Dublin’s PepTalk raises €3m to spice up US enlargement

The beginning-up co-founded by former Dublin footballer Bernard Brogan will use the recent funding to scale its enterprise within the US and develop its staff by 12.

Office wellness software program start-up PepTalk has raised €3m to develop its staff and increase within the US.

The funding spherical was led by VentureWave Capital, which launched its Impression Eire Fund in 2020 to assist construct world ‘expertise for good’ corporations.

Describing itself as a “staff expertise platform for the trendy office”, PepTalk is aiming to create a greater surroundings for hybrid work.

The beginning-up mentioned its platform is underpinned by behavioural psychology, with options to measure and enhance staff engagement, retention and efficiency

It was based in Dublin in 2017 by former Twitter govt Michelle Fogarty, lawyer James Brogan and former Dublin footballer Bernard Brogan. In 2019, it was one in every of 15 Irish corporations chosen for the Google Undertake a Startup programme.

Final yr, PepTalk raised €1.2m so as to add new options to its platform, make 15 new hires and increase within the UK and EMEA markets. Traders in final yr’s funding spherical included Haatch Ventures and Enterprise Eire.

The platform has grown considerably in recent times, with large shoppers together with PayPal, Elavon and AIB. Greater than 80pc of AIB’s PepTalk customers mentioned the platform helped enhance the connection to their colleagues, based on a case examine shared by the start-up.

PepTalk at the moment employs 23 employees and plans so as to add 12 new individuals to its staff throughout gross sales, advertising and expertise.

The beginning-up additionally plans to double its income subsequent yr and increase additional into the US. CEO James Brogan is relocating to PepTalk’s US workplace to serve the growing market demand amongst North American prospects.

The CEO mentioned the corporate is “delighted” to have partnered with VentureWave to assist gasoline its enlargement.

“We’re a mission-driven enterprise, and it’s distinctive to search out an investor that aligns so strongly with our personal values,” he added.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Commerce and Employment Leo Varadkar, TD, welcomed the funding information and mentioned it’s nice to see an Irish start-up “experiencing robust development”.

“The opening of the brand new base within the US supplies an ideal alternative to introduce and embed their distinctive product providing amongst blue-chip corporations in world markets and is an enormous step ahead on their development journey,” Varadkar mentioned.

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