For Digicompanion, Gilles Babinet, Jean Marc Holder and Jeremie Wainstain secured a first round financing of € 1.7 million ($2.2 million) led by Alven Capital and Ile-de-France Developpement. The valuation and the ownership were not disclosed. However, the Fonds Regional d’Ile de France usually invests between €300 000 and €400 000, which would bring to €1.35 million Alven Capital’s investment. The investment will support Digicompanion’s technological development and operational capacity.
Pascal Mercier, Aelios, orchestrated the investment which means he secured a percentage of ownership in Digicompanion. I would guess less than 1%. He strongly recommended that the founders built revenues to prove the model. Over the past few months, while they were developing the technology, they secured in the range of 200 000 € revenues and have a significant pipe. Aelios previously orchestrated another investment of Gilles Babinet, MXP4, ealier this year. Gilles does not hold any executive position in Digicompanion.
To understand in the blink of an eye their business, think about the little present in your Kellog’s cereal box on your breakfast table or your Coke points. Digicompanion replaces plastic toys or caps by digital rewards much easier to handle, cheaper to produce, trendier. Consumer demand for downloadable content such as music, video, games, and mobile ringtones is exploding. They plan to ride the wave.
Jean-Marc Holder, President and co-founder Digicompanion, on may 20th 2007