Proforto raises millions in growth capital

Proforto has raised millions worth of investment. The Dutch workwear e-retailer will use the funds to accelerate their growth and expand their profitability. CEO Rik Burgersdijk: “We want to become the largest online workwear retailer in Europe.”

The exact amount of growth capital that was raised, Proforto will not say. But apparently it is enough to professionalize the company as well as its software systems. “The last few years we were mainly focused on increasing turnover. But in the years to come, we want to shift that focus towards growth and profitability,” says chief operational officer Jelle Gudden in a press release.

Previous investors remain

The raised funds come from Dutch investment company Nobel Capital Partners. The angel investors that funded the starting years of Proforto, such as former CEO of Bol.com Daniel Ropers, will remain as shareholders and advisors. Thanks to the money raised by Nobel Capital Partners, Proforto can increase their credit with the Dutch Rabobank, which also funded the start of the company.

Aiming for a hundred million euros in profit

Since the start in 2014, Proforto has become the market leader of work attire in Belgium and the Netherlands, from uniforms to safety footwear and protective equipment. The scale-up is set on becoming the market leader in the rest of Europe as well. The strategic cooperation with investment company Nobel Capital Partners should help with this.

We want to become the market leader in Europe.

In their own words, the company has grown over fifty percent each year. “The next couple of years, we are aiming for a profit of a hundred million euros. Since we have a market potential of ten billion euros in Europe, this is definitely possible,” says Burgersdijk.