Chili publish investment aims to boost technology

Print Solutions

Chili publish has transformed from a three man company into a key graphic arts market player over the past six years. The company has offices headquartered in Belgium (Aalst), the US (New York) and Singapore, providing solutions to over 250 customers.

The company has now turned to venture specialists Volta Ventures, Pamica and Group MC for future evolution guidance. It has raised €2.55 million following a Series A round for the further expansion of the international sales team, research and development efforts and marketing optimisation. The company founders will retain the majority of the shares, while Michel Akkermans, chairman Shareholder Advisory Board and venture partner at Volta Ventures, will join the board of directors.

Chili publish became a key graphic arts market player by providing an online solution that allows companies to easily edit marketing document templates in a browser environment. The software safeguards brand design guidelines while enabling users to tailor other elements on the page. The software integrates into a variety of workflow and business management platforms (e-commerce and digital asset management for example), which allows for a personalised user interface and a scalable set up. It also comes with features like a 3D visualisation tool, generating a direct 3D assessment of the final marketing output. This straight forward solution skyrocketed in the graphic arts sector, urging the management to seek other ventures, as Kevin Goeminne, CEO of Chili publish, explained: ‘We have established quite an exponential growth. In six years time, we have serviced no less than 250 customers in over 25 countries in markets like commercial print and packaging, including brand owners and agencies. And yet, more is to be done. We know this investment support will further spur the opportunities for online editing out there.’

As a renowned venture capital fund for internet and software companies, Volta Ventures immediately recognised the potential of Chili publish well beyond other markets. As Michel Akkermans puts it: ‘The solutions come with an open API, meaning they can be integrated in just about any company that spots the added value of the Chili publish solutions. This is an interesting business model that will allow Chili publish to extend its reach even beyond its roots in the graphic arts sector. Our goal is to help the company mature to their full potential and we hope that our tech insights and market experience will prove valuable assets.’

Kevin concluded, ‘We are excited about this new adventure and will continue to work hard, play hard and care even more.’