Each Founder Collective partner has founded and sold a technology company. The company we wish had existed when we first started out is what we hope to create with Founder Collective. We offer a user guide for managing the risky commodity known as venture capital. The company believes that in order to advance their firms and maintain control, entrepreneurs should aim to raise the least amount of money possible. Founder Collective was established on May 22, 2009 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Founder Collective

BoxGroup is an early-stage investment fund that invests in technology companies. The fund aims to invest in the consumer, enterprise, fintech, healthcare, life science, and marketplaces industries at the earliest stage, as early as pre-seed round and as late as Series A. It supports companies based on a conviction in the team and seeks entrepreneurs working at the beginning of movements in existing markets or new markets yet to be created and with visions to create the next generation of category-defining businesses. Their typical investment ranges from $200,000 to $500,000. Adam Rothenberg and David Tisch founded BoxGroup in 2009 in New York, New York.

BoxGroup

Zigg Capital is a venture capital firm based in New York, New York and was founded in 2018. The firm invests in companies operating in the technology sector.

Zigg Capital

Ribbit Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies. The firm invests globally in individuals and brands who are aiming to disrupt financial services.  The investment firm was founded in 2012 by Meyer Malka and headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Ribbit Capital

FirstMark is a venture capital firm based in New York City. The firm's mission is to partner with exceptional entrepreneurs who are changing the world by solving meaningful problems. FirstMark has proudly backed founders of remarkable businesses like Pinterest, Shopify, DraftKings, Discord, Airbnb, and dozens more.

FirstMark

Founded in 2014, Touchdown Ventures is a corporate venture capital (CVC) firm that partners with corporations to invest in early and growth-stage companies across a variety of industries, including information technology, media, consumer, health, and industrial. The firm maintains offices in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.

Touchdown Ventures

NextGen Venture Partners invests $1-2M in seed-stage companies with the participation of 1,800+ Venture Partners. The firm specializes in the fields of private equity, business strategy, start-up acceleration, and fundraising.

NextGen Venture Partners

Allegion Ventures is the corporate venture fund of Allegion. It invests in and accelerates the growth of companies with innovative, technologies, and products that have the potential to make security and access smarter, stronger, faster, and less intrusive. Allegion Ventures was established in 2003 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Allegion Ventures

Real Estate Technology Ventures (RET Ventures) is the first industry-backed seed-stage venture fund focused on building innovative real estate technology companies with a focus on the multifamily and single-family rental industries. The Firm connects the smartest rent tech solutions with its strategic LP base which includes the large network of rental units in North America. RET Ventures works with high-quality entrepreneurs to scale their businesses by leveraging the knowledge and expertise of its team and limited partners, who own close to one million units. In turn, these owners receive early access and insight into effective technology solutions.

RET Ventures

Citi Ventures harnesses the power of Citi to help people, businesses, and communities thrive in a world of technological change. Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, London, Palo Alto, Tel Aviv, and Singapore, Citi Ventures accelerates discovery of new sources of value by exploring, incubating, and investing in new ideas, in partnership with Citi colleagues, clients, and the innovation ecosystem.

Citi Ventures

Fireside Ventures is proposing a New Approach to Investing in Consumer Brands. Fireside Ventures invests in early stage consumer brands.

Fireside Ventures

New York Life Ventures connects the financial strength of New York Life with the speed and agility of the start-up community, engaging in strategic partnerships that accelerate the pace of innovation across the enterprise. Through its strategic testing and investing approach and on-site research and development lab, New York Life Ventures drives opportunity and growth for early-stage ventures while fostering a network of innovation throughout New York Life and enhancing customer experiences.

New York Life Ventures

Karman Ventures (fka Moving Capital) is a venture capital firm backed by early employees of Uber and other decacorn startups.

Karman Ventures (fka Moving Capital)

Atacama Ventures is an early-stage venture fund supporting big ideas, future brands, and the next generation of fund managers

Atacama Ventures

Kasa Living

Kasa Living is a real estate company that focuses on building a global accommodations brand. The company partners with owners of multifamily and boutique hospitality properties, transforming underutilized real estate into professionally managed units that cater to business and leisure travelers. Kasa Living was founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Kasa Living, Inc. is a tech-powered, flexible accommodations brand and operator founded in San Francisco in 2016. The company partners with real estate owners to transform units at multi-family and hospitality properties into professionally managed accommodations called Kasas. Kasa leverages proprietary technology and operational expertise from industry veterans previously with firms like Airbnb, KKR, and Apollo to deliver high-quality experiences to guests.

Kasa Living, Inc. Opens New Location in Charlotte

See the 33-page pitch deck Kasa Living, which helps Wall Street landlords turn their real estate into Airbnbs, used to raise $70 million

Kasa Living, Inc.

Kasa Living Expands Into Single Family Homes

Kasa Living, Inc. Closes $70 Million Series C Funding Round Led by Citi Ventures

Kasa Living Raises Another $70M to Empower Property Owners with Technology to Offer Short Term Rentals – AlleyWatch

Kasa Living diversifies into single-home vacation rentals

Kasa opens latest property in Downtown Asheville

Alternative Living

Kasa Living provides technology-equipped apartment and hotel room booking services across 45+ cities in the US. The company partners with multi-family and hospitality property owners to convert their properties into professionally managed "Kasas," catering to both business and leisure travelers. Depending on the location and property type, the cost per night for an apartment stay is ~USD 180. The apartments come equipped with a fully-stocked kitchen, guest amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, pet-friendly facilities, and a 24/7 virtual guest contact center. Additionally, some properties offer fitness and recreation amenities, parking space, and a pool. The apartments come equipped with a smart lock and noise sensors, which alert the guest services team in case of excessive noise. Many of its buildings have IoT technology integrated for front door codes and garage gates. Kasa has integrated these systems into its API to provide guests with a single code to access the building, apartment, and garage. Additionally, Kasa employs a task management system to schedule housekeeping and ensure that the correct number of amenities are available for each unit. The company incorporates technology into its units and booking process, such as a user ID verification system to ensure legitimate bookings.

Travel Tech

Former Ace Hotel in downtown L.A. reopens with new name from Kasa Living, AJU Continuum

Kasa Living, Inc. is a tech-powered, flexible accommodations brand and operator founded in San Francisco in 2016. The company partners with real estate owners to transform units at multi-family and hospitality properties into professionally managed accommodations called Kasas. Kasa leverages proprietary technology and operational expertise from industry veterans previously with firms like Airbnb, KKR, and Apollo to deliver high-quality experiences to guests.
Kasa operates a diverse range of accommodations, including multi-family apartments, single-family homes, and boutique hotels across over 40 US cities as of 2023. The company's model involves signing revenue-sharing management agreements with property owners rather than long-term leases. This asset-light approach has enabled Kasa to consistently improve profitability at properties by over 50% after taking over operations while also enhancing guest satisfaction scores.
In May 2023, Kasa expanded into offering luxury single-family vacation rentals, beginning in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. The new venture aligned with the company's core value proposition of unlocking the potential of real estate assets for owners and guests. By September 2023, Kasa had earned the trust of major real estate firms like Greystar, AMLI Residential, and Starwood Capital through its ability to drive strong financial results.
In October 2023, Kasa closed a USD 70 million Series C funding round led by Citi Ventures and FirstMark Capital, bringing its total funding raised to USD 126.3 million. The capital influx positioned Kasa with a robust balance sheet to accelerate growth without requiring additional fundraising. In February 2024, Kasa continued expanding by opening a new 16-unit property in Downtown Asheville, North Carolina.

Outsite is a global network of co-living spaces designed for digital nomads, remote workers, and location-independent professionals. Founded in 2015, Outsite offers fully-furnished private accommodations, such as apartments, studios, and private rooms, with reliable high-speed internet, workspaces, and amenities tailored for remote work and productivity.
As of 2024, Outsite operates 49 co-living spaces across the US, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. These locations range from urban centers to coastal retreats and alpine getaways, providing a diverse array of destinations for digital nomads to explore while maintaining their work routine.
Outsite's co-living spaces are equipped with dedicated workspaces, including desks, common areas, and, in some locations, coworking cafes. Accommodations typically feature private bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, fully-equipped kitchens, outdoor spaces, and other amenities like pools, hot tubs, and laundry facilities.
To ensure a seamless experience, each Outsite location has a dedicated Community Manager who assists with check-in, organizes events, and provides support to guests. The company also partners with organizations like One Tree Planted to promote sustainability, planting a tree for every booking made.
Outsite operates on a membership model, offering annual and lifetime plans that provide access to exclusive deals, perks, and the ability to book stays across their global network. Members can earn credits and rewards for longer stays, fostering a sense of community among digital nomads who frequently move between Outsite locations.

Outsite

The Collective is a pioneering co-living company that offers a new way of urban living for renters, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, in London. It operates large-scale co-living buildings that provide private en-suite or studio apartments along with access to shared amenities like gyms, cinemas, spas, co-working spaces, and community events. The company's primary focus is on offering convenience, community, and an enhanced living experience through fully-furnished units, utilities included, housekeeping services, and a vibrant events program.
The Collective's flagship properties include the 550-room The Collective Old Oak in West London and the 705-room world's largest co-living building in Canary Wharf. The company's business model is centered around providing value for money by allowing tenants to trade private space for more communal areas, resulting in lower rents compared to traditional apartments. This approach aims to address the growing demand for affordable housing among young professionals in major cities.
In response to the pandemic, The Collective adapted its events program to a hybrid format, offering both in-person and virtual options. It also partnered with experts to introduce wellness initiatives and practices to support members' mental and physical health during lockdowns. While The Collective faced challenges during the pandemic, leading to its collapse in late 2021, its two live sites in London remained operational after reaching an agreement with stakeholders, indicating confidence in the co-living model's fundamentals.
The Collective's acquisition by Red Door Ventures fell through in mid-2018, but lenders Deutsche Bank and Catalina RE provided substantial debt for the Old Oak development, valuing it higher than the initial asking price, implying a yield of around 4.00%. This demonstrated the investment community's confidence in the collective living concept.

The Collective

PodShare is a co-living community that offers an innovative housing solution catering to millennials, digital nomads, and individuals seeking flexibility, affordability, and a sense of community. The company operates on the principle of "access, not ownership," providing members with access to fully furnished private sleeping pods and shared amenities across multiple locations.
PodShare's housing network spans various neighborhoods in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with plans to expand further. The core concept revolves around custom-built 50 sq ft sleeping pods that are part of larger shared living spaces. This co-living arrangement not only promotes cost-effectiveness but also fosters social interaction and a sense of community among members, which the company refers to as "maximum collisions."
The PodShare model offers an all-inclusive living experience, encompassing furnished accommodations, utilities, toiletries, daily cleaning services, and additional perks like access to food, events, gyms, software, and entertainment subscriptions. The flexible payment options and no-deposit policy contribute to a hassle-free living experience for members.
PodShare's disruptive approach addresses the challenges of unaffordable and inflexible housing in urban areas. By offering a location-independent housing network, members can seamlessly transfer their accommodations without the need to pay for multiple residences simultaneously.
Founded in 2012 by Elvina Beck, a Russian-born entrepreneur, PodShare has grown from its first location in Hollywood to multiple sites across Los Angeles. In 2019, the company expanded to San Francisco, marking its first location outside of Los Angeles. Beck's vision aligns with the evolving societal preferences, particularly among millennials and freelancers who value flexibility, affordability, and community over traditional living arrangements.

Podshare

Colonies is a pioneering French startup offering urban co-living solutions. It operates a unique co-living model that combines affordability, community, and convenience, particularly appealing to young professionals and students seeking more than just accommodation in cities. Each Colonies co-living space features fully furnished private bedrooms or studios alongside common areas designed to foster a sense of community.
The company's approach involves sourcing and refurbishing properties, furnishing them to create a blend of private and communal spaces. As of May 2022, Colonies had around 1,100 tenants across 180 sites in Paris, Toulouse, Marseille, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lille, Berlin, and Brussels. Properties range from houses to apartment buildings, with larger developments like a 330-unit residence planned for delivery in Orsay in 2022.
Colonies aims to provide flexible, community-focused living environments with an average monthly rent of EUR 590 as of 2022, inclusive of utilities, insurance, internet, and weekly cleaning services for shared areas. The startup raised EUR 221 million in funding over four rounds by December 2023, with a EUR 30 million round led by Crédit Mutuel Impact in December 2023 to support expansion plans.
While initially targeting young professionals, Colonies has broadened its offerings to cater to students, who comprised 35% of its tenant base by 2022. The company envisions extending its co-living concept to families, offering amenities like childcare facilities and spaces for parents to socialize.

Colonies

Zoku is a pioneering home-office hybrid hotel concept designed for global nomads and traveling professionals. Launched in 2016, it redefines the traditional hotel experience by providing flexible living and working spaces under one roof. The brand's core offering is the Zoku Loft, a revolutionary room design that shifts the focus from the bed to the living area, featuring a multifunctional space with a kitchen, work desk, and loft-style sleeping area accessible via a retractable staircase.
Zoku's lofts are equipped with modern amenities, including fully-equipped kitchens, ample storage, office supplies, and stylish furnishings from Danish design brand Muuto. The concept prioritizes intelligent use of space, facilitating seamless transitions between living, working, and socializing. Beyond the lofts, Zoku offers diverse social areas, coworking spaces, rooftop gardens, fitness studios, and event venues to foster a sense of community and connection among residents and locals.
Since its inception in Amsterdam, Zoku has expanded to Copenhagen and Vienna, with plans to establish a presence in other European innovation hubs like London, Barcelona, Berlin, and Paris. The brand has garnered recognition for its innovative approach, winning accolades such as the 2015 Radical Innovation Award and "Best Innovation & Disruption" from the Serviced Apartment Awards.

Zoku

Companies that provide communal-living (co-living) spaces with separate or shared living spaces.

Companies that function on an owner-operator model or as a third party platform to provide fully furnished apartments/ houses for rent as a "ready-to-live" service for customers either on a month-to-month basis, or shorter/ longer stays as decided by the customer.

Companies that construct tiny or micro homes, often with reduced building/ assembly times with added eco-friendly elements.

Companies that construct mobile tiny or micro homes which can be attached to a vehicle to be transported.

Companies that develop housing that is designed to withstand and mitigate the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and tornadoes using resilient building materials or special features.

Companies that develop solutions which support alternative living styles with solutions such as multipurpose and manoeuvrable furniture, modular sleeping pods, smart motorized storage solutions etc.

Living solutions that have a lower negative environmental impact compared with traditional homes

Kasa Living provides technology-equipped apartment and hotel room booking services across 45+ cities in the US. The company partners with multi-family and hospitality property owners to convert their properties into professionally managed "Kasas," catering to both business and leisure travelers. Depending on the location and property type, the cost per night for an apartment stay is ~USD 180. The apartments come equipped with a fully-stocked kitchen, guest amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, pet-friendly facilities, and a 24/7 virtual guest contact center. Additionally, some properties offer fitness and recreation amenities, parking space, and a pool. The apartments come equipped with a smart lock and noise sensors, which alert the guest services team in case of excessive noise. Many of its buildings have IoT technology integrated for front door codes and garage gates. Kasa has integrated these systems into its API to provide guests with a single code to access the building, apartment, and garage. Additionally, Kasa employs a task management system to schedule housekeeping and ensure that the correct number of amenities are available for each unit. The company incorporates technology into its units and booking process, such as a user ID verification system to ensure legitimate bookings.According to Kasa, its hotel operating model generates NOIs that are 50%–75% higher than traditional operating models, with GOP margins ranging from 60%–65%. To make its services accessible to a wider audience, Kasa Living lists its properties on several platforms, including Airbnb, Expedia, and Booking.com, and accepts direct bookings through its website and mobile application. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18477">May 2022 </a>, Kasa Living ventured in the luxury single-family vacation rental market, starting in the Fort Lauderdale, Miami, area through its partnership with an undisclosed real estate investor.The company generates revenue through rental income, as well as a 35% revenue-share from partnerships with multi-family properties from managing over 75 properties in the US.

Sonder is a short-term rental startup that acquires and refurbishes apartments in popular urban areas and offers them for rent through various channels, including Airbnb, Expedia, and its own website. The company typically enters into three- to five-year leases (including fixed leases and mixed leases) or revenue-sharing agreements with landlords to occupy entire floors of buildings. Sonder’s contracts include provisions that reduce rates during economic downturns, such as a clause that decreased rents by 8% during the pandemic. Unlike other home-sharing firms that have faced difficulties with local lodging regulations, Sonder either holds hotel licenses or operates in buildings that permit short-term rentals.Its apartments offer hotel amenities, such as professional cleaning services, fresh designs, and a concierge service accessible through an app. With the help of its app and digital door locks, guests can check-in to their rooms without any face-to-face interactions. As a result, Sonder's offering was well-suited for maintaining social distance during the pandemic. Sonder aims to extend its reach by expanding to other regions, including Asia. Sonder is also planning to broaden its offerings to include properties such as resorts, villas, and residences. Moreover, Sonder aims to establish a franchise model and sell its software solutions to outside operators. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20463">July 2023 </a>, Sonder launched its first hotel collection, ‘Powered by Sonder’, a collection of boutique hotels, each with its own distinctive design aesthetic, utilizing Sonder's technology and operated by the company.As of January 2023, Sonder served more than one million guests in more than 9,000 live units, across more than 40 cities and 10 countries. It expected to grow its portfolio to 56,000 units by 2024.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27990">March 2024 </a>, Sonder lost some properties to competing companies such as Kasa Living, Placemakr, AvantStay, and Blueground. The shift in property management occurred after Sonder attempted to renegotiate lease terms or exit from master leases.Key customers and partnerships<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32761">In August 2024</a>, Sonder signed a licensing agreement to sell 9,000+ of its units to Marriott International with plans to integrate 1,500 units more into the Marriott system in the future. Previously,In September 2022, Sonder partnered with RateGain Travel technologies to strengthen its presence on the GDS by introducing its own dedicated chain code titled SS. The company also partnered with Hotel Engine, a lodging performance network, to offer its services to its network of over 550,000 business travelers (October 2021).

Sonder

Ukio is a Barcelona-based company that provides short-term rental apartments directed at remote workers and other professionals on the move. Ukio offers rental apartments for stays ranging 1–11 months, with an average stay of four to five months. Guests can book for a set period and have the option to extend their stay through the company's online platform. Ukio signs 7- to 10-year leases for its apartments with individual property owners, real estate developers, and family offices.Ukio’s rentals range from EUR 1,750–5,000 (~USD 1,900–5,400) per month. The monthly payment covers utilities, maintenance, taxes, and all the standard amenities included in a hotel stay. Each apartment includes a concierge and reception area, with some having additional services, such as weekly-cleaning facilities. As of August 2024, Ukio operated in Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Berlin and Paris with Ukio planning to expand to other cities such as London, and Dublin.

Ukio

NUMA (formerly known as Cosi) is a German provider of alternative accommodation that offers short-term rental units in over 3,000 locations in cities like Berlin, Munich, Rome, and Vienna. The company signs long-term leases with property owners and remodels the apartments by furnishing and designing the interiors, before renting them out as a hotel alternative. NUMA uses automation and smart pricing to increase occupancy rates and provides a comprehensive digital service for the entire guest experience by reducing booking and check-in/checkout timing to less than 60 seconds. NUMA differentiates itself from similar companies like Sonder by targeting a broader demographic and offering a “tech franchise” solution called “NUMA Go,” where third-party hoteliers can use NUMA's technology for a share of their revenue. NUMA also offers B2B travel solutions through its dedicated corporate booking team and its offering of corporate travel rates.In June 2021, NUMA expanded its services to Spain, Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic by acquiring local short-term rental provider, Friendly Rentals. NUMA planned to further expand its operations in existing and new markets, such as France, the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic region. Additionally, NUMA made plans to enter the Portuguese market with the opening of a 77-unit hotel in Lisbon in Q2 2024.

numa

TravelPerk offers business travel options for customers. TravelPerk is headquartered in Barcelona and has additional offices in London, Berlin, Chicago, and Miami. The platform uses proprietary technology to provide booking, management, and reporting for business trips. It allows travellers to compare and book various modes of transportation, such as trains, cars, flights, hotels and apartments from various providers including KAYAK, Skyscanner, Expedia, Booking.com, and Airbnb. The company aims to provide flexibility to travellers while giving companies control over travel expenses.In November 2021, TravelPerk launched “TravelPerk Events” to bring dispersed teams together for face-to-face meetings. To make in-person meetings more sustainable, TravelPerk also provides customers with the option to estimate their carbon footprint and neutralize their emissions, achieving this through the acquisition of Susterra (September 2021). This also includes GreenPerk, a sustainability tool that directly reduces carbon emissions through initiatives run by its partner, Atmosfair. Other notable acquisitions included that of AmTrav (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates?industryIds=101">June 2024</a>), UK-based rival, Click Travel (July 2021) and US-based rival, NexTravel (January 2021).TravelPerk uses a subscription- and commission-based business model that includes a freemium plan, with paid plans starting at USD 99 per month and commission fees starting at 3% per booking.Key customers and partnershipsTravelPerk struck a partnership with Southwest Airlines in January 2021 to broaden its US-based inventory, becoming one of the first non-US travel management companies to enter a partnership with the airline company. Other partners include Lufthansa Group Airlines, Midnight Trains, Divvy, and Skyscanner.TravelPerk doubled its customer acquisition rate in 2020 and catered to more than 6,000 businesses, including brands like Wise, Farfetch, GetYourGuide, and Monzo, as of September 2024

TravelPerk

Omio is a Berlin-based travel platform that allows users to search, compare and book transportation options across Europe, the US, and Canada. Founded in 2013 as GoEuro, the company rebranded to Omio in 2019 to reflect its expanded global presence. Omio's platform aggregates and displays train, bus, flight, ferry and car rental options from over 1,000 transportation providers across 37 countries. Users can compare routes, prices, and travel times across different modes of transport in a single search.The company's technology integrates directly with transportation providers to offer real-time pricing and availability. Omio generates revenue through commissions on bookings as well as service fees. As of 2022, Omio's platform facilitated enough ticket sales to fill 30 trains and 300 buses daily. The company has seen significant growth, with ticket bookings in 2022 reaching 140% above pre-pandemic levels. Omio has also observed a shift toward mobile bookings, with 80% of tickets now purchased via its mobile app.Key customers and partnershipsOmio has partnerships with hundreds of transportation companies across Europe and North America, including major providers like Renfe, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Flixbus, and Amtrak. In 2022, Omio partnered with Uber to integrate its inventory into the Uber app in the UK, allowing Uber users to book train and coach tickets. In 2023, Omio collaborated with Ecosia to launch a "tree-planting rail travel search tool" that promotes train travel as a more sustainable transport option. Omio has also integrated its booking capabilities into platforms like Kayak and Huawei devices.&nbsp;In August 2024, Omio announced a partnership with Ryanair to sell the airline's tickets as an approved online travel agent.

Omio

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and/or book flights, hotels, buses, trains and travel packages.

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and book alternative lodging in privately owned properties, including apartments and homes

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and book tours, events, and other travel-related recreational activities

Providers of corporate travel management solutions that help businesses with planning, controlling, tracking, and reporting on business travel activities, as well as distribution solutions and B2B booking engines

Car rental and ride-sharing solutions for long-distance travel

Providers of battery-powered luggage products equipped with technologies such as USB charging, built-in scales, TSA-approved locks, and real-time location tracking via GPS and cellular networks

Providers of technology-enabled solutions to enhance the guest experience, such as contactless and automated check-in services.

Providers of technology-based solutions for accommodation providers, tour/experience operators to optimize revenue and operations.

Some solutions under the B2B travel solutions segment operate under a B2B SaaS model

Some online search/booking and revenue management solutions use AI/ML for product development

Kasa Living

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