Helsinki-based Valpas, a provider of a tech, pesticide-free, solution for bedbug-safe stays in hotels and rentals, announced on Wednesday that it has secured €4M in seed funding led by Zenith VC.
Other investors, including Icebreaker VC, Finnish Industry Investment, Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund, Activum SG Ventures, Houghton Street Ventures, Rockaway Ventures, and
Morrow Ventures, participated in the round.
The Finnish company says it will use the funds to ramp up production of its tech, which ensures rooms are bedbug-safe 24/7.
Additionally, the company will use the capital to build key partnerships with travel booking agents and platforms making it easier for travellers to identify and choose bedbug-safe hotels.
What does Valpas solve?
Hotels contribute to the spread of bedbugs, costing the industry €15B yearly.
Addressing this issue in high-turnover accommodations would reduce the likelihood of guests bringing bedbugs home, improving public safety.
Pesticide-based products are becoming ineffective and harmful, and bedbugs are close to becoming immune. Without a pesticide-free solution, bedbugs could cause a global public health crisis.
They also lead to physical and mental distress and can transmit disease-inducing pathogens.
Here’s where Valpas steps in!
The company was founded after one of the co-founders — Martim caught bedbugs while traveling and got frustrated with the waste and biodiversity loss pesticides create.
Valpas: Making every trip safe from bed bugs
Founded in Helsinki in 2017 by Martim Gois, Vertti Sarimaa, Aleksi Jokela, and Matti Parkkila, Valpas has developed a solution that centres on smart anti-bedbug bed legs.
Valpas says the solution frees guests from the bed bugs they carry during the first night upon entering a room, before they infect the guest or room, keeping both clean and safe 24/7.
Bedbugs, which are attracted to the CO2 humans exhale while sleeping, are lured into the legs by a unique technological material design.
Valpas’ IoT and AI-enabled mobile web app then provide in-app image recognition to identify and dispose of the pests. The solution is completely free from any chemicals.
Martim Gois, CEO and Co-Founder of Valpas says, “No travel or home insurance covers the cost and pain of a bedbug infestation at home. Nearly every infestation at home comes after a night in a hotel or rental bed. By staying at a Valpas affiliated hotel, travellers know the room they get is clean and no matter where they go around town the hotel keeps them safe.”
The company is already working with over 300 hotels flagged under premium brands including Accor Hotels, The Luxury Collection, Design Hotels, ARP-Hansen, and Bob W in over 40 destinations – amongst others across Europe, Mexico, and Japan.
“We are on a journey to make every trip bedbug-safe and pesticide-free. There’s no other global social and environmental problem that can be solved directly by the proactive intervention of the hospitality industry other than bed bugs and the use of indoor pesticides. Hospitality companies that get affiliated early on are reaping the benefits in higher bookings and happier guests,” adds Gois.
The investor
Zenith Venture Capital invests in Nordic early-stage B2B tech companies with proven revenue traction.
Erik Lindblad, Partner and CEO at Zenith VC says, “Valpas is addressing a significant and growing industry challenge with a seamless and effective solution. We believe it is a clear leader in this segment and has the potential to become a global category winner. We are highly impressed with what Martim and the Valpas team have achieved, especially in terms of product excellence and customer satisfaction. The company’s ability to prevent bed bugs without chemicals, ensuring smooth hotel operations and guest safety, creates immense value. We believe Valpas will increasingly become a revenue driver for hotels and travel agents, as guests seek out properties that can guarantee a bedbug-free stay. We are excited to help scale this solution globally.”
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