-01-24 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

2018

Open access: closing the loop

UKSG eNews · 2018-12-07 | Magazine article

Open Access in Its Next Phase: From Single Products to Marketplaces

Against the Grain · 2018-12-01 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

Stop, Look, Listen – OA Books Funding: The Next Phase

Against the Grain · 2018-11 | Journal article

From Supermarkets to Marketplaces

Society of Scholarly Publishing · 2018-05-14 | Interactive resource

OPERAS Open Access Business Models White Paper

ScienceOpen, Inc. · 2018-01 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

2017

Querfinanzierung von Open Access und Print

Praxishandbuch Open Access · 2017-05 | Book chapter
Open DOI ↗

Von der Digitalisierung zur Digitalität: Wissenschaftsverlage vor anderen Herausforderungen

Bibliothek Forschung und Praxis · 2017-04-01 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

2016

Open Access entlang bekannter Erwerbungspfade: Knowledge Unlatched

Bibliotheksdienst · 2016-01-01 | Journal article
Open DOI ↗

2014

Forschungsinformation und Bibliothek aus der Perspektive der Wissenschaftsverlage

ZfBB · 2014 | Journal article

2013

We need integrated publishing

Learn. Pub. · 2013-01-01 | Journal article

2011

Kommentar aus Sicht eines Wissenschaftsverlegers

ZfBB · 2011-08 | Journal article

2009

Der große Wissenschaftsverleger

ScienceOpen, Inc. · 2009-03 | Book chapter
Open DOI ↗

Frontmatter

ScienceOpen, Inc. · 2009-03 | Book chapter
Open DOI ↗

Klaus G. Saur und die Altertumswissenschaften: Etappen einer Annäherung

ScienceOpen, Inc. · 2009-03 | Book chapter
Open DOI ↗

Inhalt

Klaus G. Saur – Die Berliner Jahre · 2009-01 | Other
Open DOI ↗

2000

Grammatiken der Macht

2000 | Book

Undated

De Gruyter Open Library – Das Open Access-Modell eines Universalwissenschaftsverlags für Bücher und Zeitschriften

BIBLIOTHEK Forschung und Praxis

Integriertes Publizieren

Bibliotheksdienst

Klaus G. Saur – Die Berliner Jahre

Book

Profile – Sven Fund

Insights

Will Open Access Change the Game?

Bibliothek Forschung und Praxis

Archive 2015–today

Texte & Reden

Essays, interviews and talks about publishing, digitality, strategy and change — collected in one place.

56 entries
Featured inTHE SCHOLARLY KITCHENPublishing Perspectivesb·i·t.onlineBÖRSENBLATTbuchreportAgainst the GrainHIGHWIRE
HIGHWIRE

Understanding How Peer Reviewers Use AI Tools: Practical Insights for Editors and Publishers

HighWire Press webinar · 2025
Video · English

2025

2025-09-18

One System, Many Contexts: International Reflections on AI in Peer Review

panel · English

Peer Review Week 2025 / Asian Council of Science Editors
Watch ↗
2025-08-22

Peer Review at a Crossroads – The Reviewer-Centric Future

editorial feature · English

HIGHWIRE
Read ↗
2025-08-08

AI-Generated Peer Reviews: Can Machines Be Trusted to Review Science?

talk · English

APAME 2025 Virtual Conference
Watch ↗
2025-06-12

Using AI in Peer Review: Caution, Capability, and Community Input

panel · English

Asian Council of Science Editors webinar
Watch ↗
2025

Wie bringt die Wissenschaft ihr Wissen künftig in Umlauf?

expert interview · Deutsch

b·i·t.online
Read ↗

2024

2024-11-05

Peer Review and Research Integrity: Harnessing the Full Potential of Digitization

talk · English

NEC Publishing Conference, London
Watch ↗
2024-10-07

Sven Fund

podcast interview · English

Midnight at the Casablanca
Listen ↗
2024-09-18

Ask the Community — Thoughts on a Class Action Lawsuit Brought Against Scholarly Publishers

community commentary · English

THE SCHOLARLY KITCHEN
Read ↗
2024-07-15

Sven Fund verlässt Wiley

personnel news · Deutsch

BÖRSENBLATT
Read ↗

2023

2023-10-23

The Evolving World of Open Access with Sven Fund and Frances Pinter

podcast interview · English

Research Impact Podcast
Listen ↗
2023-10-20

Research Integrity: Technology, Trust, and Transparency

panel · English

Charleston Conference at Frankfurt Book Fair / Publishing Perspectives Forum
Watch ↗
2023-09

Peer Review and the Future of Publishing

video podcast · English

Peer Review Week 2023 / Nvcleus / Amnet
Watch ↗
2023-07-13

Ten Years of Knowledge Unlatched, and What’s Next for Open Access

interview · English

Publishing Perspectives
Read ↗

2022

2022-10-25

Coopetition in Open Access Management: Practices, Pain Points, and Participation

webinar panel · English

ChronosHub / MoreBrains webinar
Watch ↗
2022-10-10

Sven Fund: Die Peer-Review-Müdigkeit bekämpfen

interview · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2022

Ein Atavismus in der digitalisierten Welt

opinion · Deutsch

b·i·t.online
Read ↗

2021

2021-12

Forschernetzwerk Researchgate sucht Nestwärme bei Verlagen

profile interview · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2021-10-11

Frankfurt Conference 2021 – Academic Publishing: Welcome and Introduction

introduction · English

Frankfurt Conference 2021 – Academic Publishing
Watch ↗
2021-10-11

Frankfurt Conference 2021 – Academic Publishing: Conclusion

closing · English

Frankfurt Conference 2021 – Academic Publishing
Watch ↗
2021

Windhund-Rennen um Open Access

guest commentary · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗

2020

2020-12-04

Open Access: Where Are We?

talk · English

Frankfurt Academic Conference – A New Era for Academic Publishing in Europe and the US
Watch ↗
2020-11

Digital Publishing: Business Models and Protection

panel · English

Jakarta Content Week / International Publishers Association
Watch ↗
2020-09-07

Wie mittelständisches Open-Access-Publishing sichtbar bleibt

guest article · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2020-07-16

Digitale Sichtbarkeit fürs Kunstbuch herstellen

interview · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2020-05-06

Open Access: Einstieg und Tipps zum Geschäftsmodell

webinar · Deutsch

Börsenblatt / Mediacampus Frankfurt
Watch ↗
2020-03-04

Steigende Interaktion mit Open-Access-Büchern

interview · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗

2019

2019-05-16

Sven Fund on Knowledge Unlatched’s New Open Research Library

interview · English

Publishing Perspectives
Read ↗
2019

ATG Interviews Sven Fund, Managing Director of Knowledge Unlatched

interview · English

Against the Grain
Read ↗

2018

2018-10

Projekt DEAL, Open Access und Crowdfunding – Alternativen zum Gang der Diskussion

guest article · Deutsch

DIGITAL PUBLISHING REPORT
Read ↗
2018-09-19

Open Access Books – From Pariah to Shooting Star?

keynote · English

10th Conference on Open Access Scholarly Publishing (COASP)
Watch ↗
2018-07-23

Dunkelmänner im Labor?

commentary · Deutsch

BÖRSENBLATT
Read ↗
2018-05-02

Wer von japanischer Bindung mehr weiß als von XML, sollte über seine Prioritäten nachdenken

interview · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2018

Stop, Look, Listen — Academic Content for Generation Y: Videos in Scholarly Publishing

column · English

Against the Grain
Read ↗
2018

Open Access und Bibliotheken – Is Honeymoon over?

reply · Deutsch

b·i·t.online
Read ↗
2018

Open Access für Bücher

interview · Deutsch

b·i·t.online
Read ↗
2018

Besser als DEAL: Wie eine institutionelle Förderstruktur zu einem offenen Publikationsmarkt für OA-Bücher führen kann

talk · Deutsch

Open-Access-Tage 2018, Graz
Watch ↗

2017

2017-12

Offen ist bei Open Access vor allem die Finanzierung

article · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2017-11-23

Knowledge Unlatched: Making Open Access Work

talk · English

Open Science and Research Forum / ATTForum 2017
Watch ↗
2017-10-09

Knowledge Unlatched Announces Transformation: An Interview with Sven Fund

interview · English

THE SCHOLARLY KITCHEN
Read ↗
2017-06-16

Quo vadis Abonnement?

commentary · Deutsch

BÖRSENBLATT
Read ↗
2017-05-01

Nach Open Access und Copyright – Technologie!

commentary · Deutsch

BÖRSENBLATT
Read ↗
2017-04-25

Sven Fund’s ‘Bridge’ to Open Access: Knowledge Unlatched

feature interview · English

Publishing Perspectives
Read ↗
2017-01-27

Ist Qualitätssicherung ein stabiles Fundament?

conference commentary · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2017-01-11

Blockchain: Technik statt Vertrauen?

commentary · Deutsch

BÖRSENBLATT
Read ↗
2017

Knowledge Unlatched ist der bessere DEAL

interview · Deutsch

b·i·t.online
Read ↗
2017

Die Verlagsgruppe Peter Lang und die Frage des Open-Access für Monographien

interview · Deutsch

b·i·t.online
Read ↗

2016

circa 2016

Open Access Reloaded

commentary · Deutsch

b·i·t.online
Read ↗
2016-10-26

Das Kerngeschäft der Verlage voranbringen

interview · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2016-10-11

Knowledge Unlatched

talk · Deutsch

10. Open-Access-Tage, München
Watch ↗
2016-07-21

Ich meine, dass man nicht alles teilen muss

short interview · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2016-03-02

Der Zweck heiligt nicht die Mittel

commentary · Deutsch

BÖRSENBLATT
Read ↗

2015

2015-12-02

Sven Fund gründet Verlagsdienstleistungsunternehmen Fullstop

company profile · Deutsch

buchreport
Read ↗
2015-10-14

Literaturversorgung anders gedacht: Das ganz andere Open-Access-Modell

panel · Deutsch

b.i.t.sofa auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse 2015
Watch ↗
2015

Sven Fund gründet fullstopp

company news · Deutsch

BÖRSENBLATT
Read ↗

Undated

Undated

Sowing the Seeds of Profound Impact: Sven Fund on Loving What You Do, Nurturing Relationships, and Scaling in EdTech

interview · English

27zero – EdTech Mentor Series
Read ↗
div>

Contact

Let’s talk about what comes next.

sven.fund@fullstopp.com
fullstopp GmbH
Maximiliankorso 66 · 13465 Berlin
Germany
Managing Director: Dr. Sven Fund
Amtsgericht Charlottenburg · HRB 170712 B
VAT ID: DE302070463