Mindfactory, Germany's top PC hardware retailer, was bankrupted by a tax claim

Mindfactory was one of Germany's largest online retailers of PC components and hardware. Founded in 1996 in Wilhelmshaven, it grew to €302.7 million in annual revenue by 2022 with 111 employees, carrying over 100,000 products and attracting more than 4 million monthly visitors. The company was known for its competitive pricing and frequently appeared at the top of price-comparison sites for graphics cards, processors and other PC components.

In early 2025, Mindfactory ran into a cash crisis. Industry sources reported that a tax discrepancy had triggered a short-term million-euro claim against the company, draining its liquidity. On 28 February 2025, the company filed for insolvency in self-administration (Eigenverwaltung), a German procedure that allows the management to remain in control while restructuring under court supervision.

The insolvency proceedings opened on 1 June 2025. On 30 June, the Heise Medien Group — the German media company behind c't, iX and heise online — signed an asset deal to acquire the entire business. The Federal Cartel Office approved the acquisition on 15 July, and the company was renamed heise mindfactory GmbH, effective 31 July 2025. All employees, the Wilhelmshaven location and customer relationships were retained.