900.care’s 16-slide deck is a masterclass in applying tech-sector framing to a consumer packaged goods (CPG) business. By positioning their refillable personal care products as 'SAAS' (Shower Gel as a Service), the Paris-based startup signaled to investors that their revenue is recurring, predictable, and high-margin. The deck highlights a 20x increase in subscriptions over two years, growing from 10k to 204k subscribers by January 2024. With a clear focus on sustainability—claiming 6x less CO2 emissions by shipping only active ingredients—and a massive 60bn€ European market opportunity, the…
Key takeaways
- The company uses a clever play on words, defining their model as 'SAAS: Shower Gel as a Service' to appeal to venture capital preferences for recurring revenue (Slide 3).
- Product efficiency is a core value proposition, stating that shower gel is 90% water and shipping only the 10% active ingredients results in 6x less CO2 emissions (Slide 5).
- The startup has moved beyond a single-product focus to become a 'one-stop-shop' with 11 distinct product categories including oralcare, skincare, and homecare (Slide 7).
- Demographic data from a 6,000+ respondent survey suggests the brand appeals to a broad audience, with 66% of customers identifying as 'eco-beginners' rather than hardcore activists (Slide 9).
- Growth is the deck's strongest metric, showing a 20x increase in subscriptions from 10k in Jan 2022 to 204k in Jan 2024 (Slide 11).
- The deck identifies a 60bn€ European market and lists specific 2024 launch targets across the continent to justify the Series A scale (Slide 13).
- Despite the 'SAAS' branding, the deck lacks a traditional slide detailing specific unit economics like CAC, LTV, or churn rates.
- There is no dedicated team slide in the provided sequence, though a 'Head of Operations' is pictured on the concluding slide (Slide 15).
The 'Green Giant' Strategy: A Slide-by-Slide Analysis
Slide 1-2: Brand Identity and Mission
The deck opens with a high-contrast, yellow-branded title slide. The company introduces itself with the tagline "building the next green giant" and prominently displays its Certified B Corporation status. This immediately establishes the company's dual focus: massive scale and social/environmental responsibility. The visual language is minimalist, using 3D-rendered product 'tablets' as decorative elements, which hints at the product form factor before it is explicitly explained.
Slide 3: The SAAS Rebrand
Slide 3 is perhaps the most strategically important slide for a fundraising analyst. It introduces the "SAAS model," with the asterisk clarifying "SHOWER GEL AS A SERVICE." By co-opting a tech term, 900.care is signaling to investors that they should value this company based on subscription metrics (MRR, churn, LTV) rather than traditional retail metrics. The slide lists three pillars: refillable essentials, mailbox delivery via flexible subscription, and a "twist of happiness."
Slide 4-5: The Problem and the 10% Solution
Slide 5 provides the technical justification for the business. It states that "shower gel is 90% water (!?)" and explains that 900.care only ships the "10% active ingredients." The user then adds tap water at home. The mathematical outcome presented is "6x less CO2 emission!" This is a classic 'efficiency' argument that appeals to both the environmentally conscious consumer and the logistics-minded investor. It implies lower shipping costs and a smaller carbon footprint per unit sold.
Slide 6-7: Product Expansion and the One-Stop-Shop
Slide 7 displays the breadth of the product line, labeled as "hero SKUs." The company is not just a shower gel brand; it covers oralcare (toothpaste, mouthwash), bodycare (deodorant), skincare (micellar water), solids (shampoo, shower gel), and homecare (laundry, dishwash). The headline "we are the one-stop-shop for all your personal and home care essentials" suggests a strategy to capture a larger share of the household wallet, reducing the need for customers to shop elsewhere for basics.
Slide 8-9: Demographic Proof of Mass Market Appeal
Slide 9 is data-heavy, presenting results from an annual customer base survey of 6000+ respondents in 2023. The charts show a remarkably balanced distribution across genders (58% female, 42% male), age groups, and incomes. Most notably, 66% of their clients are "eco-beginners" (écolo débutant). This is a critical proof point for a Series A raise, as it demonstrates that the product has moved beyond the 'niche' sustainable market and is being adopted by mainstream consumers.
Slide 10-11: The Growth Inflection Point
Slide 11 is the 'money slide.' It shows a bar chart of Subscriptions (K) with three data points: 10K on 01/01/2022, 87K on 01/01/2023, and 204K on 01/01/2024. The "20x subscriptions over the last 2 years" is the primary evidence of product-market fit. For a Series A, investors look for this kind of 'explosive growth' to justify a higher valuation and the capital injection required for international expansion.
Slide 12-13: The 60bn€ European Opportunity
Slide 13 maps out the expansion plan. While France is marked as the "Current market," the company identifies a "60bn€ European market." Checkmarks indicate 2024 launches in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. This slide answers the "Why now?" and "Where is the money going?" questions, showing a clear path to becoming a pan-European player.
Slide 14-16: The Vision and Conclusion
The deck concludes on Slide 15 with a lifestyle image of a father and child, reinforcing the 'family' demographic. The text reiterates the investment thesis: "proven impact, fast growth and SAAS-economics." It invites investors to "join us in our journey to change daily care for good." Notably, the final slide (16) is a simple brand logo slide, maintaining the clean aesthetic of the start.
What 900.care Does Exceptionally Well
The 900.care deck excels at framing. By positioning a soap company as a "SAAS" business, they immediately change the conversation from manufacturing margins to recurring revenue scalability. This is a common tactic for high-growth CPG brands (like Dollar Shave Club or Harry's), but 900.care adds a modern sustainability layer that is highly attractive in the current European regulatory environment.
Furthermore, the use of survey data on Slide 9 is a brilliant way to de-risk the investment. Investors often fear that 'green' products have a low ceiling. By showing that two-thirds of their customers are 'eco-beginners' and that 42% live in rural areas, 900.care proves that their brand has mass-market appeal and isn't just a luxury for urban elites.
What is Missing from the 900.care Deck
While the deck is visually stunning and growth-oriented, it omits several key financial details that sophisticated investors would require during due diligence. First, there is no mention of Unit Economics. While they claim 'SAAS-economics,' they do not provide the Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) or the Lifetime Value (LTV). Without these, it is impossible to tell if the 20x growth in subscriptions is profitable or simply the result of heavy marketing spend.
Second, the Team Slide is missing from the provided sequence. In a Series A, the pedigree of the founders and the strength of the management team are usually central to the pitch. While 'Antoine, Head of Operations' is pictured on Slide 15, the lack of a dedicated slide for the founders' backgrounds is a notable omission. Finally, there is no 'Ask' slide. The deck does not specify how much they are raising or how the funds will be split between R&D, marketing, and geographic expansion, though the publisher reports the round was $22.7M.
Founder's Playbook: Lessons to Copy
Use Tech Analogies: If your business has recurring revenue, use the 'As A Service' nomenclature. It helps VCs categorize your business and can lead to higher valuation multiples. · Quantify the Impact: Don't just say you are 'eco-friendly.' 900.care's '6x less CO2' and '90% water' stats are easy to remember and provide a logical basis for their sustainability claims. · Broaden Your Demographic: If you are in a niche, find data that shows you are breaking out. 900.care's focus on 'eco-beginners' is a powerful way to signal a massive Total Addressable Market (TAM). · Visual Consistency: The deck uses a consistent color palette (Yellow, Pink, Blue) and high-quality photography that matches the product packaging. This builds brand trust and shows a high level of professional polish.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the core innovation of 900.care?
- The core innovation is a logistics and formulation play. By removing water from personal care products like shower gel and toothpaste, they ship only the 'active ingredients' in tablet or concentrated form. According to Slide 5, this reduces CO2 emissions by 6x because they aren't transporting heavy water, which makes up 90% of traditional products. Customers simply add tap water to the refillable containers at home.
- How does 900.care define its target market?
- Unlike many sustainable brands that target 'eco-warriors,' 900.care targets the mass market. Slide 9 shows that 66% of their customers are 'eco-beginners' (écolo débutant). Their data indicates a balanced mix across genders, ages (with 38-45% being 25-39), and geographies, including a significant 42% of customers living in small towns and rural areas rather than just major cities.
- What does 'Shower Gel as a Service' actually mean?
- It is a branding strategy to align a CPG company with software-as-a-service (SaaS) investment metrics. By using a flexible subscription model for refills, 900.care aims to achieve the high retention and predictable revenue streams typical of software companies. Slide 15 explicitly mentions 'SAAS-economics' as a key reason to invest, emphasizing the recurring nature of personal care consumption.
- What are the 'Hero SKUs' mentioned in the deck?
- Slide 7 lists a wide range of products that move the company toward a 'one-stop-shop' status. These include shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, micellar water, foaming handsoap, laundry tablets, and dishwash tablets. This variety suggests a strategy to increase 'basket size' and customer lifetime value by capturing all household personal and home care needs.
- Is there information on the company's financial performance?
- The deck focuses on top-line growth rather than profitability. Slide 11 highlights 'explosive growth' with subscriptions reaching 204k by early 2024. However, the deck does not disclose revenue figures, gross margins, or net burn. It relies on the 20x growth multiplier to demonstrate momentum to Series A investors.
