Growth ambitions
The funding will allow ThePhoneLab to fulfil its growth ambitions. The company sees three main opportunities for growth. First, thanks to its national coverage, cooperation with insurance parties can be expanded. In addition, the Dutch repair market is fragmented and consists mainly of small independents. Large chains, as in France (Save with 121 shops) and the UK (iSmash with 38 shops), are missing here. The investment will allow ThePhoneLab to develop into a strong national player. Finally, the company is looking across the border to grow further.
“As ROM InWest, we are happy to invest in entrepreneurs like ThePhoneLab because they set a new standard for responsible electronics repair with craftsmanship and service,” says investment manager Reynier de Monchy. ‘’Instead of replacing, they repair devices and thus extend their lifespan. Their proposition aligns not only with the European Right to Repair directive, but also with the broader movement towards sustainable damage repair, embraced by insurers and others. The fact that their approach fits within current policy developments and offers strong market opportunities makes ThePhoneLab's model robust and scalable.”
Impact for region and circular economy
ThePhoneLab's growth is not only good news for Dutch consumers, but also contributes to the circular economy. ThePhoneLab has now extended the life hours of devices by more than 350,000 hours and prevented more than 50,000 kilos of electronic waste. In doing so, the company shows how technology can contribute to more sustainable consumption of electronics. For regions where new stores are opening, the additional shops mean additional jobs and a direct contribution to SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).
Gamechanger in circularity
ThePhoneLab makes it easy and efficient to get smartphones and other mobile devices repaired. With a growing network of branches in the Netherlands and plans for international expansion, the company is working on a scalable model that shows that circularity and profitability can go hand in hand.
“Our mission is clear: the more devices we can repair, the better,” says Boris Blijham, founder of ThePhoneLab. “This investment allows us to scale up our services, expand our network and make our expertise more widely available. This way, we will ensure that more devices last longer, in a way that is practical, faster and more sustainable than buying a new device.”
