This latest round is led by Octopus Ventures, with the participation of Simon Venture Group and existing investors Balderton, MMC, Meyer Bergman and Playfair Capital. In addition, Rebecca Hunt of Octopus Ventures will join the board
Appear Here’s funding will be used to expand internationally to top global retail cities, expand the Executive Team with key senior employees, and build the platform’s data science component to give brands and landlords greater access to smart insights to drive decision-making. Appear Here has raised $21 to date $4 million in funding
Founded in London in 2013 by then-20-year-old Ross Bailey, the company’s user base has grown 8X since its last funding round, with more than 80,000 brands, including Google, Kanye West, Spotify and Nike, and more than 1000 emerging designers and independent brands using the space-search platform. More than 1,000 landlords, such as the Simon Property Group, Brookfield and Blackstone, have signed up exclusively for short-term rental leases. Appear Here already lists 2X square footage in New York than all department stores in the city combined and 10M square foot globally.
Appear Here’s mission is to build a global marketplace where everyone, anywhere in the world, can bring their ideas to life. In an era where e-commerce is preferred by many, and millennials see experience as the ultimate luxury, Appear Here gives brands the ability to breathe life back into the once bustling retail streets by filling empty stores with exciting and original ideas.
Appear Here’s marketplace makes it easy for all, from global brands to first-time entrepreneurs, to book retail space and launch their ideas by combining the convenience of online listings with transparent pricing (the first of its kind in commercial real estate), insights from real-time data in the easy-to-use dashboard, and a world-class concierge team.
“With our international expansion, we are excited to continue to build deep relationships in the top retail cities around the world,” said Ross Bailey, Founder and CEO. “Appear Here is the world leader in what we do, and this is the perfect time for us to scale. We have offices in London, Paris and New York, and now we look forward to launching more tools and opening up new locations for our growing community to take their ideas to the next level. “That’s right.
Rebecca Hunt, Investment Manager of Octopus Ventures, who will join the Board of Directors of Appear Here, says, “At Octopus Ventures, we are focused on supporting unusually talented entrepreneurs, and Appear Here is the perfect fit for us. Appear Here the market for commercial rental space has completely changed. We look forward to supporting Ross and the team at the next stage of their journey. “That’s right.
“Simon Ventures is committed to supporting dynamic founders who are leading the next generation of business through innovative experiences and transformative technologies,” said Natalie Hwang, Managing Director of Simon Ventures. “Beyond acting as a vector for behavioral change, Appear Here allows brands to leverage space and experience that can best connect in the digital age. We’re excited to support Ross in his efforts. “That’s right.
About Appearing Here
Appear Here is the world’s leading market for short-term retail space It connects brands, retailers, designers and entrepreneurs with available space, seamlessly on-line. Launched in February 2013, 20-year-old Ross Bailey, Appear Here has become a destination for creative, retail ideas to take place. Over 80,000 major brands like Nike, Loewe, Givenchy, Coca-Cola, Net-a-Porter and Kanye West use Appear Here.
Over 4,000 exclusive spaces have been listed on Appear Here in the United Kingdom and France, and as of April 2017, Appear Here has added New York’s top neighborhoods such as Nolita, Soho, West Village, Chelsea and Williamsburg to its global space network. The company also works with leading retailers, such as TOPSHOP, to list space in their flagship stores.
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