Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Creadev International, an investment company controlled by the Mulliez family, in its role as lead manager of a pool of investors, on the €30 million fundraising by Ouihelp, a start-up that connects caregivers and families.

Founded in 2016 by Pierre-Emmanuel Bercegeay, Victor Sebag and Bastien Gandouet, and present in more than 30 French cities, Ouihelp is an online residential assistance platform, designed to help vulnerable elderly people, as well as their caregivers, in their regular activities at home.

The start-up, which has an annual business volume of €25million and handles more than 2,000 active beneficiaries, is a winner of the “Réseau Entreprendre Paris” (2016), “Scientipôle Initiatives” (2016) and the “BPI's Digital Innovation Competition” (2017). Ouihelp has just finalised a Series B fundraising, the first of this scale in the Silver Economy, for €30million.

This new fundraising was contributed by a pool of investors led by Creadev International, along with XAnge, one of the company's historical sponsors and the impact fund, Future Positive Capital.

These new financial partners, alongside its historical shareholders – Kerala Ventures, Financière Saint-James, Leap Ventures and business angels – will enable it to develop a global offering, to recruit 300 employees within 24 months, and to increase its presence to 200 agencies in France over the next five years.

"Private capital & funds and technology are two core area of focus for Stephenson Harwood, and in which we have demonstrable capabilities," said Guillaume Briant, partner, Stephenson Harwood. "Being able to advise on a strategically significant deal of this nature illustrates this expertise, within the Paris market and beyond."

The Stephenson Harwood Paris team was led by M&A and private equity partner Guillaume Briant and associate Ali Hilass.