Ukio raises $28 million in short-term rentals for remote workers: Travel startup funding this week

take skift

Almost every week, a short-term rental platform or add-on software service reports that it has raised millions. It’s almost as if there is a growing demand for their services. It was two this week and the star is Ukio from Barcelona.

JustinDawes

>>Ukia Barcelona-based short-term rental platform focused on telecommuters has raised $28 million (€27 million) in a Series A funding round.

It includes $17.6 million in equity and $10.4 million in debt led by Felix Capital with backing from Kreos Capital, Heartcore and Breega. Ukio raised $9 million in 2021.

The Ukio platform allows users to book one of the startup’s more than 500 furnished apartments in European cities such as Barcelona, ​​​​Madrid, Lisbon and Berlin. The company said its properties are at 96 percent occupancy. Tenants generally book stays between one and six months.

The startup said it had increased its sales sevenfold in 2022 compared to the previous year and now has 120 employees.

The funding will allow Ukio to expand to more European cities including Paris, Dublin, Milan and London in the coming months. The startup will continue to hire employees and continue to build out its proprietary software with features like an automated monthly rental subscription.

The startup also plans to develop a business-to-business service for international companies.

Each Ukio apartment will be furnished by local designers using items from eco-friendly suppliers, the company said. Additional guest services include housekeeping, gym membership, and local events.

Ukio was founded by brothers Jeremy Fourteau – a former product director at Headspace, Knotel and EA – and Stanley Fourteau, former head of global growth at Airbnb.

“We founded Ukio to be the ideal solution for a new generation of flexible workers,” said Stanley Fourteau in a statement. “The rise of remote work is unleashing people from their desks and allowing them to experience more of the world, and they are taking this opportunity to live and work wherever they choose. But the residential real estate market is stuck in the past and is not up to the needs of the generation of tomorrow.”

Stanley Fourteau shared some of his visions with Skift last year.

>>Outa platform offering short-term stays in modern cabins has raised $3.1 million.

The funding was led by 10X Founders with participation from Shio Capital, Bellevue Holding GmbH, Boscor Group, Ennea VC, Speedinvest, NFQ Capital, Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk and other angel investors.

The Germany-based startup has raised more than 6 million euros.

For properties in remote areas, the platform focuses on immersion in nature for guests. The modern cabins are fully equipped with a fully equipped kitchen and WiFi.

More than 2,000 guests have stayed at Raus since it was founded in October 2021.

The company currently has around two dozen properties near five German cities and plans to expand. The company recently opened Raus Lodge, a larger structure for groups.

Additional guest services include events such as alpaca hikes, farm visits, and guided stargazing tours, as well as packages from local farms and food vendors. To date, local businesses have made an average of $1,556 per month by working with Raus, according to the startup.

“The new funding will help us continue to expand while accelerating the development of our nature immersion platform,” said Julian Trautwein, co-founder and CEO of Raus.

Skift Cheat Sheet:
We define a startup as a company founded to test and build a repeatable and scalable business model. Few companies meet this definition. The rare ones that do often attract venture capital. Your funding rounds come in waves.

seed capital is money used to start a business, often run by angel investors and friends or family members.

Series A Funding is usually provided by venture capitalists. The round aims to help the founders of a startup ensure that their product is something that customers really want to buy.

Series B Funding is all about venture capital firms helping a business grow faster. These fundraising rounds can help recruit skilled labor and develop low-cost marketing.

Series C Funding is usually about helping a company expand, such as through acquisitions. In addition to VCs, hedge funds, investment banks and private equity firms often participate.

Series D, E and beyond These mainly mature companies and the round of financing can help a company prepare for the IPO or acquisition. A variety of types of individual investors could participate.