Source: By David Swan, The Australian 11.08.15

A group of five wealthy Australian investors, including Godfreys’ chief executive officer Tom Krulis, have thrown their support behind on-demand home cleaning start-up Whizz, reported David Swan in The Australian (11 August 2015).

A $2 million Series B raising also included support from Goldman Sachs Australia boss Simon Rothery, Collingwood FC vice-president Alex Waislitz and property investor Allen Linz.

‘The start-up, available now in Sydney, is shifting its focus to a national rollout, including a partnership with cleaning appliance retailer Godfreys that will see most of its 220 outlets across Australia and New Zealand gain “Whizz corners”, for cleaner training and equipment provision.

‘Whizz cleaners, who are all contractors, will be trained in Godfreys’ stores and kitted out with standardised equipment, and Godfreys boss Tom Krulis said a partnership like this had never been seen in Australia,’ stated The Australian report.

“We’ve been looking at innovative angles to explore and I really like these guys,” Krulis told The Australian. “I like their personalities, their entrepreneurial spirit, and the concept is really exciting, both personally and from a business perspective.

“What we’ll be able to create is a virtuous circle of training and improvement, a full installation and collection of products, all of which feed into each other.”

Whizz guarantees a cleaner at the client’s house within three hours and promises five-star hotel service, including chocolates on the pillow, scented bed linen and folded toilet rolls, all booked from a smartphone app.

Chief executive Mark Bernberg, who left ASX-listed WiFi firm Skyfii to build the company with co-founders Adam Abrams and Julian Tobias, told The Australian he was excited by the ‘heavy-hitters’ on board.

“From a mentor perspective, Alex Waislitz has been there and done that, and at some point in time our exit strategy is looking at an IPO and that’s where Simon from Goldman Sachs will play a very big role,” he said.

Bernberg said the five investors were impressed by the company’s first six months in business, with figures of 50 percent month-on-month growth and 70 percent of first time users converting to become regular customers.

The Australian’s report
www.whizztechnologies.com.au ; www.godfreys.com.au