Click & Boat

About Click & Boat

Click & Boat operates an online boat rental marketplace, structured around the sharing economy model. The company was founded in September 2013 by French entrepreneurs Edouard Gorioux and Jérémy Bismuth, with the website launching in December of the same year. The founding concept was based on the observation that most boats are used infrequently, on average only 10 days a year, while still incurring significant maintenance and mooring costs for their owners. Gorioux, who had previously sailed to Brazil with friends after engineering school, and Bismuth, saw an opportunity to create a platform that would allow boat owners to offset these expenses.

The platform connects private and professional boat owners with individuals wanting to rent them, serving both seasoned sailors and newcomers. The business generates revenue by taking a commission from both the boat owner and the renter for each transaction facilitated through the site. This model provides renters with access to boats at a cost reportedly up to 35% lower than traditional charter companies. The company's platform is accessible via its website and mobile applications for both iOS and Android devices.

Renters can browse a wide array of vessels, including sailboats, motorboats, yachts, catamarans, and even jet skis, filtering by location, date, and boat type. Owners list their boats for free, adding photos, descriptions, and pricing. Communication between renters and owners is handled through an integrated messaging service, and owners can review a renter's sailing experience before accepting a booking. Many boats are available to be rented with a skipper, making the experience accessible to those without a sailing license. All boats listed are required to have up-to-date insurance coverage for rental activities.

The company has demonstrated a consistent growth trajectory, achieving profitability since 2015 and doubling its turnover annually for several years. Key milestones include an initial €200,000 funding round in April 2014, followed by several other rounds, including a €4 million raise in June 2018 to fuel international expansion. In July 2021, the Click & Boat Group secured a significant investment from the private equity firm Permira and Boats Group to consolidate its global position. The company has also grown through strategic acquisitions, purchasing French competitor Sailsharing in 2016, German company Scansail in March 2020, and its largest European competitor, Nautal, in July 2020.