Member Article

Home repair startup bringing on-demand expert video advice after £2m seed funding

London-based home repair startup DAD has announced it has secured £2m in seed funding from energy group Homeserve, its long-term partner.

The Farringdon-headquartered business, which aims to put consumers in touch with DIY experts, is to use the cash to officially launch its video service, putting busy users in touch via video with DAD Experts.

Users can now request a ‘video visit’ through the startup’s app, at a cost of £10 per call, where they can speak to a DIY expert who can assist them in getting to the bottom of their home improvement problems.

Ben Wynn, founder and Chief Executive Officer at DAD, explained how the idea behind the business came about from one of his own DIY mishaps.

He said: “My Dad has always been my go-to person for practical advice around the home. The idea for DAD came a couple of years ago when I was trying to change a bathroom tap.

“Having swapped the old tap for a new one, I turned the water back on and instantly everything was soaked. My Dad was away travelling, enjoying his retirement, so I called him on FaceTime and he guided me through what to do.

“I realised that if I found myself in such a DIY disaster others would too, so I started DAD.”

Homeserve’s seed cash now makes the domestic home repairs company the leading backer in the London tech firm, as it looks to invest in technologies which innovate in the home repairs sector.

Richard Harpin, Group Chief Executive Officer at HomeServe said: “Investing in DAD is a no brainer for us. DAD has excelled at building a robust network of experts making this a viable business model. This coupled with the strong DAD brand means this team is already leading from the front.

“As one of the businesses in this area it is important we keep our fingers on the pulse and explore business models and technology like this.”