Netherlands: Dutch motorhome rental agency Goboony has raised €6 million in a funding round led by Amsterdam-based venture capital firm No Such Ventures.
Founded in 2015, the company connects motorhome and campervan owners with travellers [also known as ‘boonies’] wanting to rent one of Goboony’s 5000 vehicles.
Operating in the Netherlands, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Belgium, Goboony plans to use the investment to ‘share the freedom’ [such is its motto], accelerate its international expansion, and develop new product offerings – including specialised insurance policies.
Although motorhomes have been popular transportation choice for some time, they have gained traction during the travel rebound for allowing domestic travellers to venture out on long distance, socially distanced trips.
The segment has also attracted venture capital and private equity investment, with rental marketplaces Outdoorsy [Moore Strategic Ventures, ADAR1 Partners, Monashee Capital, SiriusPoint Ltd and Convivialite Ventures] and RVshare [KKR] raising $120 million and $100 million respectively.
Meanwhile, figures released by the NCC [National Caravan Council] revealed that record numbers of motorhomes and campervans were sold in the UK between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Goboony CEO Mark de Vos said: “In the past two years alone, the business has experienced triple-digit supply growth [236 per cent] as a result of a strong increase in motorhome ownership across Europe and the growing popularity of ‘van life’ amongst the younger generations. Our platform is an international community where motorhome enthusiasts – owners and travellers – are connecting and sharing their passion for having freedom and adventure on the open-road.
“It’s an incredibly exciting place to be,” he added.
In February, Goboony reported a 30 per cent surge in UK summer bookings for motorhomes, highlighting the growing interest in the segment. The spike came after an announcement that lockdown restrictions would ease in the UK in April, and it marked the company’s most successful year to date.
