Sanctum is a Seattle-based startup founded by Juriana Spierenburg and Jason Koo that aims to provide a private sanctuary for solo travelers in airports and other venues. The company’s pods offer fully enclosed, private spaces with amenities for both relaxation and productivity, such as ventilation, charging ports, and seating for napping or working. The idea is to create a space that can be rented by the minute, giving travelers a peaceful and private place to rest or work while on the go.
Spierenburg was inspired to start Sanctum based on her own experiences traveling solo and encountering challenges faced by solo travelers, such as high accommodation costs, limited flexibility, and safety concerns. By offering pods in airports and other venues, Sanctum hopes to generate revenue for these spaces and provide a solution to the problems faced by solo travelers. The company plans to start with airports as a proof of concept and gather feedback from users before expanding to gyms and co-working spaces in urban areas.
The pricing model for Sanctum’s pods will consist of an unlocking fee and a pay-per-minute model, similar to bike-sharing services, allowing users to control how much they pay. Sanctum plans to share profits with airports and other venues, offering them new revenue streams from underutilized spaces. The business model aims to differentiate Sanctum from other companies in the space, such as Sleepbox, by focusing on profit-sharing instead of upfront lease agreements.
Sanctum’s pods are designed for both work and rest, with future designs expected to offer fully reclining chairs for sleeping. The company plans to partner with janitorial services for cleaning between uses and implement automated cleaning systems using robotics, UV light, and sanitizing spray in the long term. Users will be able to see when a pod has been sanitized before entering, ensuring cleanliness and safety for each user.
Spierenburg and Koo have bootstrapped Sanctum without any outside funding, working on the startup in their free time while maintaining their full-time jobs. They plan to transition Sanctum into a full-time business after securing their first airport contract. The company aims to provide a comfortable and versatile space for travelers to relax and work, offering a unique solution to the challenges faced by solo travelers in airports and other venues.
