Fluid, a community sharing app that allows people to rent items to and from their neighbors, successfully closed a seed round totaling $1.7 million from Grotech Ventures, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Correlation Ventures, and a number of prominent angel investors. The seed capital will enable Fluid to further refine its product, invest in the community sharing marketplace, and continue to grow its talented team.

'We believe that Fluid has the potential for the same large scale mass adoption as Airbnb and Nextdoor, enabling neighbors to rent and borrow whatever they need from a nearby trusted neighbor instead of having to buy it'
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Fluid, available in the App Store and Play Store, helps people get the items they need at a reasonable price, and make money by sharing what they already own. Along the way, Fluid users help the environment by reducing unnecessary consumption.

'We built Fluid to empower community sharing, encouraging neighbors to lend everything from a pickup truck, to a lawn mower, to the latest virtual reality set,' said James Eberhard, Chairman and co-founder of Fluid. 'I'm thrilled by the rapid adoption we've seen since launch as Fluid has become a key tool for people and businesses to turn their unused items into extra income. We see a clear path for community sharing to become the next revolution in the sharing economy, and we're excited that our seed round has attracted investors that share our vision.'

'We believe that Fluid has the potential for the same large scale mass adoption as Airbnb and Nextdoor, enabling neighbors to rent and borrow whatever they need from a nearby trusted neighbor instead of having to buy it,' said Joe Zell, General Partner at Grotech Ventures.

Fluid is easy to use. To share an item, users simply post a short description and photo, indicating an item's availability, pick-up instructions and rental price. Those searching for items can browse Fluid for available goods, schedule usage, and pay for rentals directly in the app with only a few clicks. Users can stay connected through the in-app messaging system, and receive reminders regarding upcoming reservations. Fluid's Community Requests functionality allows users to request items that have not yet been listed by the community, typically with response within 24 hours.

User safety and security are core to the Fluid experience. Each user is verified through two-factor mobile authentication. Users can also rate their Fluid experience, including their interactions with owners and quality of the items they rented. Finally, Fluid users are protected: in the event an item is damaged, Fluid will repair the item or reimburse the owner.

Over the course of its pilot in Denver, Fluid users have shared a variety of vehicles (including a school bus, a Tesla, and moving trucks), tools (including ladders, saws and weed wackers), 'try before you buy' items (including drones, virtual reality equipment, and a yoga trapeze swing), outdoor gear (including tents, backpacks, and sports equipment), and party items (snow cone machines, pop-up tents, and bouncy castles). In its first 90 days, thousands of users downloaded Fluid, creating an inventory of over 500 items ranging in price from $1 to $350 per day.

About Fluid:

Fluid is a community sharing app that allows people to easily and securely list, discover, and rent items to and from one another. Along the way, Fluid users help the environment by reducing unnecessary consumption. Fluid is headquartered in Denver, CO, and is backed by several venture partners, including Grotech Ventures, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and Correlation Ventures. Available on iOS and Android with more information at www.fluidmarket.com.