DURHAM – “Just bring your bags,” touts Mitchel Gorecki, 28, about his latest startup working to take the hassle out of finding housing.
The company, LivingLab, started up about a year ago when he and fellow Duke grads, Patrick Wickham, 24, and Colin Tai, 21, faced their own struggles securing affordable housing in Durham.
LivingLab
So they came up with a novel solution: build a platform that offers flexible per-room leases in furnished properties. It officially became a product three months ago, and it’s already garnered more than 1,000 users.
It’s also gaining traction with investors. The firm recently raised $2.7 million, according to a recent SEC filing.
“Sharing a living space is more efficient and cost effective for everyone,” Gorecki told WRAL TechWire.
“Yet homeowners have a hard time renting to groups, and tenants have a hard time finding roommates. We found that by matching people together, we can create value for everyone.”
The process
Here’s how the process works:
- Find your home
Search based on budget, timing and location.
- Apply online
Request applications to the homes you like most.
- Meet roommates
Match you with roommates to fill the lease.
- Sign the lease
“The best part?” LivingLab’s website says.
“Live with people you’ll love.”
The benefits of each residence
- Furnishings
All common spaces are fully furnished.
- Utilities + Wifi
Everything is included. No more splitting bills ever again.
- Cleaning
Our homes are cleaned twice a month.
- Insurance
Every lease is insured to better protect you.
- Social Network
We regularly host exclusive events for our members.
Planning to expand
Gorecki declined to name the investors, but said the seeding feeding come about from “team vision, hard work and resilience.”
The firm currently has an office in Raleigh and Durham, but it’s quickly looking to expand.
“We are passionate about making shared living easy and are working to bring our services to additional cities across the country,” said Gorecki.
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