The Netherlands: Outdoor stays platform Campspace has raised €3 million to fund its expansion across Europe, and has acquired German-based Pop-Up Camps.
Campspace is a booking platform for sustainable, outdoor stays in tents, campervans, treehouses, yurts and cabins. It is a two-sided platform which allows hosts to rent their location through the site, and for guests to search and book overnight stays.
Alexander van Nimwegen co-founded the company in 2017 alongside Hugo van Donselaar, Merijn Straathof and Jeroen Wielaards. Since then, Campspace claims to have grown at a rate of 300 per cent per year.
The recent funding has been led by Swedish investment company VNV Global, as well as angel investors David Vismans, former Booking.com board member as well as former executive Andrea Carini.
Alongside the funding, Campspace also acquired Pop-Up Camps. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Campspace will use the investment and acquisition to expanded into Germany and across Europe. The group currently offers 2,000 places to stay in over 30 countries.
Lena Derenbach, country manager for Germany at Campspace, said: “Our goal is to offer nature lovers local outdoor adventures within a 30-minute drive and thus a sustainable alternative to CO2-intensive travel. Slowing down in nature with your loved ones can create memories just as beautiful as a city trip by plane – and with minimal impact on the climate.”
Jobst von Paepcke, founder of Pop-Up Camps said: “We can only tackle the climate crisis if we leave old ideas behind and are open to innovation when it comes to reducing the carbon emissions associated with tourism. Since the inception of Pop-Up Camps, the focus has been on local, sustainable tourism and I am delighted that we have found like-minded people within the Campspace team who share our mission.”
Hugo van Donselaar, CEO and co-founder of Campspace said: “Currently, the travel industry accounts for about 10 per cent of global CO2 emissions. Due to continued population and prosperity growth, the number of tourists and the negative impact on our environment is only set to increase. By opening up hidden outdoor stays closer to home, we make tourism more sustainable and meet the needs of the next generation of travellers.
“We live in the most well-connected time in human history but on a person-to-person level we remain incredibly unconnected. Our platform provides people with unique experiences and memories, but not at the cost of the planet and local communities.”
Daan Sanders, tech investor of VNV Global, added: “The pandemic has greatly strengthened everyone’s connection to the great outdoors, particularly those areas on their own doorstep. But too often people are limited in their choices when it comes to local overnight stays. That’s where Campspace is making a real difference by unlocking previously inaccessible areas and connecting people.
“Their network of hosts, guests and scouts provides the opportunity to take many large steps in the area of sustainable travel and create a positive impact in communities right across Europe. We are excited to see where Hugo and the team go next.”
