Business telephony firm Blueface is planning international expansion, having secured €10m in funding that will create 80 jobs, most of which will be in Dublin.
Since it was founded in 2004, Blueface has grown to a workforce of 50 employees. It moved into its headquarters in the IFSC in Dublin in 2015.
It has now announced plans to increase this number to 130, following a major investment from the BDO Development Capital Fund led by the Government and Enterprise Ireland.
The fund provides development and growth capital for established, mid-sized and profitable Irish companies to assist them in accelerating their export-led growth plans.
As well as facilitating its international expansion plans, the BDO Development Capital Fund will aim to help Blueface to take full advantage of the increasing shift to cloud communications.
The total amount being offered to the company amounts to €10m and will see it add 80 staff to its books across the markets of Ireland, the US and its European offices in London and Rome by 2022.
A spokesperson for the company has added that a “significant proportion” of the jobs will be based in Dublin, where it will continue to run its headquarters.
Also announced as part of the deal was a new appointment to the board of Blueface, with Anthony O’Driscoll joining as investment director of the Government capital fund.
‘A significant milestone in our journey’
Announcing the investment, Andrew Bourg, head of investments at the BDO Development Capital Fund, said: “We are backing Blueface’s goal of becoming a significant international player in its chosen market segments, with the objective that this sizeable investment – in conjunction with the support of our funding partners – will drive, exploit and maximise Blueface’s international growth opportunities.”
Likewise, Blueface’s CEO Alan Foy said it was a major event in the company’s 13-year history.
“This investment will help us with our plans to accelerate our growth into several new markets,” he said.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in our journey and will enable us to continue to hire the best and brightest here in Ireland and in our new international offices.”
In November of last year, Blueface was included among Deloitte’s list of 50 of the fastest-growing companies in Ireland, taking 50th place.
