Taskrabbit has recently acquired Dolly, a Seattle-based on-demand marketplace for moving services. Dolly, which was founded in 2014 and raised $17 million, connects customers with movers for short-distance deliveries and has partnerships with retailers like Lowe’s and Costco. Taskrabbit’s hiring page and support site now refer to Dolly as a Taskrabbit division, with Taskrabbit CEO Ania Smith and CFO Amy Zhang listed as governors on Dolly’s business license. The specifics of how Dolly joined Taskrabbit have not been disclosed.
Dolly’s CEO, Mike Howell, left the company in 2023 to take a role at Updater, a New York-based moving services company that acquired Dolly in 2021. Howell later joined Taskrabbit in March as senior vice president of moving and delivery. Formerly, Dolly’s chief technology officer, Scott Porad, also moved to Taskrabbit as vice president of engineering. Dolly’s team in the Seattle region consists of less than 20 employees, according to LinkedIn. The post on Taskrabbit’s site mentions that the two brands will remain separate, but in some cities where Taskrabbit customers request apartment moves, they may be referred to Dolly.
Dolly’s investors included Maveron, Unlock Venture Partners, Hyde Park Venture Partners, KGC Capital, Unlock Venture Partners, Version One Ventures, and former Amazon exec Jeff Wilke. Although Dolly is active in 45 cities and has partnerships with major retailers, its team is relatively small. The acquisition by Taskrabbit marks a significant development for both companies and is expected to enhance moving and delivery services for Taskrabbit customers. Dolly’s expertise and technology in the moving industry could provide valuable resources for Taskrabbit as they expand their services.
The merging of Dolly into Taskrabbit’s operations has implications for the future of the moving services industry and the gig economy. The consolidation of resources and talent from both companies could lead to improved efficiency and customer service within the market. Additionally, the shift towards referral of Dolly for apartment moves in some cities indicates a strategic alignment of services between the two brands. With Taskrabbit’s extensive network and Dolly’s specialized expertise in moving services, customers may benefit from a more streamlined and comprehensive experience.
The involvement of key executives from Dolly in Taskrabbit’s leadership team suggests a smooth integration of the two companies. Mike Howell’s transition from Updater to Taskrabbit and Scott Porad’s move from CTO of Dolly to VP of engineering at Taskrabbit show a commitment to leveraging Dolly’s talent within the larger Taskrabbit organization. The overall impact of the acquisition on the moving services industry remains to be seen, but the combined strengths of Taskrabbit and Dolly position them well to meet the evolving needs of consumers in an increasingly competitive market.
As Taskrabbit continues to expand its range of services and enhance its offerings in the gig economy, the acquisition of Dolly provides a strategic advantage in the moving services sector. By integrating Dolly’s technology, partnerships, and expertise into its platform, Taskrabbit can further solidify its position as a leader in providing on-demand services. The collaboration between the two companies opens up new opportunities for growth and innovation, benefiting both customers and service providers in an evolving market landscape.
