The Future Belongs to Those Who Give: Why We Raised $125M to Scale Kindred

Today, we’re sharing that Kindred has raised $125 million in new capital – including a Series B co-led by NEA and Figma Co-Founder & CEO Dylan Field, and a Series C led by Index Ventures – to scale our unique model for community-driven home swapping.

To Tas and me, raising money isn’t a milestone – it’s a promise. It’s a commitment to our members that we are here for the long haul to build a more human, trusted, and affordable way to see the world. 

A Movement You Started

This funding is a reflection of the seismic shift we’re seeing in how consumers want to live and travel. Four years ago when we first launched Kindred, home swapping was considered niche. Now, our commercial banker is home swapping. My in-laws. My mom’s dermatologist. The couple I met at a wedding. The retired couple that lives upstairs.

There has been a vibe shift.

We’ve hit an inflection point where we’re seeing peer-to-peer, community-driven home sharing permeate mainstream culture in a way we never could have predicted. This funding is a vote of confidence in this emerging category that’s changing the travel industry before our very eyes. 

But to be clear: we didn’t start this movement. You did.

By opening your doors to one another, you’ve proven that a "trust-first" sharing economy isn't just possible; it’s what people have been craving. The world is clearly ready for a new way to travel that is more connected, more authentic, and radically more affordable. 

We are currently approaching an incredible milestone: Kindred members soon will have hosted each other for nearly 1,000 years worth of nights, collectively helping one another save over $100 million in travel accommodation costs.

$100 million saved...in this economy!? It’s incredible. This is the power of community to unlock collective value. We give, we receive, and we each go further.

Rooted in Humanity

When Tas and I first started Kindred, we were just two friends with a whiteboard, wondering how to make travel feel human again. Today, that vision is alive in your stories:

• Ian, the artist who delights in leaving a hand-painted "souvenir" at every home he visits.
• Esmond, a comedian and storyteller who uses Kindred to stay connected to his old NYC neighborhood after moving to Atlanta.
• Bob, who leaves fresh flowers for each of his Kindred guests.
• Amy, who celebrated her 35th anniversary with a month-long trip across Europe.
• Tram, who hosted a family whose home was destroyed in the Palisades fire, stocking her place with fresh food and toiletries for them. 
• And so, so, so many more.

We have the privilege to witness thousands of stories of meaning, adventure, and kindness, every day at work. As we grow, our purview will get bigger but our focus remains narrow: continue to fuel the moments of humanity that form the fabric of a life well lived. 

What This Means for You

To our members: Kindred isn't changing. We know that 90% of you are sharing your primary residences (myself & Tas included), which is why we will always prioritize trust, care, and intentionality above all else. This capital isn't for "growth at all costs" – it’s to invest in the infrastructure that keeps our homes safe and our travels seamless, from professional cleaning to our 24/7 concierge.

Looking Ahead

Tas, the team and I are all so excited to get to embark on this next chapter of Kindred with all of you. We’re cooking up new ways to double down on community connection, scale curation and trust, and make finding great matches even easier.

Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing more about a set of new features to allow members to form their own home swap sub-groups within the broader Kindred community. Whether it’s a private network for your friend group, an alumni home swapping circle, or communities of people with similar interests or travel needs, we want to help you find your Kindred spirits all over the world and travel within the trust networks you value.

At Kindred we believe that travel should bring people closer together, not further apart. We believe in a future where each of us gets to experience the quiet joy of being welcomed home, wherever we may roam. Thank you for being the foundation of this movement.

Now, we get back to work.

With gratitude,

Justine Palefsky & Tas Amina, Co-Founders