GuesttoGuest, the France-based operator of an online home exchange platform, has raised more than $35m in funding from investors including insurance firm Maif.
Founded in 2011, GuesttoGuest runs an online platform that enables users to swap their homes for short-term stays. It lists more than 280,000 properties across 187 countries but is most popular in Europe.
The funding was used to acquire US-based counterpart HomeExchange for an undisclosed sum, allowing it to expand in North America and adding a freemium upscale option to its free-membership offering. Additional capital will support the growth of both services.
Although Maif’s participation in the round was not officially described, a statement said its involvement was crucial to the round’s closure. The firm’s corporate venturing unit, Maif Avenir, lists GuesttoGuest as a portfolio company on its website.
Pascal Demurger, chief executive of Maif, said in a press release: “When we first came across GuesttoGuest a couple of years ago, we were immediately attracted to this original project, aimed at giving hospitality the power and scale of a peer-to-peer platform.
“It is now a great pleasure to keep supporting GuesttoGuest in strengthening its position as the world leader in home swapping.”
– Image courtesy of GuesttoGuest