Lottie, a start-up offering a SaaS platform for people seeking care homes, has raised €20 million in a Series A funding round led by Accel, with participation from the previous investor General Catalyst. This brings the total amount raised by the company to €30 million.

The proceeds will be used to expand Lottie’s marketplace coverage in the UK and continue developing the platform’s software offerings for care homes. The company will also invest in artificial intelligence and has plans to develop a data insight tool aimed at helping industry stakeholders make better-informed decisions, helping the sector become “sustainable in the long term”.

Lottie said it will expand its 50-strong team based in London with the aim of doubling its headcount in 2024.

Founded in 2021 by brothers Will and Chris Donnelly, Lottie has recorded a threefold growth in customers and revenue over the last 12 months, with more than 500,000 monthly users. Lottie has also recently added home care as a new category to its marketplace, including its Direct to Carer solution, which allows families to find and book a high-quality carer without having to go through an agency.

Will Donnelly, co-founder and co-chief executive of Lottie, said: “We set out to build Lottie after experiencing first-hand the fundamental issues in the UK social care sector: namely a lack of high-quality affordable care and an outdated, emotionally taxing process for individuals and families urgently looking to find care for their loved ones. Everyone deserves the best possible quality of life in their later years, and Lottie is helping to drive real change in the care search process, while supporting our provider partners in delivering better health outcomes for residents, improved operational efficiencies and huge cost savings via our software products.

“Our goal for Lottie is to become the trusted adviser to care seekers throughout the world – helping families best understand, find and fund later life care. Over 500,000 Britons now visit Lottie every month, and we’re incredibly excited to have Accel join General Catalyst and Kindred on our journey, helping to fuel our next stage of growth and continue in our mission to elevate later life for everybody.” 

Sonali De Rycker, partner at Accel, commented: “Digital marketplaces have transformed our lives. We expect glossy, transparent, low-touch experiences when booking holidays, buying groceries and doing everything in between. For some reason, eldercare has been left behind. Will and Chris are on a mission to level up an industry stuck in the dark ages. Lottie offers consumers the modern discovery and booking experience they deserve when finding help for loved ones. In parallel, they offer care providers a suite of tools to shift online and upgrade their operations. Meeting Will and Chris is an experience you won’t forget: they’re an ambitious, high-integrity team chasing a significant and important opportunity. We’re excited to be part of their journey.”

Chris Bischoff, managing director at General Catalyst, added: “We believe the Lottie team has made great strides in their mission to provide transparency and support for families searching for quality care. They have demonstrated the ability to collaborate with care partners who share their commitment to modernising home care with sustainability, safety, and quality of life in mind. These values align with our Health Assurance thesis and we are excited to participate in their positive impact and continued growth.”

A year ago, Lottie acquired care home occupancy and customer relationship software company Found for £1.5 million,