Chili Publish gains fresh investment

Software developer Chili Publish has secured additional investment to back ambitious expansion plans.

The Belgian firm develops software for “smart artwork and marketing collateral creation”, which can be integrated with other systems. Its flagship product is Chili Publisher.

It has gained a further €3.63m (£3.1m) investment from its original backers: Volta Ventures, Pamico and Group MC.

The funds will be used to double the size of Chili’s operations in Belgium and the US, where the firm is reporting particularly strong demand. Headcount will be increased to 85.

Roles includes a new global vice president of sales, a sales director specifically for the US, as well as numerous R&D and development positions.

Chief executive Kevin Goeminne said: “As the business expands, we want to have the right level of resources in place to take care of our customers and partners around the globe.”

The firm is recruiting 35 people in Belgium, and 10 in Chicago.

In the UK Chili’s products are handled by Farnborough-based pre-media software and integration specialist Workflowz.

Director Alan Dixon said: “This is very positive as far as we’re concerned. The second round of funding is larger than the first, so it shows investors have confidence in the market and what Chili are doing.

“We’ve been working with the product since day one and have a great user base here in the UK and in Australia. We’re very busy with it, and we’re finding different verticals where it has huge value.”

Chili Publish currently employs 40 people in Belgium, five in Chicago and one in Singapore. The firm has annual sales of more than €3m.