Q&A with Bunim Laskin, Founder and CEO of Swimply: The Airbnb of Pools

This interview with Bunim Laskin, the founder and CEO of Swimply, delves into the origins and evolution of Swimply, a platform often referred to as the "Airbnb for pools." Bunim shares the story behind Swimply's creation, inspired by a need for local pool access in his crowded family home. He discusses the challenges of gaining trust from both pool owners and users, as well as overcoming regulatory and insurance hurdles. The interview also highlights how Swimply has expanded to include additional amenities like sports courts and homes for indoor events. Bunim provides insights into the benefits for pool owners, who can turn their pools into profitable assets, and shares memorable stories from the Swimply community. Finally, he offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and discusses future plans for the platform.

Bunim Laskin: Swimply is a website and mobile app that allows people who don't own a pool to find and rent one by the hour in their area. Users can filter by amenities like barbecue grills, water slides, and even shallow areas for kids. Once they find a pool they like, they can book it and enjoy it with their family and friends. It's a way for pool owners to recoup their expenses and even make a significant profit by sharing their pool with the community.

Bunim Laskin: The idea came organically in 2017 during a hot summer in Lakewood, New Jersey. My family was crowded in a four-bedroom house with twelve kids, and our neighbor had a pool that was mostly unused. I approached her with an offer to help cover her pool expenses in exchange for letting my family use it. She agreed, and soon the whole block was paying her to use the pool. That’s when I realized this could be something more, and I began helping others do the same.

Bunim Laskin: Initially, it was a very manual process—I knocked on doors, collected availabilities, and handled bookings over the phone. Even with that rudimentary process, it went viral locally. Fast forward to now, we've raised over $45 million, have around 60 employees, and operate in 150 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Australia. We've come a long way from those early days.

Bunim Laskin: California and Texas are our busiest states, with Los Angeles being our top city, followed by Austin, Texas. Interestingly, Portland, Oregon, also ranks high despite our minimal presence there. Arizona is in the top 15, where people use Swimply frequently but prefer to stay close to home and pay a lower rate compared to places like New York.

Bunim Laskin: The biggest challenges were gaining trust from both pool owners and guests. Initially, people were hesitant about renting out their backyard or visiting someone else's. But as more people tried it and shared their positive experiences, it grew rapidly. Other challenges included dealing with regulatory issues and ensuring proper insurance coverage, but we tackled those by learning from Airbnb’s playbook and working closely with townships and insurance providers.

Bunim Laskin: Pool owners not only recoup their expenses, but many also make a significant profit. Some hosts earn between $10,000 to $15,000 a month by renting out their pools. They also tend to reinvest their earnings back into their pools, making them even more attractive to renters. It's a win-win situation for both pool owners and renters.

Bunim Laskin: One of the most memorable moments was when a pool owner reported seeing mermaids in his backyard. At first, we thought it was a prank, but it turns out there’s a community of people who identify as mermaids, and Swimply has become an essential resource for them. They regularly rent pools to gather and express their true selves. It was an unexpected but amazing discovery!

Bunim Laskin: My advice is to take it one step at a time and not learn too much at once. If I had known how much hard work and challenges were ahead, I might have been too scared to start. But by learning as I went, I was able to handle each challenge as it came. Stay focused on the next task and don't get overwhelmed by the bigger picture.

Bunim Laskin: We’re always looking to partner with entrepreneurial pool professionals who see the potential in Swimply. Pool service providers have access to pool owners and can recommend Swimply as a way for them to make extra income. We’ve already started discussions with some companies, and we're open to more collaborations.

Bunim Laskin: We’ve recently expanded Swimply to include sports courts like tennis, pickleball, basketball and even homes for indoor events. We also launched a membership feature where owners can offer recurring access to their pools, which has been very popular. We’re constantly growing and exploring new opportunities, and we’re excited about what the future holds.