London launch first in Europe for Handybook

Handybook, the on-demand home cleaning and repair service co-founded by Oisín Hanrahan, has expanded into Europe by launching in London.

The company, founded in 2012 by the Dubliner and Harvard Business School classmate Umang Dua, is now active in 22 cities.

Handybook raised €22 million in development funding in June in a round led by led by former AOL chairman Steve Case's Revolution Growth fund, with additional capital from previous investors General Catalyst Partners and Highland Capital Partners.

“Our launch in London is an incredible milestone for the brand. The city is the ideal market for international expansion,” Mr Hanrahan said. “The past six months alone have seen tremendous growth for Handybook, including 60 per cent month over month.”

"London has a highly underdeveloped market," he said, "It is very fragmented with a very big population. There is not a lot of technology being applied to the [home-cleaning and repair] space so it is very exciting for us." He said Handybook had no immediate plans to expand into Ireland, but was looking at other international cities.

Mr Hanrahan (30) said Handybook employed 155 people, and already had a small number in London to launch its operations. Handybook is designed to introduce those looking for on-demand home services, including handymen, cleaners and plumbers, with reliable people.

Following its latest funding round it has raised about €36 million. “We are thrilled to bring Handybook to the UK. This is a natural evolution for the brand,” said co-founder and chief operating officer Mr Dua.