Anyplace Raises $5.3M to Reimagine Remote Workspaces

The Rise of Flexible Living and Remote Work Accommodations

Contemporary work trends are increasingly centered around flexibility, with individuals desiring the freedom to reside in locations of their choosing, on their own terms.

Consequently, a surge of startups has emerged, aiming to provide expanded options for extended stays. Anyplace exemplifies this trend.

Anyplace: From Marketplace to Operator

Satoru Steve Naito, identifying as a “digital nomad,” explains he established San Francisco-based Anyplace in 2017 to fulfill a personal need.

Initially, Anyplace functioned as a platform enabling users to reserve hotels or rentals for periods of 30 days or longer in virtually anyplace globally.

Currently, this marketplace spans over 60 countries and more than 450 cities.

The company is now evolving into an operator with its latest offering, Anyplace Select, specifically designed for remote professionals and corporate travelers.

This service provides furnished apartments equipped with a “fully equipped” home office, facilitating work from anywhere.

Pandemic-Driven Growth and Market Demand

The ongoing pandemic and widespread office closures have empowered more individuals to embrace location independence than ever before.

Anyplace launched Select last year in key cities – San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and San Diego – achieving a $1 million annual revenue within seven months, according to CEO Naito.

The Select offering demonstrates average monthly revenue growth exceeding 50%, with an occupancy rate surpassing 90% as of this month.

Partnerships and Apartment Features

Anyplace collaborates with real estate developers like Greystar and AvalonBay, leasing units, furnishing them, and then master-leasing them at a premium through its Select service.

Each apartment features a “fully equipped office setup” and offers flexible lease terms, with a minimum duration of 30 days.

Included amenities encompass a height-adjustable standing desk, an ergonomic chair, a 34-inch “ultra-wide” monitor, a professional microphone, a webcam, a collapsible green screen, a laptop stand, a docking station, and a key light.

“Every Select apartment delivers the same or a higher level of productivity as a traditional home office,” Naito stated. “Reliable Wi-Fi is also guaranteed, with all units providing gigabit internet access.”

Differentiating from Traditional Rentals

Why would a remote worker seeking a new city not simply utilize Airbnb? Naito argues that finding accommodations specifically designed for remote work is surprisingly challenging.

Some options may suffer from slow Wi-Fi, while others lack an adequate desk or dedicated workspace.

“Existing accommodations are largely optimized for pre-pandemic travel patterns,” Naito explained. “During hotel or Airbnb stays, people often worked from their rooms.

However, in the post-pandemic landscape, individuals spend more time on video conferences and require dedicated workspaces. Therefore, we are creating accommodations tailored to this new reality.”

Airbnb's Shift and Competitive Landscape

Airbnb, historically focused on short-term rentals, is now witnessing a rise in longer-term bookings on its platform – indicating growing demand for extended stays.

In May of last year, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky reported to Yahoo Finance that 24% of Airbnb stays were 28 days or longer, compared to 14% two years prior.

Demonstrating confidence in this trend, Airbnb also recently invested in another startup in the sector, Zeus Living, which initially catered to corporate travelers but is now broadening its customer base.

Focus on Operations and Future Expansion

While Anyplace initially operated solely as a marketplace, it is now prioritizing its role as an operator with the introduction of Anyplace Select.

“Airbnb is not a competitor, but rather a partner and, in fact, one of our primary sources of customer acquisition,” Naito clarified to TechCrunch.

“I don’t anticipate Airbnb entering the operator space with its own inventory; their strength lies in their platform business.”

Series A Funding and Growth Plans

To “aggressively” expand its inventory and enhance its functionality, Anyplace announced today a $5.3 million Series A funding round led by GA Technologies, with participation from Jason Calacanis, Launch Fund, Keisuke Honda (Dreamers Ventures co-founder), Hiroshi Tomishima (Mercari co-founder), and East Ventures.

This funding, bringing Anyplace’s total raised to $8 million, will also support the growth of its current team of 17.

The company has already begun securing capital for its next funding round, having received “several investment commitments” due to its “rapid growth and the increasing demand for accommodations like Anyplace Select.”

Specifically, Anyplace intends to expand to major U.S. cities, including popular destinations such as Hawaii, Miami, Austin, and Denver, according to Naito.

A Paradigm Shift in Work and Lifestyle

“Individuals no longer need to abandon full-time employment to embrace the digital nomad lifestyle,” Naito explained. “Prior to the pandemic, people often had to become freelancers or small business owners to pursue location independence.

However, tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter are now permitting employees to work remotely full-time…The pandemic has created a new generation of nomads, representing a significant shift in work culture.”

Investor Confidence and Vision

Keisuke Honda shared via email with TechCrunch that he “could feel” Naito’s “determination” during their first meeting.

“He secured funding from prominent U.S. investors like Jason Calacanis and recounted his journey, which was not without challenges. He overcame language barriers and other obstacles faced by immigrant founders,” Honda said.

“I believe that determination is crucial for startup success. I was also impressed by his commitment to building a product he personally needed and his own embodiment of the lifestyle it supports.”

Honda added that, as a professional soccer player, he has traveled extensively and stayed in numerous hotels and Airbnb rentals.

“I have yet to encounter accommodations comparable to Anyplace Select, offering a fully equipped office environment,” he told TechCrunch. “With the increasing prevalence of remote work and the desire for location flexibility, Anyplace Select is poised to become the standard for accommodations in the post-pandemic world.”