Co-founder and CEO Mike Howell says Dolly, which has been beta testing in Chicago for four months, gives people a way of moving things without the awkwardness of asking a friend, or the inconvenience of renting trucks or using a moving company.
“Traditional moving companies have been in the ice age forever,” Howell told Blue Sky. “Most of the people we talk to usually say their experience was so dated.”
Howell said the company made Chicago its first market because its co-founders were based here. He started the company last year with Jason Norris, Kelby Hawn and Chad Wittman.
Users who create a “Dolly” answer a series of questions, including what they’d like to move, where they’d like to take it, when they’d like it to get there, whether there are stairs and if the person requesting a vehicle and “helper” is willing to help. The platform uses an algorithm to set a price, with jobs averaging $50 to $85.
The people with trucks, the “helpers,” function as independent contractors and are vetted by the company, Howell said.
Dolly has partnered with 40 organizations, including furniture retailers, apartment buildings and storage warehouses, Howell said. Greg Barnes of Hyde Park Venture Partners, which participated in the funding round, said he sees potential value in partnering with charitable organizations.
“I’ve had experiences many times where I’ve wanted to take something to Goodwill or Salvation Army but literally couldn’t move it there and ended up not getting it there,” Barnes said. “That could be really interesting — partnering with folks in the donation space or item removal.”
Howell said the funding will be used to increase marketing, add to the development team and sign on new partners.
Other participants in the funding round were KGC Capital and angel investors including Jeff Wilke, Bill Wolf, Terry Diamond, Ben Elowitz, Kim Rachmeler and Edward Yim.
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ABOUT THE WRITER:
Meg Graham is a reporter for Blue Sky Innovation at the Chicago Tribune.
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