Brille24

Brille24 operates as a prominent online retailer of prescription eyeglasses, positioning itself as a key player in the European e-commerce market for optical products. Founded in 2007 by serial entrepreneur Matthias Hunecke in Oldenburg, Germany, the company was established to address the high-margin, non-transparent nature of the traditional eyewear market. Hunecke, an entrepreneur since his school days with involvement in approximately 40 companies, envisioned a platform that empowers customers by offering quality eyewear at fair prices through a simplified online shopping experience.

The company's business model is direct-to-consumer, generating revenue primarily through the online sale of prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. Brille24 started by offering a single price point for its eyeglasses and manufactures its products in Asia to maintain cost-effectiveness. Its product catalog includes a wide array of over 1,500 models, featuring its own private label collections like the 'Brille24 Collection' and the 'Active by Brille24' sports line, alongside well-known brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, which were integrated in 2016. The company serves a broad consumer base, from bargain hunters to affluent customers, by providing both affordable house brands and premium designer frames. Customers can customize their lenses with various options, including photochromic and polarized filters.

Brille24 has demonstrated a strong growth trajectory and successful international expansion. By 2011, it had sold over 220,000 pairs of glasses and began expanding into other European countries under localized brand names like Opticien24 and Optica24. The company secured significant funding to fuel this growth, raising a total of $8.97 million over four rounds, including investments from firms like SevenVentures and Time for Growth. A major milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by Essilor International, a subsidiary of the global eyewear leader EssilorLuxottica, on February 11, 2019. This acquisition aimed to strengthen Essilor's strategic development in Germany. In 2021, Brille24 became part of 4Care GmbH, a leading omnichannel provider of eyewear and contact lenses, further integrating its online presence with retail channels. Keywords: online optician, prescription eyeglasses, e-commerce eyewear, Matthias Hunecke, direct-to-consumer eyewear, German startup, EssilorLuxottica, online glasses retailer, European eyewear market, private label eyewear, designer frames online, 4Care GmbH, affordable prescription glasses, eyeglass customization, online sunglasses, contact lenses online, Oldenburg Germany, omnichannel optical, digital eye exam, venture capital backed