Event: 2022 Phocuswright Europe
Product: TrustedHousesitters
HQ: Brighton, UK
Principal(s): Mathew Prior, CEO
Funding: $10m Series A raise in September 2021
Product Description: The platform facilitates a value exchange where
- travellers who want to pet sit offer their time and care and get a unique homestay, an authentic travel experience and companionship of pets
- owners offer time in their property and with their pet, and in return get peace of mind knowing that their pet is being cared for by a sitter from our community doing it for love not money.
Business Model: A Consumer Subscription Software platform. An annual fee (€99/129/199) is payable by every community member for unlimited platform usage. Thereafter, there no further fees payable/receivable between members as a result of the unique community value-exchange that is facilitated. This means travel opportunities for sitters, unlimited pet care for pet parents, and unlimited, for just the annual fee.
Competitors: Global short term vacation rental sites and small regional housesitting competitors. No global housesitting competitors.
Competitive Edge: A global community platform offering a unique alternative to the short-term vacation rental sector. Travelers enjoy ethical experiences through a unique homestay that not only offers authenticity, but also for a year’s unlimited usage costs less than a one night stay in a commercial property.
Market Opportunity: The vacation rental industry is forecast to reach $20bn by 2025. All of the reasons why people choose vacation rentals (use of a kitchen, privacy, space) are fulfilled by TrustedHousesitters, which has a higher quality, lower cost product.
Early Customers: 85,000 (at 31st March) paying members and 820,000 opted-in non-paying subscribers
