Fluid Secures $1.7M in Seed Capital
Community sharing app attracts interest from several well-known
venture funds
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fluid,
a community sharing app that allows people to rent items to and from
their neighbors, successfully closed a seed round totaling $1.7 million
from Grotech Ventures, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Correlation
Ventures, and a number of prominent angel investors. The seed capital
will enable Fluid to further refine its product, invest in the community
sharing marketplace, and continue to grow its talented team.
Fluid, available in the App
Store and Play
Store, helps people get the items they need at a reasonable price,
and make money by sharing what they already own. Along the way, Fluid
users help the environment by reducing unnecessary consumption.
“We built Fluid to empower community sharing, encouraging neighbors to
lend everything from a pickup truck, to a lawn mower, to the latest
virtual reality set,” said James Eberhard, Chairman and co-founder of
Fluid. “I’m thrilled by the rapid adoption we’ve seen since launch as
Fluid has become a key tool for people and businesses to turn their
unused items into extra income. We see a clear path for community
sharing to become the next revolution in the sharing economy, and we’re
excited that our seed round has attracted investors that share our
vision.”
“We believe that Fluid has the potential for the same large scale mass
adoption as Airbnb and Nextdoor, enabling neighbors to rent and borrow
whatever they need from a nearby trusted neighbor instead of having to
buy it,” said Joe Zell, General Partner at Grotech Ventures.
Fluid is easy to use. To share an item, users simply post a short
description and photo, indicating an item’s availability, pick-up
instructions and rental price. Those searching for items can browse
Fluid for available goods, schedule usage, and pay for rentals directly
in the app with only a few clicks. Users can stay connected through the
in-app messaging system, and receive reminders regarding upcoming
reservations. Fluid’s Community Requests functionality allows
users to request items that have not yet been listed by the community,
typically with response within 24 hours.
User safety and security are core to the Fluid experience. Each user is
verified through two-factor mobile authentication. Users can also rate
their Fluid experience, including their interactions with owners and
quality of the items they rented. Finally, Fluid users are protected: in
the event an item is damaged, Fluid will repair the item or reimburse
the owner.
Over the course of its pilot in Denver, Fluid users have shared a
variety of vehicles (including a school bus, a Tesla, and moving
trucks), tools (including ladders, saws and weed wackers), “try before
you buy” items (including drones, virtual reality equipment, and a yoga
trapeze swing), outdoor gear (including tents, backpacks, and sports
equipment), and party items (snow cone machines, pop-up tents, and
bouncy castles). In its first 90 days, thousands of users downloaded
Fluid, creating an inventory of over 500 items ranging in price from $1
to $350 per day.
Download Fluid today in the App
Store or Play
Store.
About Fluid:
Fluid is a community sharing app that allows people to easily and
securely list, discover, and rent items to and from one another. Along
the way, Fluid users help the environment by reducing unnecessary
consumption. Fluid is headquartered in Denver, CO, and is backed by
several venture partners, including Grotech Ventures, New Enterprise
Associates (NEA), and Correlation Ventures. Available on iOS
and Android
with more information at www.fluidmarket.com.
Contacts
INK for Fluid
Allyse Sanchez, 925-548-2535
allyse@ink-pr.com
