Onefinestay, a startup describing itself as “the world’s first unhotel,” just announced that it has raised $12 million in a Series B round of funding.
The service allows people who are going out-of-town to rent out their homes to travelers. It may sound a bit like Airbnb, but onefinestay is trying to create a more high-end experience, with a curated list of luxury houses and apartments. So guests get a swanky local experience combined with some of the convenience of a hotel, thanks to onefinestay-provided linens and toiletries. There’s also an iPhone app with tips, free local calling, and access to guest services like cleaning and a private chef.
The startup launched in London a little more than two years ago, and since then it claims to have grown from six to 500 homes. Apparently some of the people renting out their homes are making more “significantly more” than $50,000 a year. Now it’s launching in New York City. The new funding, naturally, will help with the launch, and with further international growth.
The round was led by Canaan Partners, with participation from previous investors Index Ventures and PROfounders Capital. Onefinestay has now raised a total of $16 million.
onefinestay gives visitors to London the chance to stay in a home with the service of a hotel while the owner is out of town, and owners an extra source of hassle-free income. Guests are travellers who might otherwise stay in a boutique or upscale hotel, but are seeking a new experience. The service is marketed to regular business travellers, professionals, and families with small children. The company cleans and tidies the home before they arrive and provides high quality...
Canaan Partners invests in visionary entrepreneurs and provides them the networks, insights and operational guidance required to build high-performance technology and healthcare companies. Founded in 1987, the firm has raised nine funds and completed more than 94 acquisitions and 54 IPOs. With $3 billion under management and a worldwide footprint, the firm is committed to catalyzing the growth of innovative digital media, communications & mobility, enterprise, clean tech, biopharmaceuticals, medical device, diagnostics and healthcare infrastructure companies. Canaan has offices...
Index Ventures is a leading venture capital firm specializing in investments in information technology and life sciences companies. The firm invests in seed, early and growth stage start-ups across US and Europe. Since its inception in 1996, Index Ventures has backed visionary entrepreneurs who have taken on incumbents and built seminal companies in a number of growth sectors including: open source software companies such as MySQL, Trolltech, Zend and Pentaho; broadband and VOIP companies such as Virata, Skype, FON and...
We are a venture capital fund for entrepreneurs powered by entrepreneurs. Our investors and principals number some of the best-known players within the digital media space – people who have built some of Europe’s most successful companies. Our aim is to invest in and support new businesses with capital plus proactive advice and expertise in order to create long-term value and promote entrepreneurism. We believe that the combination of dynamic new entrepreneurs and PROfounders Capital’s principals’ experience leads to mutual...
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