As it stares down an industry with limited innovation, Boulder-based lawn care startup Sunday sees an opportunity to create the future of outdoor home and garden products.
To support that vision, the startup announced a $50 million Series C investment round to build out its line of nontoxic products. The round was led by BOND with participation from Sequoia Capital, Forerunner Ventures and Tusk Ventures.
After a busy year highlighted by a Walmart partnership and booming customer interest, founder and CEO Coulter Lewis said the time was right for the fast-growing Boulder startup to bring on capital.
“The space we’re in has never seen innovation and a new company trying to make a big swing and change what normal looks like. We’re now in the clear lead seat to go do that and create the future of this space,” Lewis said.
Sunday uses machine learning, property-level data and aerial imagery to create custom lawn care plans for its customers. Each product seeks to address the unique climate and other challenges that impact a homeowner’s ZIP code.
Sunday uses climate and soil data to create seasonal packages for customers' yards — eliminating the need for chemicals, pesticides and herbicides by using formulas with safe ingredients, like organic compost food waste, molasses and seaweed. Seasonal plans start at $79 and come with all the tools needed to maintain your lawn.
While it has made its name on lawn care products, Sunday is set to grow its pest control business with this round of capital. Just as Sunday was founded on creating lawn products that don’t use harmful chemicals, Lewis said the company’s pest control products will use organic ingredients.
“These are some of the most potent and toxic things you can buy,” Lewis said of most pest control products purchased in stores. “Being able to do that in a way that’s not only healthy for you and your family, but also for the environment is critical to our mission."
The company’s long-term goal is to reduce lawn pesticide use by 75,000 pounds and reduce fertilizer waste and potential runoff by 2.5 million pounds in 2022. So far in 2021, Sunday says it has helped customers reduce fertilizer waste and potential runoff by 1.2 million pounds and reduced lawn pesticide use by over 35,000 pounds.
In addition to product development, this funding round will help the company expand its retail footprint nationwide, building on a March partnership that put Sunday’s products in 700 Walmart stores across the country. Lewis said he expects the 72-employee company to announce an expanded retail presence heading into 2022.
This raise comes after the company announced a $19 million Series B funding in December 2020 led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from Tusk Ventures and Forerunner Ventures. That trio of investors came back for this round and were joined by new investor BOND.
“We're thrilled to partner with Sunday, who is building a modern outdoor homecare brand for consumers who want effective and safe products tailored to their own home and yard,” said Noah Knauf, general partner at BOND, who is joining Sunday’s board of directors.
