Tengelmann led the $10m first close of a $12m funding round that will help on-demand massage provider Zeel expand to additional cities.

US-based on-demand massage booking service Zeel has achieved a $10m first close of a $12m series A round led by Emil Capital Partners, the local corporate venturing arm of Germany-based retailer Tengelmann.

The round also featured wellness-focused marketing company Spafinder and venture capital firms Slow Ventures, Partech Ventures and New Atlantic Ventures.

Founded in 2010, Zeel operates a marketplace for on-demand massages. The company runs background checks on all listed therapists and requires users to prove their identity by providing…