
Oneflare

Oneflare is an Australian online marketplace that connects customers and businesses. It has over 150 service categories from plumbers and electricians to pet groomers and interior designers to service the desired job. Submitting a job request is free, and customers can expect to receive up to 3 competitive quotes from nearby businesses. Billy Tucker joined Oneflare as CEO in February 2017.
History.
Oneflare generates possible leads and allows businesses to pay Oneflare for the opportunity to call or email a potential lead.
The site provides a comparative tool through its reviews and business details to connect different requests with the right service provider.
In July 2014, The startup announced its acquisition of Renovate Forum, an Australian online renovation community that hosts over 40,000 contributors who post and sharehome renovation advice. In the same year. the company's 1635% of growth earned a place in Deloitte's Tech Fast 500 in APAC.
In February 2015, Oneflare acquired Melbourne-based reviews website, Word of Mouth Online (WOMO). Described as the largest Australian customer reviews site, WOMO currently has 420,000 user generated reviews and testimonials for over 175,000 registered businesses across the country.
Oneflare reported in TechCrunch that the integration of Oneflare and WOMO reviews will accelerate Oneflare's vision to become the most trusted source for local services.
Funding.
Oneflare is a venture backed startup that initially secured a A$50,000 Skills and Knowledge grant from Commercialisation Australia to engage professional external advisors to raise investment capital, develop website architecture and procure professional legal advice. The company subsequently raised A$500,000 from external investors Grand Prix Capital, the Sydney Seed Fund and The Strategy Group.
When Oneflare raised its job count to 25,000+ per month, the company secured an extra $3M in funding from Microequities Asset Management.
In May 2016, the company announced a partnership with the Fairfax's Domain Group to secure $15M investment in exchange for 35% equity, driving up the company's value to around $43M.
Service process.
Visitors to the oneflare website are guided to provide their details and the details of the task they may want performed, free of charge. The 'request' is then sent to a maximum of 3 service providers who pay oneflare for the opportunity to see an email address or a phone number of the visitor to the website. In addition to trades such as electricians, landscapers and plumbers, the site lists over 200 service categories, including accountants, interior designers, cleaners, computer repairers and photographers. Australian service providers are charged an 'activation fee' to register. As part of the rating system, the site verifies the licensing, ABN and insurance/ indemnity details of service providers.
Real-time application (IOS & Android), SMS and email updates are sent to businesses, notifying them of relevant leads. The website provides the consumer with three quotations so the consumer can choose their preferred provider, who is contracted directly through the website to complete the work. The site includes a customer helpdesk and profile tools to recognised businesses that are insured.