Danish summerhouse platform Landfolk raises seven-figure pre-seed financing in mission to get city dwellers out

of town

March 21, 2022

Aarhus based Landfolk is joining the ranks of some very successful companies with today’s announcement of a large pre-seed funding by Danish venture fund HEARTLAND. Landfolk was founded in February 2021 by a team of seven ex-Airbnb employees looking to put a decidedly Danish spin on Airbnb’s business model: In a little over a year the team has built a platform for more than 350 unique Danish summer houses rented out by passionate hosts. HEARTLAND, owned and run by the Holch Povlsen family, has invested several million Euro in order to further build this already rapidly growing community of design enthusiasts and bring Landfolk to international markets.

Globally, the demand for holiday homes has surged in the last two years as the Covid-19 pandemic changes travel behaviors and Danes are no exception, rediscovering the vacation of their childhood. Landfolk has been able to capitalize on this unique moment in time: in the first two months of this year, Landfolk has seen a higher booking volume than in the entire previous year. By the end of 2022, the team wants to list more than 1,000 unique and hand-picked Danish holiday homes on the platform, many of which can’t be booked anywhere else, and expand its offering for both hosts and guests to Germany and Sweden.

Christian Schwarz Lausten, who sold his company Gaest.com to Airbnb in 2019 and is now CEO of Landfolk is excited about the opportunity: “Our goal is to create Northern Europe’s largest and most loved community for holiday home owners and those looking for a unique vacation. Landfolk was created because we have a real passion for the Danish holiday home. Not only do we want to allow guests to have that unique cottage experience, we also want to redefine what it’s like to own a cottage. We are excited and proud that HEARTLAND will be part of that journey.”

Landfolk appeals to a new generation of mostly younger holiday home owners who enjoy being close to nature while furnishing their homes with a focus on design, charm and authenticity. 79% of Landfolk’s holiday home owners are younger than 50. And more than half say that they have never rented their homes out before, showcasing that Landfolk is tapping into an entirely new generation of supply.

Lise Kaae, the CEO of HEARTLAND, adds: “Landfolk is a breath of fresh air in an industry that doesn’t mind a little innovation. The combination of new sophisticated technology that ensures an optimal, digital customer journey, and a community of premium holiday homes make Landfolk an exciting new player in the market. And on top of that, there is a solid and experienced team behind it.”