When Swimply made its Shark Tank debut in 2020, its youthful and self-assured founder, Bunim Laskin, presented what appeared to be an odd but surprisingly useful concept: the Airbnb of swimming pools. The sharks were skeptical when Laskin, who was valued at $6 million at the time, demanded $300,000 in exchange for 5% equity. However, depending on the valuation technique and investor sentiment, Swimply’s net worth has significantly increased in the years since, fluctuating between a cautious $9.66 million and a more optimistic $30 million.
Even though they didn’t win anything on Shark Tank, the company benefited greatly from the publicity. Swimply’s traffic increased in the days following the episode’s airing. Pool owners joined in increasing numbers, drawn by the prospect of making money off of their underutilized facilities. With the help of people like Debora Liu of Ancestry.com and Manish Chandra, the CEO of Poshmark, Swimply raised a $10 million Series A round by 2021 and had extended its operations into Canada and Australia. These well-known businesspeople’s support was especially helpful since it gave Swimply the legitimacy it needed to become more widely accepted by investors.
Swimply Net Worth
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Swimply |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Bunim Laskin |
| Current CEO | Derek Callow |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, USA |
| Primary Service | Hourly rental marketplace for pools and private spaces |
| Available In | United States, Canada, Australia |
| Estimated Net Worth (2025) | Between $9.66 million and $30 million, depending on source |
| Revenue Model | Commission on hourly bookings (hosts and guests) |
Despite being disastrous for many industries, the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly accelerated Swimply’s growth. Millions of people sought out private outdoor experiences as a result of social distancing regulations and the closure of public pools. Hourly rentals and Swimply’s contactless booking system proved to be incredibly successful substitutes for families in need of safe entertainment. The company’s revenue increased by an astounding 4000% in 2020 alone. The foundation for long-term scalability was established by that surge, which also confirmed Laskin’s initial vision.
Swimply has expanded well beyond pool rentals in the last two years. Users can now reserve basketball hoops, pickleball courts, tennis courts, and even whole houses by the hour through the app. This change has established the business as a more comprehensive platform for sharing leisure activities. With the gig and sharing economies changing, Swimply’s model seems especially novel. It enables property owners to make passive income without having to deal with the hassles of managing their properties or long-term rentals.
It’s interesting to note that although the original Shark Tank valuation was mocked, subsequent estimates suggested a far higher goal. Laskin once asserted that the company’s gross marketplace volume could reach $289 million. Although that number caused some astonishment, it demonstrated the extent of his aspirations and faith in Swimply’s capacity. The platform’s business model, which is based on small commission payments from hosts and users, has shown to be very effective. Even though Swimply is still privately held and doesn’t disclose its earnings to the public, industry watchers claim that the company now generates seven-figure monthly revenues.
Swimply’s similarities to Airbnb’s early growth story are one of the reasons it has become a hot topic among investors and entrepreneurs alike. In order to unlock dormant value, both began with specialized, underutilized real estate—in this case, unused pools or vacant apartments—and used smart technology and trust-building techniques. The $10,000 property protection and $1 million host guarantee in the US were game-changers for Swimply. For first-time hosts, these policies greatly decreased stress and anxiety, even though they weren’t actual insurance.
The brand has even attracted the attention of celebrity investors. The larger entertainment and tech community has expressed interest, despite the fact that none of the Shark Tank panelists agreed. Swimply’s ability to provide customized, hyper-local experiences gives it a distinct advantage in a digital environment that is characterized by flexibility and personalization. Many homeowners now view hosting as a low-effort way to supplement their income, and users can now easily reserve their preferred recreational area just a few blocks away.
The platform’s development also reflects the growing convergence of property sharing and lifestyle technology. Swimply is quietly changing the way we think about backyard amenities, much like ClassPass changed fitness and Uber changed car ownership. With the help of sophisticated mobile integration, geolocation capabilities, and user review systems, the app has grown to be extremely flexible for a range of users, from athletes scheduling practice courts to parents scheduling birthday parties.
The company has broadened its appeal by entering secondary markets like pickleball, a rapidly expanding recreational sport in North America. One of the few post-pandemic startups that has been able to maintain and expand its audience without spending a lot of money on marketing is Swimply. A large portion of the growth has come naturally, thanks to social sharing and user satisfaction, which is incredibly successful for a startup that was once laughed off a national TV stage.
It’s also important to consider the impact on society. Swimply provides a cost-effective, private option in an era of rapidly rising housing costs and dwindling public green space. Access to upscale amenities, which were previously reserved for the wealthy or club members, is now more widely available. Access to a pool, which is frequently seen as a sign of privilege, is now surprisingly inexpensive and available to typical American families.
Swimply’s future course will be primarily determined by its capacity to uphold user confidence and increase host availability. The platform is growing nicely with thousands of active listings, but quality, user safety, and legal compliance need constant attention. While the move to self-funded guarantees and the termination of third-party liability insurance in 2023 may prove sustainable, it also exposes the brand to new risks.
Nevertheless, Swimply has already surpassed early projections and dispelled early skepticism. What started as a bootstrapped idea driven by a 20-year-old’s curiosity has been given corporate rigor under its current leadership, led by CEO Derek Callow. If present growth trends continue, the company’s combination of innovation and operational discipline appears to position it for a valuation increase, potentially surpassing $50 million in the near future.
