Finnish startup Bob W raises $4.7 million to expand its “ridiculously clean standard” hotel across the Nordics, Baltics, and the UK

Bob W, a Helsinki-based hospitality startup, has raised $4.7 million in a seed round led by byFounders, with the assistance of Nordic and Baltic real estate investors NREP and Kaamos. Additional investors include Baltic VCs Superangel and United Angels, and other angels from Germany and the Nordics. 

Founded in 2018 by the CEO Niko Karstikko and COO Sebastian Emberger, Bob W offers an accommodation hybrid between hotels and short-stay apartments or hosted homes, letting travelers feel the real culture of a place. Bob W’s homes are tech-driven (100% digital), sustainable, touchless, and Ridiculously Clean. They use a 63-step program to clean, sanitize, disinfect, and seal every suite. 

The company is planning to spend the proceeds to expand beyond 1,000 units across the Nordics, Baltics, and the UK over the next two years. Also, they are developing a full-stack hospitality tech platform that will serve as the foundation for a more asset-light growth strategy going forward.

Niko Karstikko, co-founder and CEO, explained: 

“Thanks to our unique combination of touchless hospitality features including online check-ins, 24/7 keyless entry and chat-based customer service, zero required face-to-face interaction, absence of shared spaces such as front desks, and the recently launched ‘Ridiculously Clean Standard’, Bob W is the smartest, safest, and cleanest hospitality choice in the new normal.”