CoachClub raises €5m in a new round of financing to fuel growth in France and kick-start international development.
Clipperton Finance acted as Sole Manager of the transaction.
Paris, London – April 26th, 2011 – Clipperton Finance, a leading European corporate finance boutique dedicated to the High Tech and Media industries, today announced the closing of a €5m capital raising for CoachClub, the first video sports and well-being coaching service accessible via the Internet and television. Innovacom joins Serena Capital for this new round. Clipperton Finance acted as Sole Manager of the transaction.
CoachClub’s mission is to help its members practice a regular physical activity by creating a personalized sports program for them, which can be upgraded according to the progress they make. The service was launched a year ago, and has already attracted 100,000 members. CoachClub enables its members to keep fit at all times, at their own pace, when they decide. The service is accessible on the Web and on TV through the creation of theme TV services. With CoachClubTV, sports coaching has reached the small screen as a customizable program or as Video On Demand sessions, including on Freebox’s Channel 108. Connected TV is in the running as well, as CoachClub has also signed agreements with top manufacturers in the sector like Philips, Sharp and Loewe.
“The aim of raising funds is firstly to speed up the conquest of new members, and secondly to deploy the CoachClub service outside France as well.” said Thierry Pepin, CEO and Founder of the company.
Thierry Pépin and Aurélie Chomont-Garnier (VP Marketing) added: “Clipperton’s expertise and work throughout the fundraising process enabled us to remain focused on operational matters. Their deep knowledge of the Internet and Media environment was instrumental to the success of this financing round which will now support CoachClub in its rapid growth in France and abroad”
Thibaut Revel and Nicolas von Bülow, the Partners in charge of the transaction alongside Alexis Barba, Associate, commented “This financing proves the quality of the service created and improved by the CoachClub team throughout 2010, which is now ready to be deployed at a large commercial scale in France, and very soon in several selected international markets. Online sport coaching is at the crossroads of three major consumption trends: health/well-being, home practice and online/social usage – creating a powerful consumer’s proposition. CoachClub has a clear head-start in this field and, through this new financing, is now well positioned to become a strong brand in a new online market”
For more information, please contact:
Clipperton Finance
Thibaut Revel, Partner, trevel@clipperton.net
Nicolas von Bülow, Partner, nvonbulow@clipperton.net
Alexis Barba, Associate, abarba@clipperton.net
About Clipperton Finance
Based in Paris and London, Clipperton Finance is a European corporate finance boutique dedicated to the High Tech and Media industries. Clipperton is focused on start-up and high-growth companies in the Internet, Software, Telecom, Components, CleanTech, MedTech and Media spaces, advising them in their financial transactions: fundraising/capital increases and Mergers & Acquisitions. Over the past years the company and its team have successfully structured numerous high level international transactions in the European High Tech sector.
About CoachClub
Launched in January 2010, Coach Club is the first video sports and well-being coaching service accessible via the Internet and television. For each member, CoachClub creates a tailor-made sports program based on a questionnaire targeting the person’s objectives, physical capacities, health and availability. Each entirely personalized program is drawn up by health and sports professionals, and comprises videos of disciplines designed and produced internally by CoachClub. There is a very large catalogue of no fewer than 20 disciplines, designed to meet the wishes, progress and objectives of each person. CoachClub members can practice aerobics, Yoga, belly and buttock exercises and Pilates, move with Body Sculpture, relax, dance the Salsa, and much more. The discipline catalogue is regularly added to and enriched by exclusive activities, such as Fitness Fight and Urban Dance (the result of an exclusive partnership with Puma). All the coaches selected by CoachClub are recognized international references in their discipline. Since its launch, CoachClub has already attracted some 100,000 members. The company has a workforce of 19.