When it's time to move, no one is more popular than your buddy with a pickup truck.
Today, Dolly - the app that connects people who need help moving to truck owners who are ready to help move - confirmed that popularity, officially launching out of beta and announcing a $1.7M seed round. The founding was led by Hyde Park Venture Partners and KGC Capital, with participation from prominent angel investors including Jeff Wilke, Bill Wolf, Terry Diamond, Ben Elowitz, Kim Rachmeler and Edward Yim.
Though the startup is headquartered in Seattle, Dolly is currently only live in the Chicago market; the business model was hatched in the Windy City when a co-founder had difficulty transporting a mattress from the Gold Coast to Naperville.
Here's how it works: Via the company's iOS or Android app, Users enter information regarding the stuff that they need moved, a date, and a price they'd like to pay. Dolly then connects users to a background-checked individual with a pickup truck who is available and ready to help. (Jobs typically range from $50 to $85).
Dolly will use this latest funding to develop its platform, add to its team, and drive growth in the Chicago market. The startup plans to expand into additional markets in 2015.
Said Mike Howell, Dolly CEO and Co-Founder, "We are fortunate to have such a world-class roster of investors with deep expertise in collaborative marketplaces and logistics to help us execute our aggressive growth plans. As we build out our team with additional roles in operations, marketing, business development and engineering, we will be able to accelerate our product roadmap and offer additional services such as moving protection insurance."
Added Greg Barnes, principal at Hyde Park Venture Partners, “Dolly has developed a scalable solution that will transform the antiquated moving, truck rental and delivery industry."
In other words, Dolly's your new buddy with the pickup.
(Image via getdolly.com)
