Ever try traveling with small children? It can be a bit of a hassle.
That’s what BabyQuip, a Santa Fe startup founded in 2016, is here to help with. The firm offers an online platform for people to rent baby gear.
Now the company has announced a $3.4 million funding round. BabyQuip's total funding now stands at $8.5 million, according to a news release.
BabyQuip has had more than 80,000 orders and is led by co-founder and CEO Fran Maier, who cofounded Match.com in the 1990s before founding privacy management firm TRUSTe (now called TRUSTArc). She eventually founded BabyQuip and moved back to Santa Fe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Parents often find that traveling with babies and all the required gear can be a disincentive to travel, Maier said in an interview.
“We really are trying to help families make memories by giving them what they need to have a restful and enjoyable vacation," she said.
Investors in BabyQuip include those on the crowdfunding platform SeedInvest and How Women Lead, according to the company. Maier said BabyQuip doesn't have much competition.
In addition to allowing people to make money by renting out their own items as independent contractors, BabyQuip would also provide value by making certain destinations a better, more convenient option for traveling families. Maier said the startup has partnered with VRBO, launching what she called a "host referral program" in December.
Up until the end of 2021, BabyQuip had a team of eight people. The startup recently hired a business development team for pursuing partnerships with hospitality companies. Current openings include a product strategist and an email marketing professional, according to Maier. BabyQuip employs about 15 people in total.
The company was also featured in the 11th season of NBC's Shark Tank with Maier and her son Joe, who is BabyQuip's chief technology officer, appearing on the show. On the episode, Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary (AKA "Mr. Wonderful") offered $500,000 in return for a 20% stake in the firm.
O'Leary's offer was turned down as Maier and her son Joe, who is BabyQuip's CTO, wouldn't let go of so much equity.
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the number of users that BabyQuip said used its platform. The company has had more than 80,000 orders.
