Capital Raising, Mergers & Acquisitions: ESSEC Entrepreneurs are Making Waves

A record valuation, a gem of the circular economy and acquisitions by major groups... we take a look at the spectacular operations by ESSEC entrepreneurs in recent months.

Capital raising

There’s no stopping Contentsquare! Founded by  Jonathan Cherki (E11), this platform for digital experience optimisation has risen in just 10 years from the ranks of the ESSEC Ventures incubator to the very closed circle of French unicorns. And it has no plans to stop there; this summer the company announced a capital raising of $600M, making this the second biggest round ever achieved by a French company and the highest in France in 2022, bringing the company’s total valuation to a record-breaking $5.6 billion. Find out more (in French) (See also the ESSEC Alumni interview with Jonathan Cherki here)

Co-founded by Jean Moreau (E07), Phénix is a gem of the circular economy, whose activities combine an identification tool for expired on-shelf goods, a fast-track resale app for consumers, a platform for donations to charity and recycling into animal food, is raising €15M. The aim is to reach profitability by the end of 2023 with a turnover of €15M to €20M, in order to strengthen its position in its overseas operations (Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium) and win more customers. Find out more (in French)

Co-founded by Adrien Jorge (E10) and Raphaël Gaillot (E08) in Singapore, Propseller, the neo-agency which optimises property hunting and transactions through technology, is raising $12M to scale up, develop its services, launch international operations and boost its staff numbers to 200.  Find out more (See also the ESSEC Alumni interview with Propseller here - in French)

Co-founded by Camille Gilardi (E13), the Champagne EPC brand is raising €5.5M to expand its presence in Europe and the USA, boost its visibility and strengthen its distribution network in France. The operation by this young estate with dealings in 30 countries over 4 continents is being hailed as a “world record-breaker in the winery sector”. Find out more (in French)

Co-founded by Adrien Péligry (BBA 19) and Nino Spiegel (BBA 19), Hestia is raising €1M to develop its leasing-with-option-to-purchase model, which enables tenants to buy a home in under 3 years. “Given that currently one property loan application in two is refused in 2022, innovative and egalitarian solutions must be found to enable everyone to acquire property.” This is the second business venture and second success for the duo, who also founded Sweevana, a SaaS platform for employee benefits, since acquired by Swile. Find out more (in French)

Mergers, acquisitions and transfers

Co-founded by Jean-Baptiste Achard (E17), StaffMe, which provides various employment springboard solutions for 18- to 30-year-olds (networking platform for jobs adapted to young people’s schedules, training for young freelancers and a vocational integration programme for young people distanced from the employment market) is joining House of HR, a leader in European HR with 50 brands in 5 countries and turnover of €2.2 billion.  The aim of this operation is to: “bring together service offers of various durations and under different statuses in a single application, which provides very simple access to a job, and acts as a one-stop shop for youth employment.”  Find out more (in French)

Managed by Dimitri Caudrelier (EXEC MBA 16), the Quantis sustainable development consultancy boasts 270 experts in Europe and the USA, and is to join the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The world leader in strategic consulting thus hopes to “strengthen its expertise in climate and biodiversity and its ability to support company transformation.” Find out more (in French)

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