If you are an adventurer with a passion for bikes, surf or snow, chances are you’ve got a garage full of expensive equipment that sits idle for several months of the year.Now, thanks to a creative Western Australian start-up, you can make money from hiring your gear to like-minded travellers and locals who are looking for fun.
It’s called ‘equipment for the moment’ or Quipmo – a peer-to-peer online gear rental marketplace.
Surf, bike, and snow, gear owners list their equipment for rent on Quipmo, which acts as a browsing portal for travellers who don’t want the hassle or the cost of bringing their gear on holiday with them.
Owners can list as many items as they like for free, with Quipmo charging a 20 per cent service fee on all rentals completed through the site.
A two-way star rating and review system keep both gear owners and renters honest.
Most of the gear rentals in Australia and New Zealand are covered for damage, theft, and loss through the site.
Like most smart start-ups, Quipmo was born from founder and adventure enthusiast Chris Evan’s own experiences.
Immersed in the hectic juggling and stress of studying for an MBA at the University of Queensland during the day, Chris would wind down at night by reminiscing about his global travel and passion for adventure.
“The challenge and frustration of finding quality adventure gear when you are travelling, and the cost of transporting that gear from home when you head to remote locations was a reoccurring theme,” he said.
“I thought someone needs to solve the problem of how to make accessing quality gear for adventurers more efficient, affordable, and well, just easy.”
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That person was Chris himself and the answer was Quipmo – a win-win concept that allows adventure travellers to do what they love more often and gives like-minded locals the opportunity to make a few bucks off their gear when they are not using it.
Equipment shops and hire businesses can also utilise the platform to help boost their rental numbers.
Like many of the share economy start-ups that have become household names, Quipmo’s rise has been rapid. In less than three years, it already has gear listed in 21 countries.
The venture has also forged 12 major strategic partnerships that include world sporting tours and international, national, and state sporting bodies across both able-bodied and adaptive sport.
Quipmo was awarded Austrade’s Going Global Award in 2019 and was selected by the Western Australian Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation to represent the State via a virtual trade mission at this year’s London Tech Week.
Chris is about to take Quipmo to the next level, having secured $500k pre-seed funding from Australian diversified private investment firm Eastcourt.
The new capital injection will be used to recruit critical hires in Queensland and extend Quipmo’s presence in the prime tourism region between Byron Bay and Noosa.
He will also expand the brand presence in Western Australia.
Evans said that while COVID-19 has created enormous challenges for the world’s travel and leisure sectors, Quipmo is incredibly bullish about the global domestic travel markets.
“We are experiencing record levels of intrastate travel in Western Australia, and once domestic borders open, we are firmly of the view that people’s desire to travel and to experience adventure again will surge,” he said.
Visit quipmo.com for more information
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