Connecting hunting and fishing guides to potential clients – that's the goal of a Memphis-based startup that recently raised $1.8 million in a seed funding round.
AnyCreek is working to accomplish this through its online marketplace, which allows guides and outfitters to post their guided experiences.
“With so many guides and outfitters offline, it can be challenging and intimidating to find great, local guides,” Nick Larson, AnyCreek co-founder and CTO, said in a news release.
In addition to offering a consumer-facing interface for finding, booking, and paying for such experiences, AnyCreek provides a range of software tools for users to manage much of their outdoor experience business.
“It’s our mission to equip guides and outfitters with the latest technology to get more people outside," AnyCreek co-founder and CEO Benjamin Lazarov said in the release. "This funding will help us continue this momentum as we expand into additional markets and offerings.”
Before founding AnyCreek, Lazarov, a Memphis native, held various sales-related positions at Groupon, Zenefits, and Compass.
Having launched about two years ago, AnyCreek's total funding is now at $3.3 million after this recent seed round. Some notable backers are Launch Tennessee, a state-funded nonprofit aimed at supporting startups across the state, and Chicago-based venture capital funds Starting Line and Bridge Investment.
"In today's digitally inclined landscape, AnyCreek strategically positions itself to capitalize on and cultivate consumers' appetite for high-quality outdoor experiences, a growing industry where significant spending still occurs offline," Scott Holloway, managing partner at Starting Line, said in the release.
AnyCreek is currently in 23 states. However, with the new funding, the startup plans to grow into new markets and enhance its technology.
