Skimlinks Founder Raises $1.5M for 'flown' - Digital Nomad & Deep Work Platform

The increasing prevalence of remote work, a trend significantly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has highlighted the challenges of maintaining focus amidst everyday distractions. Many professionals require dedicated time for “deep work” – concentrated effort essential for tasks like writing or launching new ventures. Consequently, booking an Airbnb for several days has become a common solution for individuals and teams seeking a productive environment, often with the added benefit of inspirational surroundings.

However, the ideal scenario doesn’t always materialize, as issues like unreliable Wi-Fi or disruptive construction nearby can hinder productivity. Recognizing this, today’s remote workers and digital nomads are likely seeking a more dependable solution.

Flown emerges as a platform designed to connect knowledge workers with thoughtfully selected properties specifically equipped for productive, ergonomic remote work. It also provides a suite of digital tools and resources to enhance their work experience.

Essentially, Flown consolidates the key elements desired by knowledge workers, functioning as a combination of Airbnb and a curated well-being service like Calm.

This new venture is spearheaded by Alicia Navarro, a seasoned entrepreneur who is returning to the business world after a period following the sale of Skimlinks in May of this year.

Flown has successfully secured $1.5 million in pre-seed funding from a group of prominent investors and entrepreneurs, including Taavet Hinrikus (TransferWise), Greg Marsh (OneFineStay), James Meekings (Funding Circle), and Pete Cashmore (Mashable). Notably, one-third of this investment came from female investors.

These funds will be allocated to the development of the Flown platform in preparation for its official launch in the U.K. and Portugal. This includes expanding its property listings and building a team, with recent hires from companies such as Mr & Mrs Smith, Ometria, Quill, McKinsey’s Generation and Resi.

Navarro’s inspiration for Flown stemmed from her experiences after stepping down from her role at Skimlinks in 2018, following eleven years of leadership.

Navarro explained: “After leaving Skimlinks, I anticipated having ample time for writing, reflection, and brainstorming. However, I found it challenging to locate suitable spaces for this purpose. Co-working environments proved too disruptive, cafes lacked ergonomic support, and I desired a change from working at home. Furthermore, the absence of a team led to feelings of isolation and difficulty achieving the optimal mindset for creative or productive work.”

Her search for appropriate work locations during travels across Europe revealed the difficulty in finding remote-work friendly spaces.

The timing may be ideal, as the number of knowledge workers worldwide is currently estimated to exceed one billion, representing the fastest-growing segment of the global economy.

Flown will offer two core products:

• Flown Away: A carefully selected collection of homes, hotels, and retreat locations fully equipped to support focused, comfortable, and productive remote work. Options range from secluded cabins to countryside cottages featuring whiteboards and display screens, as well as locations with historical significance for writers and other creatives.
• Flown Here: An online platform providing resources and interactive tools to help workers cultivate more effective “deep work” habits – including virtual accountability groups and stimulating creative exercises. (“Deep work” is a concept popularized by Cal Newport in his book of the same name, referring to a state of concentrated, distraction-free focus conducive to creative and productive thinking.)

The platform’s appeal to property owners lies in the opportunity to generate revenue during midweek and off-peak seasons, diversifying income streams beyond the traditional leisure market and providing a more stable source of demand.

Taavet Hinrikus of TransferWise noted: “I believe Flown has the potential to significantly influence the future of work and enable the hospitality industry to adapt and thrive by catering to the needs of knowledge workers, in addition to vacationers.”

Prior to its launch in early 2021, Flown is offering £200 in credit to individuals who sign up for the member waitlist or recommend a property.