VC-backed L'Usine à Design raises €4m

Greg Gille
29 September 2011

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Crédit Agricole Private Equity (CAPE) has joined existing investor CM-CIC Capital Privé in a €4m round of financing for French e-commerce company L'Usine à Design.

Olivier Mathiot, co-founder and marketing director of e-commerce platform PriceMinister, also contributed to the second round of funding.

The new investors were attracted by the company's positioning, which aims to combine low prices and a personalised approach to buying furniture. They were also convinced by L'Usine à Design's progress since inception, with regards to both its growth rate and the validation of its business model.

The fresh capital will be used to broaden the product catalogue and offer new services to users. L'Usine à Design will also look to expand internationally and will put in place a strategic committee to better follow emerging trends in the market.

Previous funding
L'Usine à Design raised €1.6m from CM-CIC Capital Privé in May 2010, in what was the company's first round of institutional fundraising.

Company
Launched in 2009, L'Usine à Design is an e-commerce website focusing on furniture and other decoration items. The website allows users to select from a wide range of products, which can be further personalised by a team of designers according to the customer's specifications.

Based in Rueil-Malmaison, L'Usine à Design currently employs 23 staff. It is aiming to post a turnover circa €2m for 2011.

People
Francois-Xavier Dedde led the deal for Crédit Agricole Private Equity. Emilie Gobin is chairperson of L'Usine à Design.

Advisers
Equity - Chammas & Marcheteau (Legal); Ernst & Young (Financial due diligence).
Company - Joffe & Associés (Legal).