Amsterdam-based GetEase, an on-demand lifestyle marketplace, announced on Tuesday that it has raised €700K in its pre-Seed round of funding. The company also announced the launch of its new app.
The funding round was joined by Graduate Entrepreneur, a fund backed by Erasmus and Delft Alumni, and APX, an early-stage VC backed by Axel Springer and Porsche.
Auke van den Hout, Managing Partner Graduate Entrepreneur Fund, says, “To launch and scale a company like GetEase you really need a strong and all-round founding team. Ilona and Maurits have demonstrated to be excellent so far in launching this disruptive concept. We’re happy to have them in our recently launched fund.”
Henric Hungerhoff, MD of APX, says, “We are happy to do this follow-on investment and to be working closely with GetEase as investors because we strongly believe in this growing market, and in the ability of GetEase to be a key part of the future of the services on demand. This is an industry with the potential to be the next big disrupter.”
ASIF Ventures, Apex Labs, as well as a host of prominent angel investors also joined the round.
Capital utilisation
GetEase says it will use funds for growth in Amsterdam as well as launch in Rotterdam later this year. The platform has already witnessed traction with over 100 service providers signed on, and a stable, loyal customer base within Amsterdam.
Additionally, the company says it will launch two scalable apps to fully cater to the needs and demands of both clients and service providers. The first app will allow users to book their favourite services from the comfort of their homes, while the second app will offer service-providing freelancers a plug-and-play solution to grow their business digitally.
Co-founder Ilona van Wegen, says, “We’re super happy to partner with APX and Graduate Entrepreneur fund. APX has an amazing international network and scope which is very beneficial given our international ambitions. Graduate Entrepreneur Fund has a great network in technology and is backed by significant successful founders. We look forward to bringing GetEase to the next level!”
GetEase aims to disrupt the services industry in Europe
Founded in 2021 by ex-Googlers Ilona van Wegen and Maurits de Cler, GetEase is an on-demand marketplace that brings lifestyle services straight to your home. According to Research and Markets, the space is expected to grow to $4.75B by 2026 at a CAGR of 61 per cent.
Maurits de Cler says, “Our data shows that the modern consumer prioritises the date and time over the exact freelance service provider. This is only made possible by the guarantee of quality that we provide to our customers. With a one-stop-shop approach, our aim is to provide enough services to grow towards monthly relevancy for consumers. Close to 50% of our recurring bookings are cross-sells, showing us that customers don’t just want one specific type of service at home. Once they see and experience how convenient at-home services are, that becomes the new norm, across the board.”
According to GetEase, the lifestyle service sector is dominated by freelancers, who comprise over 60 per cent of the space’s workforce. GetEase’s plug-and-play platform helps these service providers to expand into the digital space, and find new clients with the backend of their core business. It offers everything from insurances, accounting support, brand partnerships, finding the right equipment, to certifications.
“By setting up real partnerships and adding more value than just new clients, we believe that we can build sustainable working relationships with our freelancer service providers for the long term,” adds Ilona van Wegen.
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