Washbnb

Thanks to hosts around the world, Airbnb has turned into a $100 billion home-rental marketplace.

But these hosts face a $69 billion problem. In fact, hotel chains and boutique bed & breakfasts face this problem, too: laundry.

Washbnb solves this problem, and could potentially become Airbnb's next acquisition. This service provides Airbnb hosts and hotel owners with luxury linens. It then picks them up and cleans them whenever there’s turnover, ensuring hosts can provide fresh, safe accommodations for every guest.

Laundry is an expensive, time-consuming chore. Whether you run a 200-room hotel, or rent your three-bedroom home through Airbnb, you’re responsible for purchasing, washing, and changing linens — everything from bedroom sheets to bathroom towels.

The more “hosting” a person does, the more laundry they’re responsible for. Managing just two Airbnb properties means doing upwards of 20 hours of laundry per week.

Washbnb eliminates this chore. In addition, it provides hosts with linens. Customers never have to invest money in bedding or towels.

Through its service, this company offers:

• Luxury hotel-quality linens for the entire property.

• Convenient delivery of clean, pressed, folded linens.

• Sustainable materials and eco-conscious processing.

• And peace of mind that each guest has clean, fresh sheets and towels.

Washbnb offers its service through subscriptions. Airbnb hosts pay $175 per unit per month, boutique hotels pay $150 per room per month, and enterprise locations pay $200 per unit per month.

Washbnb launched in February 2020. In its first month, the company attracted 50 customers. It weathered the coronavirus pandemic, and even thrived as hotels remained closed, and travelers relied exclusively on short-term Airbnb rentals.

The company generated modest revenues in its first year, and has since attracted customers including Marriott, Front Desk, Kasa, and Marsala (all are hotel chains or short-term rental communities). It’s been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and Forbes.

With funds raised, Washbnb will increase its sales and marketing budget and add new hires. Longer-term plans include potentially creating and selling its own line of linens direct to customers.

Team Background

Cat Simpson - Designer

Cat has nearly a decade of experience in the hospitality and short-term rental industries. She is a long-time Airbnb host.

Prior to Washbnb, she spent six years running her own graphic design business. She's maintained more than 20 rental properties and homes.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Design from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.

Daniel Cruz - Co-Founder & CEO

Daniel is an Airbnb “super host” — a term for a host that’s been rated highly by guests — and has enjoyed a 15-year career in marketing and sales.

Prior to starting Washbnb, he was a marketing manager with GE Healthcare, the healthcare division of GE. Before that, he was a marketing manager with Anchor Brewing Company, a company that’s made beer since 1896.

Earlier in his career, he was a business intelligence analyst with Crossmark, a consumer goods business. Prior to that, he was an account specialist with Coors Brewing Company.

Daniel earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii and an MBA.

Brian Mandelin - Chief Operations Officer

Brian has 20 years of management experience, including time in the hospitality industry.

He began his career as a manager with Delaware North, a hospitality and service company. He then became Operations Manager with Noble Valley Farms, a fundraising organization.

He earned a degree in Business from the University of Wisconsin.

Co-Investors