Click&Boat, the French ‘Airbnb of seas’ acquires German competitor Scansail: UK, US expansion on cards

Founded by two French entrepreneurs, Edouard Gorioux and Jérémy Bismuth in 2013, Click&Boat a boat hire platform is built on a simple idea. Millions of boats remain idle at ports around the world, incurring maintenance costs for their owners. The platform matches boat owners who want to earn extra income with sailing enthusiasts who can rent a boat at surprisingly low costs. 

In an attempt to expand its market, the ‘Airbnb of seas’ startup has recently acquired Scansail, one of its main competitors in Germany. Post-acquisition, the German company will continue to operate as a separate brand, based in its current HQ in Hamburg.

Expansion on cards!

As Click&Boat’s first international acquisition, the deal marks the launch of an ambitious expansion plan, coming on the back of a €4m funding round completed in 2018. Further expansion is expected in other fast-growing markets, including the UK, the US, Italy, and Spain.

The deal, sealed this week after a few months of negotiations, follows a series of acquisitions of the French companies that have helped Click&Boat consolidate its position as France’s top boat rental platform.

Scansail – Dominant player in several German-speaking markets!

The German competitor of Click&Boat,  Scansail is a dominant player in the boat rental industry in several German-speaking markets, including Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. Operating since 1983, the company has built a strong reputation, serving a loyal customer base of around 100,000 registered users. Currently, the company has 9,320 boats available for rental in more than 875 locations in 48 countries.

Edouard Gorioux, the co-founder of Click&Boat, says:

Germany is Click&Boat’s third-largest market and is growing at breakneck speed. Just last year, we saw a staggering growth of 100% in bookings, so we decided to launch our expansion strategy abroad from this country.” He added: “We have observed that many German customers tend to stay loyal to the same company once they are happy with the service provided, so we decided to acquire a firm that is renowned for its customer-oriented mentality and strong brand name, such as Scansail.

Scansail’s 6-member team, led by the company’s CEO Jochen Eschenburg, will remain at its current office in Hamburg, aiming to develop its brand in Germany further.

Jochen Eschenburg, CEO, Scansail said:

The combination of Click&Boat’s expertise in all things digital and our own experience in growing a business is a perfect match. Joining forces with Click&Boat’s young and innovative team will help us stay ahead of the curve in the German market. The moment I met the company’s founders Edouard Gorioux and Jérémy Bismuth and their vibrant team, I knew that this marriage of tradition and innovation could work.

Quest to dominate the global boat market!

For Click&Boat, the deal signifies a milestone in its quest to dominate the international boat rental market.

Edouard Gorioux explains:

This acquisition is in line with our global growth strategy. With the integration of Scansail’s team and its long experience in the German market, Click&Boat continues to accelerate its expansion and assert its leading position globally.

More acquisitions may follow, he adds,

We are always on the lookout for more companies to acquire in other countries, aiming to select the best teams and services available out there.

Boat renting at a low cost!

Within just two years, Click&Boat fleet has grown from 12,600 to over 35,000 boats in more than 50 countries. At the same time, the company has reached a milestone of 200,000 bookings annually, with new markets such as Australia, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates offering promising potential.

Further, the company has quickly expanded beyond the French borders, establishing its presence in major yachting destinations such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia, as well as the US. In 2018, Click&Boat raised €4 million and enlisted the world-famous sailor François Gabart as an investor and official ambassador. The startup currently offers 30,000 boats available to hire in more than 600 destinations around the world.

Main image credits: Click&Boat

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