Switzerland-based employee communications platform Beekeeper completed a $45m series B round on Monday backed by consumer electronics producer Samsung, postal service Swiss Post, telecommunications firm Swisscom and employee services provider Edenred.
The round was co-led by Swisscanto Invest, the asset management arm of financial services firm Zürcher Kantonalbank, and venture capital firm Thayer Ventures, and included Atomico, Alpana Ventures, Fyrfly Venture Partners, Hammer Team, Investiere, HighSage Ventures and Keen Venture Partners.
Samsung contributed to the round through its Samsung Next unit, while Edenred participated through Edenred Capital Partners. The company has now raised $71m altogether.
Beekeeper has built a platform where employees can securely communicate with each other through mobile or desktop devices without the need for a corporate email address or access to a company-controlled device. The technology is aimed at employees who do not typically work at a desk.
The company estimates more than 1.7 billion staff internationally do not work in an office but would be able to improve their workflow by having an easy means of communication with co-workers who work at a desk.
The cash will drive accelerated adoption of Beekeeeper’s offering, which has experienced significant growth in the hospitality, manufacturing and retail verticals over the past year. Beekeeper will also launch a store for third-party app integration.
Beekeeper had previously received $13m in a series A round co-led by Atomico and Keen Venture Partners and backed by Swiss Post, Samsung Next and Edenred Capital Partners in September 2018.
Swisscom Ventures, Keen Venture Partners, Investiere, existing backers Fyrfly, Polytech Ecosystem Ventures and Btov Partners – then known as B-to-V Partners – had already joined assorted angel investors to provide $8m in funding in 2017.
