View source for Kept on Wikipedia:Simba Sleep

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{{Infobox company
| name = Simba Sleep
| logo = 
| logo_alt = 
| logo_caption = 
| type = Privately held company
| industry = Mattresses
| fate = 
| predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successor = <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founded = 
| founder = Steve Reid<br>James Cox<br>Andrew McClements<br>Harry McClements
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| hq_location_city = London
| hq_location_country = United Kingdom
| area_served = {{ubl|[[Europe]]|[[Asia]]|[[North America]]}}
| key_people = 
| products = {{ubl|[[Mattress]]es|[[Pillow]]s|[[Bedding]]}}
| owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->
| num_employees = 155
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| parent = 
| website = https://simbasleep.com/
}}


'''Simba Sleep''' (also known as '''Simba''') is a British mattress company that was founded in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title=London-based mattress startup Simba Sleep that produces most advanced mattresses in the world bags €21.5M|url=https://siliconcanals.com/news/startups/london-based-mattress-startup-simba-bags-e21-5m/|access-date=2020-10-23|website=Silicon Canals|language=en-US}}</ref> Simba's retail partnerships include [[John Lewis & Partners|John Lewis]] and Argos in the UK<ref>{{Cite news|last=Butler|first=Sarah|date=2018-03-23|title=Sleepy world of retail mattress sales gets rude awakening|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/mar/23/sleepy-world-of-retail-mattress-sales-gets-rude-awakening|access-date=2020-10-24|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and [[Sleep Country Canada|Sleep Country]] stores in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Simba agrees Canadian distribution deal|url=https://www.furniturenews.net/news/articles/2018/06/241300227-simba-agrees-canadian-distribution-deal|access-date=2020-10-23|website=www.furniturenews.net|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
Simba Sleep was co-founded in 2015 in the UK by Steve Reid, James Cox and the McClements family.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Journal|first=The Gentleman's|title=How Simba Sleep's founders raised £58 million {{!}} Gentleman's Journal|url=https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/article/how-simba-sleeps-founders-raised-58-million/|access-date=2020-10-23|website=The Gentleman's Journal|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=L. L. B.|date=2016-10-13|title=This British mattress start-up has just raised £5m|url=https://londonlovesbusiness.com/this-british-mattress-start-up-has-just-raised-5m/|access-date=2020-10-23|website=London Business News {{!}} Londonlovesbusiness.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> In February 2016, Simba became the first company to sell a hybrid mattress.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Magazine|first=Wallpaper*|date=2016-08-31|title=Wake up call: Simba Sleep is the hybrid mattress changing the way we sleep|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/design/simba-the-hybrid-mattress-chainging-the-market-and-the-way-we-sleep|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Wallpaper*}}</ref> The company designed the mattress after analysing body profiling data from 10 million people.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Manning|first=Ellen|date=2018-11-13|title=Sleep sells: how mattress companies woke up to the science of slumber|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business-to-business/2018/nov/13/sleep-sells-how-mattress-companies-woke-up-to-the-science-of-slumber|access-date=2020-10-24|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The hybrid mattress consisted of five layers of foam and 2,500 conical springs which allowed it to be folded in two and vacuum-packed into a cardboard box.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Margolis|first=Jonathan|date=2020-10-16|title=Mattress wars: rude awakening for a sleepy market|url=https://www.ft.com/content/85c7e526-8179-11e6-bc52-0c7211ef3198|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Financial Times}}</ref> 

In March 2016, Simba announced a raise of £1 million in funding from [[John Hegarty (advertising executive)|Sir John Hegarty]], as well as [[Richard Reed]], co-founder of [[Innocent Drinks]], and [[Tom Teichman]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Loizou|first=Kiki|title=Mattress maker rouses investors|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mattress-maker-rouses-investors-investors-buy-into-start-ups-dream-ll3d5lkzd|access-date=2020-10-23|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Simba Sleep's initial investment round was followed by its Series A raise of £5 million in October 2016, as investors looked to support the brands’ overseas growth to markets such as France and Canada.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Quinn|first=James|date=2016-10-12|title=Mattress start-up Simba wins firm support in £5m funding|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/10/12/mattress-start-up-simba-wins-firm-support-in-5m-funding/|access-date=2020-10-23|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In February 2017, the company received a further £9 million investment in February,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Quinn|first=James|date=2017-02-12|title=Mattress retailer Simba Sleep raises £9m from raft of new City investors including husband of Heineken heir|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/02/12/mattress-retailer-simba-sleep-raises-9m-raft-new-city-investors/|access-date=2020-10-23|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-02-13|title=The mattress startup battle's heating up in the UK as Simba gets in bed with top City investors|url=https://www.cityam.com/mattress-startup-battles-heating-up-uk-simba-gets-bed-top/|access-date=2020-10-23|website=CityAM|language=en-GB}}</ref> before unveiling another £40 million injection of funds in November. The Series B round was led by venture capital firm Atami Capital and included backers, such as Nigel Wray, chairman of [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] rugby union club, and Swiss private bank [[Bank Lombard Odier & Co|Lombard Odier]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Evans|first=Peter|title=Cash under the mattress at Simba Sleep|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cash-under-the-mattress-at-simba-sleep-5cmm858hd|access-date=2020-10-23|issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=GmbH|first=finanzen net|title=Online mattress startup Simba closes £40 million investment round {{!}} Markets Insider|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/simba-sleep-40-million-investment-round-2017-12|access-date=2020-10-23|website=markets.businessinsider.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

In April 2017, Simba hired the Real Madrid and Wales footballer [[Gareth Bale]] to lead a promotional campaign,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Editor|first=Deirdre Hipwell, Retail|title=Bale is role model for the laid back|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/easy-new-role-for-footballer-zj39t29kl|access-date=2020-10-26|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> which included the development of an aeroplane seat designed to maximise sleep.<ref>{{Cite web|last=April 2017|first=11|title=The aeroplane seat helping Gareth Bale get to sleep|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/performance/training/aeroplane-seat-helping-gareth-bale-get-sleep|access-date=2020-10-26|website=fourfourtwo.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=This Mattress Company May Have Designed the Most Comfortable Airplane Seat Ever|url=https://fortune.com/2017/04/21/airplane-seat-memory-foam-simba-sleep/|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Fortune|language=en}}</ref>  

In August 2018, [[Allan Leighton]] succeeded Tom Teichman to become chairman of Simba Sleep, while continuing to serve as chairman of [[The Co-operative Group]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Allan Leslie Leighton, Simba Sleep Ltd: Profile and Biography|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/1529494|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Bloomberg.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gill|first=Oliver|date=2018-08-13|title=Ex-Asda boss Leighton aims to deliver Simba bounce|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/08/12/ex-asda-boss-leighton-aims-deliver-simba-bounce/|access-date=2020-10-26|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

At the start of 2020, Simba became operational in nine countries across Europe, Asia, and North America<ref>{{Cite web|title=London-based mattress startup Simba Sleep that produces most advanced mattresses in the world bags €21.5M|url=https://siliconcanals.com/news/startups/london-based-mattress-startup-simba-bags-e21-5m/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Silicon Canals|language=en-US}}</ref> and secured a further $24 million in investment, bringing a cash injection from Cartesian Capital Group.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-03|title=Simba raises $24m agreement with Cartesian Capital Group|url=https://www.uktech.news/guest-posts/funding/simba-raises-24m-agreement-with-cartesian-capital-group-20200103|access-date=2020-10-23|website=UKTN (UK Tech News)|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Hurley|first=James|title=Simba Sleep bundles up US deal to fund global growth|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/simba-sleep-bundles-up-us-deal-to-fund-global-growth-ztzgxh5nd|access-date=2020-10-23|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mattresses}}

[[Category:Beds]]
[[Category:British brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in London]]
[[Category:Mattress retailers of the United Kingdom]]
{{Source Wikipedia}}
{{Kept on Wikipedia|Biggest version}}