Yuup, an online marketplace for booking experiences, has closed its first crowdfunding round of £987k through the funding platform Crowdcube. The round was oversubscribed with a target raise of £750,000. The funding will enable the platform, first piloted in Bristol, to expand to other UK cities. Birmingham and Bath will be the next two cities to provide experiences to Yuup’s growing customer base.
The platform enables individuals to discover, book, and gift a range of hand-selected experiences provided by a diverse group of hosts. Experiences range from foraging courses to pottery painting and are developed by hosts operating existing businesses or wanting to evolve their side hustles into commercial opportunities to work independently and flexibly.
Commenting on the round, Dominic Mills, Yuup’s Founder & CEO said
“This is a really proud moment for us. To say that we’re able to give our community the opportunity to be more involved in Yuup is really exciting. The funders own a bit of Yuup, and that means that they’ll be part of a wider community that supports indie businesses and helps our cities become vibrant and resilient. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.”
Ed Rowberry, CEO of Bristol & Bath Regional Capital, which has funded Yuup to the tune of £250,000 added
“Yuup is a ‘have your cake and eat it too’ type of company. Not only has the Yuup team found a unique and growing niche in the market, but they’re also generating new and lasting local value."
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