Sydney startup born from a “simple errand” hits half a million members

Sydney sharing economy startup Airtasker has hit a major milestone, with half a million members now using the platform to outsource errands.

Launched in February 2012, the startup has since added nearly 25,000 users each month this year on the back of the increasing popularity of the sharing economy, as trumpeted by the likes of Uber and Airbnb.

In a blog post, Airtasker CEO and founder Tim Fung details how an idea has ballooned into a successful tech company, with it all starting on the back of a “simple errand”.

“Little did we think that an idea we came up with while we were moving house would grow into a company that touches almost every major city in Australia, provides work for thousands and helps everyday Australians get more done with their day,” Fung says.

“It’s a huge achievement for us and our team.”

On the other side of things, Airtasker enjoyed a record month in March, with more than 30,000 tasks posted on the platform.

Of the startup’s members, the majority are aged between 25 and 34, while the most active are between 18 and 24 and over 45.

“It’s remarkable to see that some of our members have woven their use of Airtasker into their everyday lives,” Fung says.

“The way our members harness the platform still continues to astonish us.”

Airtasker closed a $6.5 million funding round in May last year to kickstart an expansion into Asia, and Fung says the startup is still just getting started.

“We’ve learned a lot from building this vibrant and successful marketplace,” he says.

“And we are keen to see it grow and reach new heights. We are also keen to leverage that knowledge in some future projects we are working on.

“But that’s an announcement for another time.”

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