Swimply Expands Beyond Pools with $10 Million Boost

Swimming pools are joining the gig economy. Swimply, the app that lets homeowners rent out their pools by the hour, just secured $10 million in funding. Founded in 2018, this clever platform already lists around 15,000 pools across the US, Canada, and Australia. CEO Bunim Laskin isn't stopping there. He's expanding the platform beyond just pools to include hot tubs and other amenities.

Swimply taps into a unique market trend. Homeowners are grappling with soaring costs, from skyrocketing home prices to higher mortgage rates. Renting out a private pool offers them a way to earn extra cash without the need for long-term commitments. With an in-ground pool costing an average of $65,000 to build and thousands more in yearly maintenance, turning that water into money makes sense. Laskin's vision is to use these costs into opportunities, creating a vibrant marketplace for private spaces.

But here’s the twist. Swimply isn’t just about pool rentals anymore. The platform is introducing hot tubs and working on adding facilities like basketball courts and music studios. It's a smart move. There are over 10.7 million pools in the US alone. By expanding its offerings, Swimply is positioning itself as a go-to platform for private recreational spaces. And they're not just relying on traditional marketing. A summer pass initiative aims to reward frequent users with discounts, appealing directly to consumers looking for curated experiences.

Here's my take. In this crowded gig economy, success is about differentiation. Swimply’s expansion is promising, but it needs to build traction in these new verticals. If it can do that, the app might just redefine how we think about sharing personal spaces. It's a bold plan in an app-saturated world, but that's precisely why it might work.