BabyQuip - Launch pitch at The Phocuswright Conference 2023

BabyQuip, a baby gear rental service, is Fran Maier’s fifth startup - her first was Match.com in the 1990s - and she’s betting this next venture will make a huge difference for traveling families.

“We're saving the family vacation,” Maier said while delivering a pitch during the Launch competition at The Phocuswright Conference 2023, where the company was named runner-up for the Travel Innovation Award.

“We're an international marketplace providing clean, safe and insured baby gear to families on the go," Maier said. "We rent cribs, car seats, strollers, party gear, monitors, even snooze and toys. Over 50,000 items on our platform and families love us.”

The idea is to make traveling easier for families given the hassle that carting around baby gear can entail. Travelers can access BabyQuip online or through its mobile app, enter their destination and travel dates and then select equipment rented by local entrepreneurs employed by the company. Maier called their provider community their “secret sauce.” 

“These are mostly moms who are really building a business on our platform. They are buying multiple cribs, car seats and strollers - it's more than sharing,” she said. “They own the gear. They handle all the delivery, setup, pickup and cleanup. We train them on cleanliness, safety, hospitality.” 

With around 7,500 strategic and affiliate partners, according to Maier, the company is looking into additional partnerships with hotels, travel agencies and vacation rentals to get BabyQuip in front of travelers. Watch Maier’s Center Stage pitch in full below.

Following Maier’s presentation, BabyQuip’s creative director Kim Connolly joined PhocusWire senior reporter Morgan Hines in the PhocusWire Studio for a quick interview. Check out their conversation below.