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Kindred

Home exchanges via subscription-based network

Overview

Kindred operates a members-only home-exchange network where homeowners and renters swap residences for set dates. Members subscribe to access a curated list of swap-ready homes and receive guides to prepare their spaces for hosting. The platform differentiates itself by emphasizing reciprocal exchanges within a vetted, exclusive community and offering host protection insurance up to $100,000 to reduce risk. Its goal is to provide a cost-effective, local, community-driven travel option and to grow a trusted network of home swaps.

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About Kindred

Simplify's Rating
Why Kindred is rated
C+
Rated C on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Consumer SoftwareReal Estate

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$147.8M

Headquarters

San Francisco, CA

Founded

2021

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Simplify's take

What believers are saying

  • Kindred surpassed 500,000 nights swapped on September 15, 2026.
  • The company raised $125 million in February 2026 from NEA, Index, and Dylan Field.
  • Queer Travelers Circle and Family Travel Circle expand supply through targeted communities.

What critics are saying

  • Trust failures or safety incidents would quickly destroy a home-swapping marketplace.
  • Kindred depends on continued guest-host reciprocity; weak liquidity strands members by 2027.
  • Regulators targeting short-term rentals in 2026 can also restrict home-use, cleaning, and insurance.

What makes Kindred unique

  • Kindred’s give-to-get model forces every guest to become a host.
  • Kindred Circles, launched in 2026, narrows swaps into trusted sub-communities.
  • Primary-residence supply and no money exchange separate Kindred from Airbnb-style hosts.

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Funding

Total Funding

$147.8M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

4 Rounds

Series C funding is usually for startups that are doing well and are looking for more money to fuel major growth, such as acquiring other companies, expanding into global markets, or launching new product lines. Investors typically include larger venture capital firms and private equity.
Series C Funding Comparison
Above Average

Industry standards

$50M
$50M
$62M
$85M
$100M

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • Remote Work Options
  • Company Equity

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

2%
ODF
Oct 29th, 2026
ODF Companies Directory

ODF helps more people start the best companies. Discover this year's top startups.

FinSMEs
Feb 3rd, 2026
Kindred Raises $125M in Funding

Kindred raises $125M in funding. Kindred, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of a global home swapping platform, raised $125M in funding. The round included a $40M Series B round co-led by NEA and Dylan Field, CEO of Figma, and an $85M in Series C led by Index Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to evolve its community experiences and offerings, including allowing members to build out new, sub-communities where they can open their homes to others within their extended networks, or with whom they share common interests or values. Founded in 2021, and led by CEO Justine Palefsky, Kindred is a global provider of a home swapping platform that allows verified members to swap homes through a human travel experience, generating a more way to see the world. 90% of its inventory is people's primary residences, positioning it within the travel accommodation market. Kindred service fees average $20 - 45 per night, meaning a stay costs roughly one-tenth of a short-term rental in a comparable home. The platform has grown to almost 300,000 members across 150+ cities, adding 150,000 members in 2025 alone, with almost 350,000 nights hosted to date. Destinations on the platform include New York City, London, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Mexico City, and Paris.

MB News
Feb 3rd, 2026
Kindred raises $125M as home swapping platform hits 300,000 members across 150+ cities

Kindred, a global home swapping platform, has raised $125 million in funding, comprising a $40 million Series B co-led by NEA and Figma CEO Dylan Field, and an $85 million Series C led by Index Ventures. Founded in 2021, Kindred has grown to nearly 300,000 members across over 150 cities, adding 150,000 members in 2025 alone. The platform has facilitated almost 350,000 nights of accommodation to date. Unlike short-term rental marketplaces, over 90% of homes on Kindred are primary residences, with no monetary exchange between hosts and guests. The funding will support development of trust-led sub-communities, allowing members to swap homes within extended networks. Service fees average $20–45 per night, roughly one-tenth the cost of comparable short-term rentals.

PR Newswire
Feb 3rd, 2026
Kindred Announces $125M in Funding as Modern Home Swapping Breaks Into the Travel Mainstream

/PRNewswire/ -- Kindred, the global home swapping platform, today announced it has raised $125 million to scale its growth as a community-driven travel...

PR Newswire
May 13th, 2025
Kindred Finds That As Costs Continue To Rise, Travelers Are Adapting, Not Abandoning, Summer Plans

New data shows rising prices and growing frustration with traditional lodging are pushing travelers toward smarter, community-driven optionsNEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer travel isn't canceled – it's just getting a smarter upgrade. Today, Kindred , a global home-swapping community, released its 2025 Summer Travel Report, offering a closer look into how Americans are navigating rising costs and shifting their approach to vacations. With the average getaway now costing $259.20 more per person – and frustration mounting with traditional lodging, as 84% of hotel guests and 84% of short-term rental users report pain points with their experiences – Americans are doubling down, making more intentional, creative choices to maximize their travel budgets.The report reveals that 90% of U.S. travelers are actively looking for ways to cut back on summer travel spending. Among the top strategies: staying with friends or family (41%), finding more cost-effective accommodations (40%), opting for staycations (26%). Notably, 12% are turning to home swapping – a rising trend in the U.S

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