Kiki, a New Zealand-born subletting club that is now based in New York City, has raised $6 million in seed funding. The round was led by Blackbird Ventures ($4.5 million), with participation from Harry Uffindell, Bowen Pan, Michelle Battersby, Mahesh Muralidhar, Tyler Trerotola, and Jaikumar Ganesh, among others.
The company plans to use the funds to expand its operations and launch its club in New York City, as well as other US cities in the future. Kiki was co-founded by Jack Montgomerie and Toby Thomas-Smith, and it is a subletting platform that connects listers with people looking to rent a place for up to six months. The company says that it has already filled over 1,500 homes since launching 12 months ago in Sydney, Australia. It will launch in New York City in October 2023.
The company uses a "friend of a friend" model to vet its users, which helps to ensure that both listers and renters feel comfortable using the platform. Kiki offers a variety of features to help users find the perfect sublet, such as a search filter that allows users to specify their desired location, length of stay, and price range. Kiki also offers a messaging platform that allows users to communicate with each other directly.
Kiki is a promising new subletting platform that is well-positioned to grow in the US market. The company's strong funding round and experienced team suggest that it has the potential to become a major player in the subletting industry.
