Maurici Badia began his journey in the quiet courtyard of his family home, five years ago, after parting ways with a biotech employer and spending several years abroad in China and Latin America. He had just handed back the keys to a recently concluded lease when inspiration struck—he had been scrolling through Pinterest and realized there was a clear gap in the market. People were hungry for furniture that was sustainable, handmade, and crafted from wood, yet options like that were scarce. He took a simple step that would prove pivotal: he started posting photos of his furniture on Wallapop. The response was immediate and powerful. Orders began to arrive, turning into a steady stream of revenue before he even formalized a full business plan. In those early days, he captured a key insight: artisanal, eco-friendly, low-carbon furniture was not just a niche interest; it represented a meaningful, scalable market opportunity.
With the support of the Demium startup incubator, where he connected with his current partner, Joan Álvarez, the venture grew from a bold idea into a company ready to scale. Hannun, a name chosen for its African roots that means hand, signaled a brand built on craftsmanship and care. In their first year, the team billed €300,000. The momentum only accelerated from there: €1.2 million in year two, €3.6 million in year three, and €4.5 million in revenue by 2021. Looking ahead, Badia himself projects a turnover between €6 million and €7 million in the current year, underscoring how quickly demand is expanding. A sizable share of sales already comes from international markets, with France and Germany leading—and Italy and Portugal expected to contribute more in the months ahead.
From the outset, the founders tapped into the power of an ecosystem designed to accelerate growth. Startup incubators connected them with business angels and early-stage investors who believed in their vision. The initial funding round brought in €200,000, followed by three more rounds as Hannun matured. The last round in 2021 surpassed the original target, bringing in €3 million, with notable investors joining the cap table. Josep Casas, the founder of Naturitas, participated, alongside Javier De la Rosa of MiFarma, and the co-founders of AB Biotics, Sergi Audivert and Miquel Angel Bonachera. The venture capital firm Ship2B, via the Equity4Good vehicle, also contributed. These partnerships provided more than capital; they offered guidance, networks, and credibility at a moment when the brand was proving its resilience.
The influx of interest and the breadth of support helped convert Hannun into a company with aspirations beyond its initial horizons. The founders started discussing an eventual listing, aiming to access broader capital and offer greater flexibility to investors. The plan announced in 2022 was to go public on BME Growth in Barcelona, a move seen as a strategic step toward scaling operations, expanding production capabilities, and enhancing liquidity for shareholders. The ambition was clear: transform Hannun into a leading European player in sustainable home essentials—from furniture to soaps, and from casual bedding to ergonomic, well-made sofas.
A pivotal moment for Hannun came when the company decided to outsource production. Badia, a trained engineer born in Matadepera, recalls the critical decision to balance branding and manufacturing capabilities. Rather than trying to do everything in-house, they began engaging skilled craftsmen who could translate the brand’s design concepts into tangible pieces. The strategy was simple but powerful: preserve the essence of the brand while ensuring high-quality execution across a distributed network of makers. Today, the company employs about 80 people directly and coordinates with a network of around 30 artisans located across Spain and Europe. These partners must meet exacting quality standards, adhere to strict delivery timelines, and operate within an integrated management system that tracks assignments with precision. The expanded catalog now numbers close to 1,000 products, with a clear roadmap to reach 2,500 references over the next year.
Badia emphasizes a core belief that drives every decision: sustainability and social responsibility are inseparable from business success. He speaks plainly about the need to protect forests and natural resources by prioritizing recycled or repurposed materials. Hannun has built a policy of recovering and reusing industrial wood waste to minimize environmental impact, and the company ensures that its factories and workshops offer opportunities to people who might otherwise face exclusion from the labor market. These commitments come without compromising price or quality; sustainability, in their view, should be accessible and affordable for a broad audience. Looking forward, Hannun intends to remain a leader in Europe in the home sector, pursuing growth across a range of product lines and maintaining a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship and social impact. The roadmap points to continued expansion in continental markets, a broader catalog, and a stronger brand presence across multiple channels, including emerging online marketplaces and partner retailers across North America and beyond.