Cubitabo / BettenRiese

Cubitabo GmbH, operating the online retail platform BettenRiese, entered the German e-commerce market in 2013. The Berlin-based company was established by founders Alexander Stelmaszyk and Stefan Zundel. Cubitabo functioned as an online retailer for sleep-related products, offering a range of mattresses, slatted frames, boxspring beds, and general bedding.

A significant development in the company's journey was the launch of its own mattress brand, "buddy". This product line aimed to distinguish itself in a competitive market. The buddy mattress, produced entirely in Germany, featured a unique integrated sheet that attached with a zipper, designed to prevent wrinkles and present the mattress as a more aesthetic piece of furniture. This design was supported by a patent for a mattress device with a zip system. The business model for the buddy brand mirrored other online mattress retailers, including a 100-night trial period and free delivery.

Cubitabo successfully attracted investment throughout its operation. Initial seed funding in its founding year came from Heliad Equity Partners. This was followed in 2015 by investments from a private investor and Astutia Ventures. A substantial seven-figure Series A round was secured in 2016 from TriPos GmbH, the family office of Peter Pohlmann, the founder of the furniture discount chain Poco. This capital was intended to fuel the growth of the BettenRiese shop and establish the buddy mattress brand in the German market. In 2017, the BettenRiese and buddy brands were incorporated into the Sleepz AG group. However, the company later faced financial difficulties, leading to insolvency proceedings in 2019.

Keywords: Cubitabo, BettenRiese, buddy mattress, Alexander Stelmaszyk, Stefan Zundel, online mattress retailer, German e-commerce, bedding products, zip-on sheet, mattress in a box, sleep products, Heliad Equity Partners, Astutia Ventures, TriPos GmbH, Peter Pohlmann, Sleepz AG, furniture retail, home goods, direct-to-consumer, Berlin startup