Facilitated by Milo Dvorak
12. 9. 2024
Published by cc.cz on 4 September 2024
Jan Šimík is one of the people behind the BlindShell brand, which produces phones specifically adapted for the blind. Over the past ten years, they have sold more than 35,000 units. Thanks to this, the company has already paved its way through distribution channels across the continent. Now, through its sister company, Matapo Distribution Europe, they are offering these opportunities for expansion to other manufacturers of new technological innovations for people with various disabilities. In addition, they have brought on board an investor. Here is a summary of the most important details.
Company: Matapo Distribution Europe (MDE)
Investor: Elzbieta Ortelt
Investment amount and stage: €80,000 (CZK 2 million) for a three per cent stake in the company, marking the first investment round. Jan Šimík and the parent company, Matapo, contributed CZK 10 million as seed capital.
What MDE does: Through its distribution network to European countries, it helps non-European manufacturers of assistive technological tools for the blind to reach their customers faster and more efficiently. It provides blind users with the latest technological aids.
Headquarters: Prague; distributing to sixteen countries, including the Czech Republic.
Founders: Jan Šimík, who after finishing school, worked in tech companies like Atlas.cz, Apple, Dell, Kerio and O2. In 2016, he became a partner at BlindShell, the company behind the production of phones for the blind, and since 2018, he has also been the company’s director. MDE was founded by the parent company, Matapo, in 2022. In 2023, Šimík acquired a 70 per cent stake, with Elzbieta Ortelt having now purchased three per cent.
"I personally appreciate the significant commercial potential with a strong social impact, as well as the idea of helping aid device manufacturers establish themselves in the market faster, making these devices accessible to users worldwide," commented Ortelt.
Company size: Two years ago, it achieved a turnover of just under CZK 300,000; last year, it had reached CZK 4.7 million, and this year it is already at CZK 4 million, with a milestone of CZK 12 million in sight. The company currently employs six people. "By 2030, we plan to reach a turnover exceeding CZK 1 billion. Besides the enormous business potential, this is the first distribution company of its kind in Europe," commented Šimík.
Planned use of the investment: The development of the sales, marketing, and other teams to increase market share and accelerate expansion, especially into major European markets like the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.