Dolly raises $7.5M to make your next move easier on your back

by Katie Fustich
May 2, 2019
dolly seattle tech startup raises $7.5 million
photo via dolly

Despite being one of the most soul-sucking activities known to humanity — and a threat to your back, finances and potted plants — moving is a necessary evil.

But Seattle-based Dolly believes moving doesn’t have to cost you a fraction of your soul — and the company just raised a $7.5 million Series B to prove it.

The company, founded in 2013, brings a peer-to-peer approach to the world of moving. Advertised as “Truck and muscle, anytime you need it,” Dolly offers on-demand moving help for everything from entire apartment relocations to hauling a new couch up your sixth-floor walkup.

The company also helps people out with things like Craigslist furniture pickups or organizing bigger donations of clothing and homewares.

To organize a Dolly move, one merely need download the company’s app, upload a moving itinerary, and receive an instant price quote before booking anything. Once confirmed, sit back, relax, and await Dolly’s team at your specified time and location.

Dolly “helpers” bring their own trucks or cargo vans to the job and make $30 an hour or more, while “hands” assist the helpers and make $15 or more. Both categories require contractors to be able to lift over 75 pounds.

Counting today’s injection of VC, Dolly has now raised a total of $17.2 million after three rounds.

Dolly’s latest funding was spearheaded by local firm Unlock Venture Partners. Maveron Ventures also participated, as did Jeff Wilke, aka the CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer. Andy Liu, co-founder of Unlock, will join the Dolly board of directors as part of the deal.

“Industry data shows that people are tired of the same old unpredictable and expensive delivery services,” said Liu in a statement on the funding.

Indeed, the moving and delivery space is ripe for disruption. Per the American Moving & Storage Association, the total value of the moving and storage space is estimated at $12.6 billion.

While a fair share of startups have begun to emerge in the storage space, moving remains largely untouched. Liu argues that Dolly is poised to give the industry its much-needed wake-up call:

“So-called last-mile delivery is in desperate need of an upgrade, and Dolly is in a great position to lead this space,” he said.

According to a company statement, Dolly will use its new funds to expand its services to new markets. Currently, the platform is available to residents of Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Jobs at Dolly

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