Hybr, an aggregated platform for first-time renters, including students and young graduates, has successfully secured what is believed to be a record €3.7 million seed round, setting a new benchmark for the student rental industry.
This funding has garnered backing from many investors including Blackwood Ventures, Adjuvo, Alec Dent as part of the Atomico Angel Programme and individuals such as the former CEOs of The Office Group, Hannah Rothschild, serial entrepreneur Debbie Wosskow, Rosemary Leith, and Evelyn Bourke, the former CEO of Bupa.
Founded in 2020, Hybr is an aggregated platform for first-time renters, including students and young graduates. Hybr matches young renters to vetted landlords, whilst providing landlords with a connected best in class lease-up experience, offering pre-qualified and supported tenants. Hybr’s service is completely free for young renters.
26 year old Founder and CEO Hannah Chappatte commented: “I am proud that we have secured an oversubscribed Seed Round, especially against the backdrop of this year, which has been a challenging time to raise capital. The funding marks the start of the positive impact we can have on the student rental space, and will enable us to accelerate our growth across the UK. We plan to launch in 20 key university cities in the coming 12 months.”
Already active in ten major UK cities, including London, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield, Hybr aggregates all available homes for young people in one place, across private and institutional landlords, through a trusted platform. This enables a smooth and efficient match-making process for landlords to access pre-qualified and supported tenants who have the tools they need to be responsible renters, ready to move into their new properties.
“We are excited to be leading Hybr’s seed round, as they disrupt the market for first time renters. Their platform provides a much needed solution for all participants in the ecosystem from first time renters to agents, operators and landlords, and we have been hugely impressed by their progress so far. We look forward to being part of Hybr’s journey on their important mission to revolutionise a space that has been overlooked and underserved for too long. We can’t wait to see them scale their offerings and truly believe that they have the right team in place to deliver on their ambitious plans,” added Abbas Kazmi of BlackWood Ventures.
Mark Foster-Brown, CEO of Adjuvo, said: “We were interested as soon as we saw Hybr’s proposition, as many Adjuvo members know first-hand the difficulties that arise from looking for, and securing, accommodation at the outset of university courses. Hybr has approached this market with a complete focus on the student’s experience, whilst making the process significantly easier for landlords. We are very excited to support Hannah and her team, as they scale up rapidly in the UK.”
