Planity, a leading French booking platform for the beauty industry, announced it has raised €46 million Series C funding round led by InfraVia Capital Partners with participation from existing shareholders Crédit Mutuel Innovation, Revaia, and Bpifrance Digital Venture, bringing the total funding since inception to $105 million.This financing will accelerate Planity’s European expansion, the recruitment of 300 new employees, and support enhancement of its product through AI.
Founded in 2017 by Antoine Puymirat and his co-founders Jérémy Queroy and Paul Vonderscher, Planity is the number one beauty appointment booking platform in France. In the last 18 months Planity has also gained significant and growing market positions in Germany and Belgium, securing the second position in those countries.
Antoine Puymirat, CEO and co-founder of Planity, said: “This fundraising round is further proof of our model’s relevance and the financial community’s trust. We are very happy we can count on the support of our existing shareholders whilst welcoming InfraVia as a new backer as we approach a pivotal chapter in our journey. After securing a leadership position in France and quickly establishing a significant presence in the German and Belgian markets, we will strive to replicate our national success there.”
Over 10 million hair and beauty appointments are booked every month through Planity’s unique solution with just a few clicks. Salons experience a 16% increase in turnover within one year of use as a result of a significant reduction in missed appointments through reminder SMS, increased booking frequency, as well as the acquisition of new clients from the platform’s unique coverage.
Having successfully achieved break-even performance in its home market, Planity now aims to become number one in Belgium, Germany, and Europe. With over 40,000 establishments using its solution, Planity achieved ARR of $40m in 2023 whilst growing 60%.
To support its internationalization, commercial development, and solution improvement, Planity, which employs 400 people, plans to recruit 300 new employees in 2024. Among the planned developments, Planity intends to integrate conversational AI to manage calls and appointment bookings by phone and to enable its clients to process card payments using their mobile phones.
Guillaume Santamaria, Partner at InfraVia Capital Partners, commented: “The model developed by Planity was efficiently carried out in three countries and demonstrates a strong sector trend globally. The company’s leaders and their teams can therefore legitimately nurture great ambitions. We are thrilled to participate in the development of an innovative solution that transforms the daily lives of tens of thousands of professionals and millions of consumers.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/02/paris-based-planity-bags-e46-million-series-c-to-drive-international-expansion-to-its-booking-platform-for-beauty/
