Privateaser

About Privateaser

Privateaser operates as a digital marketplace for booking and privatizing venues for private and professional events. The company was founded in the spring of 2014 by Nicolas Furlani, Alexandre Paepegaey, and Raphaël Kolm. The founders, then students at École Centrale Paris, conceived the idea after experiencing difficulties in finding and booking a suitable venue for a student event. Their entrepreneurial coursework and positive feedback from potential partners and customers encouraged them to launch the venture.

The platform primarily serves individuals and companies looking to organize events such as birthdays, after-work gatherings, or corporate cocktails for groups ranging from 10 to 300 people. For users, Privateaser simplifies the process of finding and booking a venue, offering features like user reviews and promotions. For venue managers of bars, restaurants, and clubs, the platform provides a channel to attract group bookings, which can constitute a significant portion of their revenue. Initially, the business model was based on charging a commission to partner establishments based on the number of attendees. However, the company's website now states that it does not charge a commission to either the venue or the event organizer.

In addition to its core marketplace, Privateaser has expanded its offerings. In 2021, the company launched Joy, a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution designed to help restaurant and bar managers digitize and manage group reservations more efficiently. This tool assists with creating a website, managing quote requests, and handling payments and invoicing. The company also provides training to help restaurateurs with their digital strategy. Throughout its history, Privateaser has made strategic acquisitions, including the event concierge service Bizmeeting in 2019 and its main competitor, YouShould, in 2020, solidifying its market position. In 2024, to sharpen its focus on the SaaS business, Privateaser sold Bizmeeting. The company has secured a total of $16.4M in funding over four rounds, with the latest being a Series B round in March 2018.