Kindred, a members-only home swapping platform, announced it has raised $125 million to expand its community-driven approach to travel and further position home swapping as a mainstream alternative to hotels and short-term rentals.
The company said the financing includes a $40 million Series B round and an $85 million Series C round. Kindred described its model as “give-to-get,” aiming to connect travelers through trusted networks and sub-communities that allow members to swap homes through friends-of-friends and other relationships grounded in shared connections, interests, or values.
Founded in 2021, Kindred said it has grown to almost 300,000 members across more than 150 cities, adding 150,000 members in 2025 alone. The company said it has facilitated almost 350,000 nights hosted to date, with top destinations including New York City, London, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Mexico City, and Paris.
Kindred emphasized that it supports only non-commercial exchanges, stating that nights or credits cannot be bought or sold and that no money is exchanged between hosts and guests. The company also said that more than 90% of homes on the platform are members’ primary residences, positioning its inventory differently from that of short-term rental marketplaces. While members pay to access the service, Kindred said its fees average $20–45 per night, roughly one-tenth the cost of a short-term rental for a comparable home.
The company said it will use the new capital to invest in product development, trust and safety infrastructure, and the expansion of its ecosystem of sub-communities, with a focus on deepening community experiences and building new trust-led ways for members to open their homes within extended networks.
KEY QUOTES:
“Travel has long been dominated by two options: hotels and short-term rentals. Peer-to-peer home swapping is emerging as the third option, and it’s no longer niche. Our momentum signals that home swapping has become a global movement, and this funding allows us to build Kindred not just as a product, but as a social travel platform rooted in trust, generosity, and belonging.”
“Kindred’s model meets the moment. It radically lowers the cost of travel, often to around a tenth of the cost of traditional accommodations, while easing pressure on local housing markets.”
“When travel is built on exchanging nights between peers instead of renting from commercial businesses, travel becomes more human, and homes stay on the market for locals.”
“Kindred’s rapid growth reflects a growing willingness for people to open their homes to unlock future travel. It’s a real sharing economy in action. The more you give, the more you can explore”.
Justine Palefsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Kindred
“Kindred is leading a powerful cultural shift in how people choose to travel. Justine and Tas are a visionary duo with a clear POV on where travel is headed, and they have the momentum to turn that vision into reality. We believe Kindred has everything needed—team, technology, community—to become the defining platform in the home swapping space.”
Vlad Loktev, Partner at Index Ventures
