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Sydney-based provider of off-grid experiences and tiny holiday homes Unyoked will take its business model to Europe following a $28 million raise.
The eco-hospitality brand that builds mini cabins in relatively remote locations where travellers can unwind and relax has this week announced a financing round led by SURPLUS Equity Partners GmbH (SEP) from Munich, Germany and Realside Financial Group from Sydney.
Proceeds will be used to expand the company’s presence in Scandinavia, Germany, the Benelux countries, Australia and Switzerland, building on the group’s established presence in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
“We believe in a world where people see and use nature like they do the gym,” Unyoked co-founder Chris Grant said.
“Spending time outdoors is an important balance to our lives in an increasingly noisy and hectic environment. Many of us still don’t understand just how powerful it can be.
“The current round of funding is an important step in our journey to help change that and make it easier for people to access the many benefits of nature more often.”
Since Grant and his twin brother Cam founded the business in 2016, the company has grown its portfolio of cabins to 100, which have hosted around 35,000 overnight stays in nature.
Both founders were finalists in the 2021 Sydney Young Entrepreneur Awards. Their off-grid hideaways are placed in locations hand-picked by the Unyoked team and are always within a two-hour distance from major cities.
A dedication to the environment is at the core of Unyoked’s mission, with all cabins powered by solar, while water is captured by a rainwater tank.
Beyond running the cabins, the company has previously partnered with record label Future Classic to release vinyl records containing contributions from local artists, written while they stayed in an Unyoked cabin. The scaleup has also published a ‘Writer’s Anthology’ which it says attracted hundreds of submissions from the public.
SEP CEO Sebastian Lüdke said he saw a large opportunity for more partnerships between Unyoked and companies that want to offer their employees recreational stays in nature in order to boost productivity and creativity.
“Sustainable travel in the post-COVID world is an important investment hypothesis for us,” Lüdke said.
“The company is very successfully addressing a trend that is becoming increasingly popular, especially among 25-45-year-olds with a heavy workload: spending time in nature has a positive effect on the psyche, the body, and creativity.
“The occupancy and customer loyalty show that Unyoked has found the right approach to meet the growing demand for outdoor experiences.”
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