Blacklane has successfully raised funds over seven rounds, with the latest being a Series C in August 2016. The company offers a global chauffeur service with all-inclusive pricing and ride flexibility.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of Blacklane's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.
What Is Blacklane?
Blacklane, founded in 2011 in Berlin, is a global chauffeur service provider. The company was established by Frank Steuer and Jens Wohltorf.
Blacklane offers a range of transportation solutions, including city-to-city rides, airport transfers, and hourly or full-day hire. Their services are designed to provide a high-quality, convenient, and safe travel experience.
With a team of 201-500 employees, Blacklane continues to expand its operations, ensuring safety, efficiency, and comfort for travelers worldwide.
How Much Funding Has Blacklane Raised?
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: September 2011
- Motivation Behind the Round: Initial funding to get the company off the ground, develop the first version of the product, and start initial marketing efforts.
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: March 2012
- Motivation Behind the Round: Early-stage development and market entry.
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: October 2012
- Motivation Behind the Round: Initial product development and market research.
- Series A
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: April 2013
- Lead Investors: ALSTIN - Alternative Strategic Investments
- Motivation Behind the Round: Optimizing product offerings and market fit.
- Series B
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: December 2013
- Lead Investors: moovel
- Motivation Behind the Round: Scaling and expanding the business.
- Series B
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: November 2014
- Lead Investors: Recruit Strategic Partners
- Motivation Behind the Round: Business development, sales, and marketing efforts to scale the company.
- Series C
- Amount Raised: Two-digit million euro (exact amount not specified)
- Date: August 2016
- Lead Investors: Daimler AG through Daimler Mobility Services GmbH
- Motivation Behind the Round: Accelerate global expansion, enhance technology and services, integrate with more travel industry partners, develop new services, and expand the team to manage global operations.
Total Amount Raised: Undisclosed
Current Valuation: Not disclosed (~estimated)
Key Investors
- Daimler AG (through Daimler Mobility Services GmbH)
- Details: Daimler is a global automotive company known for its Mercedes-Benz brand. Daimler Mobility Services GmbH is a subsidiary focused on innovative mobility services.
- Investment Focus Areas: Car sharing, taxi apps, intermodal mobility solutions
- Notable Investments: car2go, mytaxi, moovel
- RI Digital Ventures
- Details: RI Digital Ventures is an existing investor in Blacklane. Specific details about the firm are not provided.
- Investment Focus Areas: Not specified
- Notable Investments: Not specified
- b-to-v
- Details: b-to-v is a venture capital firm represented by Jochen Gutbrod, who is also a Blacklane board director. The firm focuses on transformative investments.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, healthcare, consumer goods
- Notable Investments: Not specified
- ALSTIN - Alternative Strategic Investments
- Details: ALSTIN is a venture capital firm that invests in high-growth companies. They focus on providing strategic support to their portfolio companies.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, financial services, healthcare
- Notable Investments: Not specified
- Recruit Strategic Partners
- Details: Recruit Strategic Partners is a venture capital arm of Recruit Holdings. They invest in innovative companies across various sectors.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, human resources, marketing
- Notable Investments: Not specified
What's Next for Blacklane?
Blacklane is poised to capitalize on significant opportunities, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. With a substantial investment from Daimler AG, the company aims to enhance its passenger and driver apps, integrate with more travel industry partners, and develop new services. This expansion could position Blacklane as a leader in the global professional driver service market.
Future fundraising opportunities seem promising, given the strategic backing from Daimler and other investors. This financial support could pave the way for additional rounds to fuel further growth and innovation. However, Blacklane may face challenges such as intense competition, maintaining high service quality, and navigating regulatory landscapes across different regions.
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