TL;DR
Brevo, a French CRM and marketing automation platform, just raised $583M and hit unicorn status. They're planning a major US market push to compete directly with HubSpot and Salesforce.
French CRM company Brevo just closed a massive €500 million ($583M) funding round, officially joining the unicorn club with a valuation over $1 billion. The Paris-based company, which serves over 600,000 customers, is now setting its sights on challenging established giants like HubSpot and Salesforce in the lucrative US market.
General Atlantic and Oakley Capital each took 25% stakes in the round, while existing investors Bpifrance and Bridgepoint collectively hold 24%. Notably, management and employees retain the largest share at 26% - a strong signal of founder commitment.
Aggressive US Expansion Plans
Brevo plans to invest over €100 million specifically in US market expansion, where they currently generate just 15% of their revenue. CEO Armand Thiberge is bullish about the opportunity: "That's 50% of the global market, so it should be 50% of our revenue."
The company is also committing €50 million to AI development over the next five years, positioning itself as a technology-first competitor in the crowded CRM space. With €200 million in ARR already achieved in 2025 (ahead of schedule), Brevo is targeting €1 billion ARR by 2030.
Background
Originally founded in 2012 as Sendinblue, Brevo started as an email marketing platform before expanding into a full CRM and marketing automation suite. The company offers everything from email campaigns and SMS marketing to WhatsApp integration, live chat, and sales pipeline management - positioning itself as an all-in-one alternative to piecing together multiple tools.
Brevo serves everyone from small businesses to major brands like Carrefour, eBay, and H&M. They've completed 11 acquisitions to date and expect M&A to contribute 45% of their 2030 revenue target. The company already achieved "centaur" status (€100M+ ARR) in 2023 and employs over 1,000 people globally.
What This Means for You
More competition in the CRM space is great news for small businesses. When well-funded challengers like Brevo go head-to-head with established players, it typically drives innovation, better pricing, and more features across the board. You'll likely see HubSpot and Salesforce respond with their own product improvements and potentially more competitive pricing for smaller customers.
If you're currently evaluating CRM platforms, Brevo's aggressive expansion could make them worth considering - especially if you prefer dealing with a company that's still hungry and focused on customer acquisition rather than one that's already dominant. Their all-in-one approach could also simplify your marketing stack if you're currently juggling multiple tools.
The €50 million AI investment is particularly interesting. Expect to see more sophisticated automation features, better lead scoring, and smarter campaign optimization across all CRM platforms as companies race to integrate AI capabilities.
My Take
I think Brevo has a real shot at shaking up the CRM market, but their success will depend on execution in the US. The fact that management retains the largest ownership stake is encouraging - it shows they're not just cashing out but staying committed for the long haul. What impresses me most is their focus on product excellence rather than just being "the European alternative." As Thiberge said, "Whoever has the best product wins" - that's the right mindset. The CRM market has plenty of room for a strong challenger, especially one that can serve both small businesses and mid-market companies effectively.