As more businesses demand efficiency in their face-to-face prospecting, a Paris-based CRM startup is stepping into the spotlight with a renewed ambition.
Sidely raises €1 million to modernize field sales prospecting
Sidely, the French startup specializing in mobile CRM solutions for field sales teams, has closed a €1 million seed round. The funding, announced last October, aims to speed up product development and reinforce their commercial footprint across Europe. The fundraising indicates growing investor interest in overlooked CRM segments where digitalization has lagged.
Investors that backed the round
The seed capital comes from a combination of experienced business angels and public financial support. Among the private backers are:
- Eugen Gossen – co-founder of fintech firm Stello
- Philippe Reboul – former National Sales Director at Coca-Cola
- Thibaud Hug de Larauze – CEO of Back Market
- Julien Stern – tech entrepreneur
Joining them is Bpifrance, France’s public investment bank (source), signaling institutional confidence in Sidely’s growth potential.
More than money: a roadmap for expansion
According to insiders familiar with the strategy, Sidely intends to allocate the funding into two core areas:
| Key Focus | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Development | Accelerated R&D to enhance real-time mapping and CRM usability |
| Sales & Hiring | Recruitment of sales engineers and account managers to scale operations across France and neighboring markets |
“We know old-school CRMs don’t support geographic sales strategies very well,” explained Sidely CEO and co-founder, Paul Bensussan. In our interview, he noted how traditional systems tend to “favor deskbound coordination and leave reps on the road underserved.”
Our ambition is to offer a truly mobile CRM that doesn’t cost thousands to set up. This funding will let us invest in exactly the features our customers have been asking for.
A gap in the market, now being filled
According to market data cited by multiple VC pitches, over 66% of firms using geographic sales models still operate without a CRM tailored for field use. Sidely’s founders say they’re targeting this long-ignored segment with a hands-on focus.
The company’s CRM tool—which launched publicly in late 2021—is mobile-first and built specifically for sales reps in distribution or in-store fieldwork. No setup fees are charged, and user activation is often possible in under 24 hours, the company claims.
Some early adopters already on board include consumer-facing brands like Club Maté, C’est qui le patron ?, and Grain de Sail. Their testimonials describe smoother logistics and stronger customer relationships through prospect-geolocation and streamlined follow-ups.
Why this matters beyond Sidely
The CRM sector is saturated when it comes to back-office-focused solutions. But for field teams operating with regional targets, mapping tools, product traceability, and instant mobile access remain critical—and underserved.
Government statistics on small business digitalization efforts (Ministère de l’Économie) show that field services and retail sales remain behind the curve in adopting smart tools. This funding positions Sidely not just as a product bet, but as a response to a documented infrastructure lag.
How does Sidely’s CRM solution differ from traditional CRM systems?
Sidely’s system is designed around mobility and real-world logistics. Unlike conventional CRMs (e.g. Salesforce or HubSpot), it’s optimized for off-site sales, geolocation tracking, and instant note-taking post-visit. There are no additional integration costs or onboarding delays.
What are the key features of Sidely’s mobile CRM app?
- GPS-based prospecting and route organization
- Automated visit reports with customizable fields
- Real-time updates synced across sales teams
- Offline mode for remote fieldwork
Who are the major competitors of Sidely in the Field CRM market?
Beyond traditional CRMs adapting slowly to mobile needs, Sidely competes with niche players like Mapadore (Italy) or Badger Maps (US). Yet few offer a frictionless setup or pricing model geared toward SMEs in the European region.
How does Sidely plan to use the €1M funding to expand its operations?
According to official documentation, the funds are allocated between R&D advancements (new features and integration improvements) and commercial hiring. The company is also testing additional language support to prepare for wider EU entry in 2025.
What are the benefits of using Sidely’s CRM for field sales operations?
Sales reps using Sidely report saving time on admin, improving location-based follow-ups, and reducing no-shows on arranged visits. Managers benefit from dashboard clarity matching regional metrics with activity logs.
