A Milwaukee startup just landed a new round of funding for its platform that helps business travelers and other guests find and book short-term stays.
Frontdesk announced Tuesday that it has raised a $2.75 million round of funding led by travel industry veteran Bill La Macchia, CEO of La Macchia Enterprises. Other backers include Sand Hill Angels, Motivate Ventures and existing seed round investors.
Founded in 2017, Frontdesk offers short-term rental suites for business and leisure travelers. Looking to bridge the gap between stuffy hotel rooms and impersonal corporate housing suites, Frontdesk offers a unique twist on business housing, allowing customers a more "authentic" experience by staying in neighborhoods outside of downtown tourist destinations.
Since the beginning of the year, the startup has grown from operating in six cities to offering suites in 13 markets, with nearly 300 rentals available on its platform. Frontdesk has hosted 29,000 guest to date, the company said.
“Frontdesk has positioned itself to be a technology leader in the vacation rental industry.” Frontdesk co-founder and Chief Growth Officer Jesse DePinto said in a statement.
The startup previously raised around $1 million in funding. Its early investors include Marc Lasry, co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the most recent funding round, Bill La Macchia will be joining Frontdesk's board of directors. La Macchia is the owner of Mark Travel, which owns travel brands like Funjet Vacations and Southwest Vacations. Mark Travel merged with Apple Leisure Group, the parent company of Apple Vacations, in 2018.
Frontdesk said it plans to use the new funding to expand its geographical footprint and grow to 500 suites by the end of 2019.
