Parenthèse
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Creativity
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Ecotourism
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Tiny house
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Responsible consumption and production
Pitch
Presentation
Parenthèse is an ecotourism company based on sustainable accommodation called tiny houses. Born in 2021 from a desire to create a unique place for disconnection and reconnection with nature and oneself, the two co-founders, Samantha and Antoine, have conceptualized high-end, self-contained tiny house models, coupled with an offer of artistic activities in the heart of nature. The company has opened its first 5-hectare site on a former campsite in the Orléans forest in France, where it has built 18 tiny houses, designed by designers. As well as offering rental accommodation, Parenthèse offers activities such as creative workshops, retreats and yoga classes to create an authentic, personalized experience. In 2023, the co-founders launched their own workshop. In this way, Parenthèse internalizes the entire value chain, from tiny house construction to land acquisition and operation. The concept has proved its worth, with occupancy rates reaching 78% by the 2nd year, 9,500 nights booked since opening, and 24% of customers returning year on year. The project has been profitable since 2022, and the company's revenue has reached 560 k€ in 2023 with 13 tiny houses. Following the expansion of its first site, Parenthèse plans to duplicate its model on two former tourist sites already identified. Parenthèse is seeking funding in equity for the first time to strengthen its capital base and finance the acquisition of land for the next two sites. As a project built with a community of artist ambassadors, local partners and suppliers, and their travelers, Parenthèse wishes to open its capital to committed citizens through LITA.co for an amount of 500 k€.
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Team
2 co-founders, 16 employees
After a trip and the publication of a travelling book in 2019, Samantha and Antoine have left everything behind in the summer of 2020 to take over a former 5-hectare campsite in the Orléans forest and build a unique place combining nature and creativity. Samantha as an author and screenwriter, is the company's creative director, while Antoine, a former manager in the Transactions department of PwC, is in charge of development, strategic management and finance. With a senior profile in financial management and a creative profile to develop the Parenthèse experience, the two co-founders are very complementary and aligned with the project's vision. They are supported by an experienced team including Ayman, in charge of new site development, Xavier, technical director with over 13 years' experience in construction and project management, enabling Parenthèse to internalize expertise in tiny house construction, and Iris, marketing and communications manager.
Challenges
According to a report by ADEME (the national ecological transition agency), tourism is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 118 million tons of CO2e in France in 2018. Transportation is the leading GHG emission item, followed by accommodation, goods purchases and catering. More specifically, tourist accommodation in France accounts for 8.5 MtCO2e of emissions. The camping market has exploded in recent years, to the detriment of ecosystems and local populations, followed by a proliferation of traditional accommodation such as bungalows, designed in plastic and metal. This problem highlights the need to find sustainable solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of tourism, particularly in the accommodation sector and more generally in promoting an alternative, more local model of tourism that aims to have a positive impact on travellers.
Solutions
Parenthèse offers a concrete answer to these challenges by promoting sustainable and local tourism. The tiny houses are made of PSFC wood sourced from a local sawmill, in their construction workshop located 10 minutes from their first site, by a team of 5 carpenters/woodworkers. Floor space is kept to a minimum, with frame-mounted construction and 100% wood exterior terraces. Isolation using sustainable techniques such as hemp wool ensures that the accommodation is energy efficient. Some are self-sufficient in energy thanks to solar panels. By targeting abandoned land less than 2 hours from a big city, in areas with low tourism, Parenthèse aims to revitalize the area and support the local economy (partnership with a dozen local suppliers, 10% of sales paid back to partners, fair remuneration of artists, etc.). Beyond the project's positive environmental impact, Parenthèse offers activities focused on creativity and inner well-being by creating a dialogue between nature and culture. Finally, the company supports the creation of artistic and literary retreats to promote local talents, thus actively contributing to the local cultural scene.
Economic model
Parenthèse’s business model is based on two sources of revenue: overnight stays (80% of revenue) and services such as bike rentals, packed lunches, shuttle services and artistic activities (20% of revenue). As owner of the land and the tiny houses, the cost of acquiring the habitats, mainly financed by bank loans, is amortized in 1 year, with average annual revenue per tiny house of 49 k€. With a positive EBITDA in 2023 and a break-even point reached with 10 operational tiny houses, the company has been profitable since 2022. The strength of the model lies in an organic growth strategy, with a customer acquisition cost of €2 per reservation. The conversion rate is 2.5%, exceeding the market trend of 1.6%. High customer satisfaction (4.9/5 Google reviews) translates into a loyalty rate of 24% (customers who came in 2022 and returned in 2023). Parenthèse has achieved a revenue of 560 k€ in 2023, representing growth of 35% compared to 2022, driven by an increase in the number of tiny houses and in the average price per night (138€). The rising occupancy rate also attests to the commercial traction of the concept. Today, Parenthèse is looking to strengthen its equity to leverage bank debt to finance the acquisition of land for the next two sites and the purchase of the tiny houses.
Long term impact
Parenthèse generates positive impacts on several levels:
- Reducing the environmental footprint of tourist sites: with tiny houses made of wood, a limited footprint thanks to frame assembly, 100% wood exterior terraces, isolation using sustainable techniques such as hemp wool, and energy autonomy thanks to solar panels, the company is respecting the environment.
- Revitalizing rural areas: by supporting the local economy through sourcing with local subcontractors, and partnerships with other local tourism players.
- Raising awareness of new tourism practices: with almost 10,000 overnight stays sold, Parenthèse is contributing to a more sustainable way of tourism, with the direct consequence of increasing the number of people wishing to experience a new way of travelling.
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