Online talent platform Brigad has raised a €33m (£39m) Series B round, led by Balderton Capital, to accelerate its growth in the hospitality sector across Europe.
Wendel Group, Serena Capital and Square Capital also joined in the round, which sees Brigad’s total fundraising top €50m (£45m).
The platform connects skilled self-employed hospitality professionals with operators, including City Pub Group, Big Mamma Group, Urban Pubs & Bars, Mosaic Pubs, The Breakfast Club, Burger & Lobster and Bill’s Restaurants.
The app is currently being used by operators in eight European cities, including London, Manchester and Birmingham, with Brigad looking to expand into other major UK cities over the next 18 months.
The funding round will accelerate its expansion, with Brigad also planning to offer more tools and events through the platform to the communities it serves, as part of its aim to become an essential tool for management teams wanting to manage their staffing and payroll administration in one place.
“The labour market has experienced profound changes in the last two to three years and the hospitality industry is living with the fallout. We can’t afford to lose a generation of skilled hospitality industry staff and Brigad’s platform means we don’t have to,” co-founder and CEO Florent Malbranche said.
“Brigad’s mission is to make work attractive and accessible to all and that means we respect and value the professional talent on our platform, providing them with missions that suit their skills and higher rates of pay.”
