Challenges National Press — Business Section · June 5, 2020 · Article by Delphine Dechaux
In *Challenges*, Delphine Dechaux details the €13.5 million funding round secured by Castalie, a French specialist in microfiltered water dispensers. Used by 700 chefs and hoteliers as well as major corporations, the SME plans to accelerate its market expansion and fund innovation: reusable filters, connected water dispensers, and water bottles made in France. The funding round brought together the manufacturer Seb and three impact investment funds.
Key takeaways
- On June 4, 2020, Castalie it Castalie raised 13.5 million euros to accelerate its growth and fund innovation, furthering its mission to “put an end to the plastic bottle craze.”
- The funding round brings together the industrial group Seb, through Seb Venture Capital, and three funds specializing in impact investing: Ring Capital (lead investor), Amundi Finance et Solidarité, and Raise Impact.
- Founded in 2011 by Thibault Lamarque with 100,000 euros in personal savings, Castalie 75 employees and 2,000 clients at the time, half of whom were chefs featured in the Le Fooding guide.
- Castalie water dispensers Castalie tap water to remove chlorine and limescale residue, providing neutral-tasting water—still or sparkling—with filters replaced four times a year, whereas competitors often limit themselves to one replacement per year.
- In 2019, Castalie prevent the use of 24 million plastic bottles, particularly at companies like LVMH, which are equipping their offices in response to the decline in the use of water coolers—which have been criticized for containing bisphenol A.
- Castalie , which has held the ESUS (Social Solidarity Enterprise) certification since 2019, Castalie the assembly of its equipment to an ESAT in the Paris region that employs people with disabilities.
- The fundraising campaign was intended to finance three innovation projects: partially reusable filters, connected water fountains for maintenance and tracking CO2 savings, and a water bottle manufactured in France.
- Castalie also Castalie entering the flavored water market without producing either bottles or waste.
- Castalie fundraising round Castalie extensive coverage in the business press in June 2020, notably in Challenges, Les Échos, and La Croix, a sign of the interest generated by its alternative to plastic bottles.
Source: Challenges, Business section, June 5, 2020 — article by Delphine Dechaux. Read the original article
