• by Ray Schultz , February 9, 2023

Digital marketing platform Sendinblue has acquired Captain Wallet, a French start-up that allows brands to reach consumers through their mobile wallets. Terms were not disclosed.

“For many big brands, the wallet has become a preferred communication channel that has evolved the same way that email or SMS campaigns did in the past,” says Axel Detours, co-founder of Captain Wallet..

The merger proves that “the mobile wallet has become an essential element of the CRM and marketing strategy for companies of all sizes,” Detours says.

Captain Wallet helps brands “dematerialize” loyalty cards, offers, membership cards, relational cards and gift cards, using native Apple Wallet and Google Wallet applications, the company says.

Each dematerialized card in the wallet is personalized., it adds. Push notifications can be automated, scheduled, and geolocated.

The merger will fuel Captain Wallet’s international expansion, particularly in the U.S. and Germany. 

It serves nearly 200 brands and retail chains in France and abroad, including Lacoste, Decathlon, Jacadi, Etam, Intersport, Celio, Courir, Guerlain, Sephora, McDonald's, Franprix, Carrefour, and Picard.

For Sendinblue, the acquisition allows it to offer “a mobile marketing channel that will allow all our users to better engage with their customer base," says Mickael Arias, chief revenue Officer and Head of Enterprise Solutions at Sendinblue.

Captain Wallet will retain its independence and clients can purchase its solution separately from other tools offered by Sendinblue.