Lawn care scheduling platform to add pest control services

Austin, Texas-based LawnStarter, an on-demand platform for lawn care, is expanding its outdoor service lines to include pest control, landscaping, fertilization and tree care.

PHOTO: LAWNSTARTER

Edison Partners, a growth equity investor, invested $10.5 million to support LawnStarter’s expansion in these new business lines.

LawnStarter began by creating an easy way for consumers to order, manage and pay for lawn mowing using services provided by a network of insured service providers. The company reports that it currently operates in 120 U.S. markets.

“We’ve brought together vetted and fully insured professionals to give consumers the best possible experience,” says LawnStarter CEO and co-founder Steve Corcoran. “Consumers can easily schedule lawn care and other services using a mobile app, giving them an effortless way to manage the full spectrum of their outdoor home needs.”

Co-founder Ryan Farley says both indoor and outdoor pest control services are some of the most commonly requested among LawnStarter customers.

“The modern homeowner has come to expect everything on-demand without having to think about it,” says Farley. “We look to making pest control as easy as clicking a button. We’ll be piloting the service in a select number of cities, starting with Austin, Washington D.C. and Orlando, and will likely have one or two exclusive partners in each market.”

LawnStarter handles marketing, billing, scheduling and other back-office operations for their service providers. Additionally, LawnStarter’s algorithms use geolocation data to help businesses build route density.

Existing investor Lerer Hippeau is also participating in this new investment round, which builds on previous investments from Bull Creek Capital, Techstars, Cotter Cunningham and Gary Vaynerchuk.