BNP Paribas, CapDecisif in €12m round for Linkfluence

BNP and CapDecisif join previous investors Orkos Capital, Banexi Ventures Partners and Sigma Gestion, which had provided the startup with around €10m in total through three previous rounds. All three existing funds committed further capital to the latest round.

All investors will keep a minority stake in the group, with the majority held by management and Linkfluence executives. This fourth round of funding comes 10 years after the platform's launch, and brings the total it has raised from private equity backers to more than €20m.

The fresh capital will enable the startup to invest in R&D and pursue its international rollout, which has already begun in Germany, China and Singapore. Linkfluence expects to open a London office in the future. Currently generating 30% of its revenues abroad, the company is hoping to raise that figure to 50% in the coming years.

Linkfluence has registered a 50% year-on-year growth over the last few years.

Previous funding
Orkos was the first investor in the startup, leading a $2.5m series-A round in 2010.

In September 2013, Orkos and Banexi invested €3.5m in a second round of funding for Linkfluence. The following year, the platform raised an additional €3m from the same investors, who were joined by Sigma Gestion.

The third investment enabled Linkfluence to bolt on social media monitoring company TrendyBuzz, which had the effect of increasing its turnover by €7m and its headcount to 70.

Company
Founded in 2006, Linkfluence is a developer of social media strategy analysis software. The company's product, Radarly, helps clients monitor, analyse and optimise social media strategies. It is designed to help brands refine their marketing, communications and CRM strategies.

The group expects a turnover within the €18-20m range this year. It employs around 100 people.

People
Linkfluence – Hervé Simonin (CEO)
Orkos Capital – Dominique Rencurel (partner). 
Banexi Ventures Partners – Philippe Herbert (general partner).  
Sigma Gestion – Guillaume Hemmerlé (investment director). 

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