Withings PR - Fundraising July 17th 2013
Withings PR - Fundraising July 17th 2013
Withings PR - Fundraising July 17th 2013
Paris, France – July 18, 2013 – Withings, the leading innovator in health & wellness smart devices and
applications, today announced that it has received $30 million from Bpifrance, which investment
amounts to $15 million, Idinvest Partners and 360 Capital Partners, alongside with Withings’ historical
investor Ventech. Clipperton Finance advised the Company on this second round of financing. It is the
first significant capital risk operation for the newly created Bpifrance. These new funds will help the
Company to accelerate international expansion and to support innovation.
A front-runner of the on-going Digital Health global revolution, Withings has already carved out a leading
position on this multi-billion market. Founded in 2008 by Cédric Hutchings and Éric Carreel, Withings is a
recognized pioneer of the Health 2.0 transformation. It has developed a unique capability of
transforming people’s day-to-day lives, empowering users with cutting-edge tools capable of improving
their lifestyles and well-being. Leveraging unparalleled R&D capacities, the Company has built a
comprehensive eco-system around Digital Health, made of game-changing and carefully-designed
devices coupled with user-friendly mobile applications.
From widely praised Wi-Fi Body Scales in 2009, the company has subsequently enriched its product
range with a series of devices designed for improving users’ lives, including the Smart Blood Pressure
Monitor and the Smart Baby Monitor. Earlier this year, Withings reinvented the connected scale once
again with the launch of the Smart Body Analyzer – the first Internet-connected scale measuring heart
rate and air quality in addition to traditional weight and body composition measurements. Last month,
Withings disrupted the activity tracking segment with the launch the Withings Pulse, a pocket-sized
activity tracking device monitoring a wide array of parameters such as heart rate, steps taken, distance
covered, elevation, calories burned and quality of sleep. Withings has been repeatedly praised for the
design and ease of use of its device, which makes them long term life changing partners.
Rewarding its unique approach to health management, Withings is experiencing a staggering growth
phase with devices and applications used in all parts of the world by individuals as well as professionals.
Additional financing capacities will allow the Company to fuel further growth on overseas markets
extending its retail and distribution network. Attached to its innovation-driven DNA, Withings also aims
at strengthening its in-house R&D teams by hiring best-in-class software and hardware engineers and
developers.
Cedric Hutchings, co-founder and General Manager, Withings, declared “Quantified self is only the first
wave of a much more profound health care revolution. Thanks to Withings solutions, users are gaining
control over their personal health, and richer relationships are established between patients and
healthcare professionals.”
Eric Carreel, co-founder and Chairman, Withings, declared “Big Data analytics is creating insight that was
only dreamt of a few years ago. The new funds will enable Withings to accelerate and drive this
revolution. We are stepping up our R&D programs to push for more innovation in into more beautiful
products, and reinforcing our marketing muscles and partnerships to gain new markets in this booming
sector.”
Nicolas Dufourcq, General Manager, Bpifrance, declares “This investment alongside with experienced
investors is highly illustrative of Bpifrance’s commitment in the capital risk industry. Withings is a
successful French company, growing in the new and booming market of quantified self. These new
resources will enable Withings to accelerate its development.”
According to Benoist Grossmann, Managing Partner at Idinvest Partners: “Eric Carreel is a serial
entrepreneur and I believe that every serial entrepreneur is performing better and better over the years
of his experience. Being part of Withings additional funding is completely responding to Idinvest Partners
strategy and believes.”
Emanuele Levi, Partner at 360 Capital Partners, commented “We are thrilled to join a terrific company
like Withings one of the rising stars in the global market of smart devices. I have been really impressed by
the extraordinary execution and the vision of Cedric, Eric and the company's management team who
have created in such a short time a true global leader with a really distinctive product offer. By the
way, you should try one of their products, they can really change your life! “
******
About Withings
Withings is an innovative company that creates smart products and apps to help people across the world
easily take care of their health and well-being. Founded by French executives Cedric Hutchings and Eric
Carreel, Withings has been pioneering Health 2.0 since the launch of their first Wi-Fi Body Scale in 2009
and is leading the way of the connected health movement. By extending the capabilities of an object
through network resources, Withings provides access to infinite computing and storage facility at no
extra cost, turning objects into smart connected devices. Since 2009, Withings has extended those
benefits to a wide range of lifestyle-friendly devices including the Wi-Fi Body Scale, the Smart Blood
Pressure Monitor and the Smart Baby Monitor. By using mobile phones and computers as bridges and
opening up its platform to the well-being ecosystem, Withings now works seamlessly with over 60
partner apps and devices, providing users with a whole new dimension to their day-to-day life.
About the Investors
Bpifrance
Bpifrance supports enterprises, from seed funding to IPOs, from loan financing to equity investment.
Bpifrance (formerly formed of OSEO, CDC Entreprises, FSI, FSI Régions) provides financing solutions suited
for small and medium innovative businesses as well as larger companies with a strategic dimension for
the French economy.
Bpifrance team: Jean d’Arthuys, Director at Bpifrance ; Sebastien Blot, Investment Director ; Litzie
Maarek, Investment Manager ; Stephen Fargis, Investment Manager ; Sophie Paquin, legal
Idinvest Partners
With €4 billion under management and 40 staff, Idinvest Partners is a leading pan-European manager
focused on the middle market segment. Idinvest Partners has developed several complementary areas of
expertise including investments in innovative European start-ups, primary, secondary and mezzanine
investments in European non-listed companies, and private equity consulting. Founded under the name of
AGF Private Equity in 1997, Idinvest Partners was formerly part of the Allianz Group until 2010 when it
joined forces with IDI Group to become independent.
360° Capital Partners is a Venture Capital firm, investing in Innovation at full scale, in Europe and more
particularly in France and Italy. 360° Capital Partners is managed by a consolidated team which has
cumulated 50+ years of Venture Capital experience in investing in, following-up and/or exiting from over
60 companies and which have more than €300 million under management, provided by top tier
international investors. 360° Capital Partners leverages an important international network, it co-
invested with major international Venture Capital funds in 9 countries and have proven a top quartile
track record as individuals and as a team in very different economic environments.
Ventech
Ventech is a venture capital firm that, for more than a decade, has invested in recently formed companies
or start-ups. These investments have focused more particularly on the Information Technology sector
(software, hardware and communication, media and services), mainly in France and other European
countries. With a total of more than €400 million raised, Ventech’s mission is to invest in ambitious
projects to transform companies into leaders, enabling most of them to earn international recognition.
Ventech is also present in China through a local team, dedicated to help the European companies in its
portfolio develop their business in Asia and to invest in the region via a dedicated fund.
Clipperton Finance is a European corporate finance boutique exclusively dedicated to the HighTech and
Media industries. Clipperton Finance advises high growth companies on financial transactions,
fundraisings, capital increases and Mergers & Acquisitions. With a team based in London, Berlin, and
Paris and an international reach, Clipperton Finance is a European leader in the sector. The team has
successfully structured more than seventy high level international transactions in the European High Tech
sector.
Contact Bpifrance :
Antoine Boulay Vanessa Godet
Bpifrance Bpifrance
+33 1 58 50 13 78 +33 1 41 79 84 33
[email protected] [email protected]
Contact Withings