Cloud-based phone system Aircall raises $120m as home working endures
Cloud-based phone system Aircall has raised $120m in Series D funding led by Goldman Sachs, as demand for the firm’s technology surged during the remote-working boom.
The round was led by Goldman Sachs with participation from current investors DTCP, eFounders, Draper Esprit, Adams Street Partners, NextWorld and Gaia Capital Partners.
Aircall’s total valuation is more than $1bn as a result of its latest funding round, and the company now plans to invest in its UK presence.
The cloud-based phone system, which counts Natwest, Spareroom and Mindful Chef among its customers, plans to hire 260 new employees by the end of the year, in new and current markets including the UK.
It is aiming to open a new office in the UK by the end of 2021, and plans to recruit more customer-facing teams in its London and Berlin offices, to reach the European market better.
Aircall has had a lucrative year, thanks to the widespread move to home working. The company saw more than 65 percent total customer growth year on year, and now has more than 8,500 customers worldwide.
Kirk Lepke, executive director at Goldman Sachs, said the bank had been “following Aircall’s journey for some time”.
“The company has tremendous momentum within a huge category and a differentiated product strategy that will sustain significant growth for many years to come,” he added.
Olivier Pailhes, co-founder and CEO of Aircall, said: “Now that hybrid, on-site or remote teams are likely here to stay, we’ll continue to work to achieve our vision, and empower every professional to have richer conversations.
“With that in mind, the investment by Goldman Sachs, and the renewed trust of our current investors validates this vision,” he said.