Since launching in Australia in 2020, Floatspace has grown to become the leading boat and yacht rental marketplace, with over 15,000 guests taking advantage of the platform to enjoy all kinds of events and activities on the water with their friends, family or colleagues.
How did Floatspace get market foothold?
The pandemic has created a boom of interest in the boating lifestyle, as people have sought domestic leisure alternatives to overseas travel. Riding this wave of activity, the Australian-born company has recently taken its first steps toward international expansion, launching in Miami, Florida and establishing a local team on the ground to spearhead growth.
“We are thrilled with the success we have so far achieved in Australia, but we are only getting started in terms of the impact we will have on boating experiences around the world,” commented Floatspace Founder and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Treseder.
“Our recent launch in Florida has exceeded our expectations with over 80 charter boats already onboarded and reviews from satisfied customers starting to flow through every day.”
What is Floatspace’s market strategy?
As the Floatspace brand continues to grow, the company has also attracted some of the world’s best talent in travel technology sector, including Jeff Lewis, the former Vice President of Technology at Viator and an Engineering Lead yet to be announced.
“Our mission is to enable you to have fun on the water. Through our innovative tech, our aim is to make that experience as easy as booking a restaurant or an Uber,” said Treseder.
The early investors in Floatspace reads as a who’s-who of successful entrepreneurs, like Tim Fung (Founder CEO Airtasker), Mike Ford (Co-Founder SiteMinder), Rolf Hansen (Co-Founder Amaysim), Bardia Housman (Founder Business Catalyst acquired by Adobe), among others.
Their latest funding round gave Floatspace a valuation of $12 million.
CEO Hugh Treseder said the company was using the funds to further strengthen its leadership position in Australia, accelerate growth in the United States, as well as create new further innovations in the customer experience as they build towards a Series A round in 2022.
