Helsinki-based Bob W Receives €40 Million Investment

Bob W, a short-term premium apartment rental marketplace, has raised €40 million in a Series B funding round. Bob W, founded in 2018 by Niko Karstikko and Sebastian Emberger, describes itself as a technology-driven full-service accommodation operator offering an alternative to hotels and other short-term apartment options. The Helsinki-based startup offers users more sustainable and smart home options. Unlike popular home rental platforms such as Airbnb, it lists some apartments under its own management and lists them on its platform.

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Bob W serves in 17 European Countries

Bob W's Series B round was led by Married Growth with participation from Flashpoint, Supercell co-founder Mikko Kodisoja and Taavet+Sten, an investment vehicle launched in 2021 by Wise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus and Teleport co-founder Sten Tamkivi.

The startup creates codes for the apartments where users want to stay and helps them solve their problems with an in-app assistant named Bob W. It is also a "full-service digital marketplace" that creates personalised activity calendars such as bike rentals and gyms according to the interests of the guests. Bob W already operates in 17 European countries, including Amsterdam, Athens, London, Berlin, Madrid and Helsinki. It also offers users a marketplace with 3000 apartments.

Bob W co-founder and CEO Niko Karstikko said that their technology has enabled them to scale in an unprecedented way. They recently opened two new properties in Amsterdam, totalling more than 150 apartments in the city with only 4 employees. We should add for Karstikko that they have created special applications for guests, cleaners and operations. He said that they use IoT integrations that allow them to gain insights on issues such as noise, temperature and humidity through decibel detection sensors.