Helpling, Europe’s leading marketplace for booking household services like home cleaning, has announced today that it has secured an investment from Unilever Ventures. The investment by Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, marks an important milestone in the home service industry.
The investment of Unilever Ventures follows multiple strategic partnerships between Unilever and Helpling, ranging from co-branded marketing campaigns, in-store co-operation and content development; to the distribution of home care products to Helpling customers. These partnerships have been rolled out across various markets in the past two years, including the UK, France, Singapore, and the Netherlands.
Benedikt Franke, co-founder of Helpling, said: “Unilever has created some of the strongest consumer brands worldwide – to leverage their assets and expertise creates a strong benefit for us. The engagement of Unilever is an important mark of confidence on our path to establish Helpling as the synonym for any help at home.”
Over 90% of Helpling’s customers use the service on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, creating a unique recurring relationship. The investment by Unilever comes as Helpling looks to include home care products in its offering for an even more convenient consumer experience. The two companies will explore further strategic partnerships as Helpling continues to drive the online shift of household services.
Olivier Garel, Head of Unilever Ventures, said: “Home services is a hugely attractive and growing sector. Helpling has proven over the last few years that it can build market leadership and achieve strong economies in this space. Our investment in Helpling provides access to a market that is still in the very early days with tremendous potential.”
Over the next 12 months, Helpling will continue its path to profitability and will roll out additional household services internationally. A major area of investment is technological product development as Helpling plans to increase the automation of the platform, enabling both customers and service providers to manage their relationships with even more ease and convenience.
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Helpling plans to increase the automation of the platform, enabling both customers and service providers to manage their relationships with even more ease and convenience. This is a very good investment.
Sometimes I wonder how businesses like Helpling manage to secure financial assistance from sponsors, looking at the kind of services they render. This same Helpling secured about $17 million in 2014. Can a business venture like this get the same assistance in Nigeria? I doubt.