Sanctum is a Seattle-based startup founded by Juriana Spierenburg and Jason Koo, with the aim of providing solo travelers with a private sanctuary at airports. The company is developing pods with fully enclosed, private spaces that feature seats designed for napping or working, built-in ventilation, electrical and USB charging ports, and other amenities for relaxation and productivity. Users pay for the private space by the minute through an unlocking fee and a pay-per-minute model similar to bike-sharing.
The idea for Sanctum originated from Spierenburg’s personal experiences traveling solo in various cities and continents. She encountered challenges faced by solo travelers such as high accommodation costs, lack of flexibility in accommodation options, and safety concerns. Sanction aims to address these issues by offering users a flexible space where they can relax or work, tailored to the needs of solo travelers. The pods will be initially deployed at airports as a proof of concept to gather feedback, with plans to expand to gyms and co-working spaces in urban areas.
Sanctum’s business model involves profit-sharing arrangements with airports and other venues to help generate new revenue from underutilized spaces. This approach differs from other companies in the market, such as Sleepbox, which leased spaces upfront and ran into difficulties during the pandemic. Sanctum differentiates itself by offering pods that can be used for both work and rest, depending on the user’s preference. The pricing structure will give users control over how much they pay, with an unlocking fee and pay-per-minute model implemented through the Sanctum app.
As a bootstrapped business, Sanctum has not received any outside funding and the founders are currently working on the startup in their free time. Their goal is to turn Sanctum into a full-time business after securing their first airport contract. The company plans to partner with janitorial services for the initial prototypes to clean the pods between use, with future plans to implement automated cleaning using robotics, UV light, and sanitizing spray. Users will be able to see when a pod has been sanitized before entering for cleanliness.
Sanctum’s current prototypes are adapted from an existing design that provides privacy in open-plan office spaces, with plans to improve future designs to offer fully reclining chairs suitable for sleeping. The interior space of the current prototype is around 100 cubic feet, with plans to expand to 125 cubic feet in future designs. Inspired by the car industry, Spierenburg aims to make the pods comfortable for users of all sizes, drawing from the design techniques used to create small, comfortable spaces in cars for long periods of time.
