Taskrabbit, a popular on-demand marketplace for independent workers, has acquired Dolly, a Seattle-based company that provided moving services. Dolly, which was founded in 2014, connected customers with movers for short-distance deliveries and had partnerships with retailers such as Lowe’s and Costco. The acquisition was completed in April 2024, and Dolly is now described as a division of Taskrabbit. The companies have stated that they will remain separate entities, but in some cities, Taskrabbit customers may be referred to Dolly for apartment moves.
Taskrabbit’s support site confirms that Dolly is now a Taskrabbit company, and Dolly’s hiring page states that it joined the Taskrabbit family in April 2024. The privacy policy of Dolly also describes the company as an affiliate of Taskrabbit. Taskrabbit’s CEO and CFO are listed as the governors of Dolly’s business license with the state of Washington. The acquisition of Dolly by Taskrabbit marks a significant development in the on-demand moving services market, as Dolly was a well-established player with a presence in 45 cities.
Updater, a New York-based moving services company, acquired Dolly in 2021. The acquisition resulted in Dolly having less than 20 employees based in the Seattle region. Dolly’s chief technology officer, Scott Porad, transitioned to become the vice president of engineering at Taskrabbit in May. Former Dolly CEO Mike Howell also made a career move after the acquisition, leaving the company in 2023 to join Updater as an executive. In March of the same year, Howell joined Taskrabbit as senior vice president of moving and delivery. Despite the changes in leadership, Dolly’s operations are expected to continue as before, with potential integration with Taskrabbit in select cities.
Dolly’s founders, Mike Howell, Kelby Hawn, Jason Norris, and Chad Wittman, all played key roles in establishing the company but have since moved on to other ventures. Dolly secured $17 million in funding from investors such as Maveron, Unlock Venture Partners, Hyde Park Venture Partners, KGC Capital, Unlock Venture Partners, Version One Ventures, and former Amazon executive Jeff Wilke. The company’s innovative approach to connecting customers with movers for large item deliveries attracted partnerships with major retailers, providing a competitive edge in the market. Taskrabbit’s acquisition of Dolly represents a strategic move to expand its services and offerings in the on-demand marketplace, leveraging Dolly’s established presence and expertise in the moving services sector.
The acquisition of Dolly by Taskrabbit is part of a broader trend in the on-demand services industry of consolidation and strategic partnerships. Companies like Taskrabbit and Dolly are exploring ways to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance customer service by integrating complementary services. The combination of Taskrabbit’s platform and Dolly’s expertise in moving services is expected to create synergies that benefit both companies and their customers. With the backing of Taskrabbit and its parent company, IKEA, Dolly is well positioned to continue its growth and expand its reach to more cities and customers. The acquisition marks a new chapter for Dolly as it becomes a key player in the on-demand moving services market under the Taskrabbit brand.
