Photo via Dolly.
Photo via Dolly.

After helping people deliver more than 30,000 items in Chicago over the past year, Dolly is raising more investment money and launching in its home city of Seattle.

The company today announced a $8 million Series A round led by Maveron, with participation from KGC Capital, Amazon.com executive Jeff Wilke, and other angel investors. Total funding is now $9.7 million to date.

dolly121

Founded last year and led by former Wetpaint executive Mike Howell, Dolly is like an “Uber for deliveries” that connects smartphone owners needing to move big, bulky items with vetted contractors who have large enough trucks to do the job.

Those with something to move can use Dolly’s app to answer questions about their items, connect with a driver, and get a price. The user can then set up a 30-minute pickup window and track their delivery with real-time GPS. Price is determined by distance, item count, and specific details about an item(s), while payment is done through the app.

Drivers, also called Dolly’s “Helpers,” are required to go through a seven-step onboarding program that includes background checks, insurance verification, and training. Each delivery is insured with a multi-million dollar policy, while customers can use the app to contact their mover or Dolly’s support line for help.

“We want our customers to think of Dolly as their friend with a truck — we can help anytime you need a truck and some muscle,” Howell said.

Michael Howell
Michael Howell

Howell added that traditional, local movers aren’t known for their convenience, pricing, or customer service, while Dolly prides itself on all three aspects.

“Dolly already has created the best consumer experience that we’ve seen in the category, and it has one of the highest customer satisfaction scores (NPS) we have ever seen in a young company,” Jason Stoffer, partner at Maveron, said in a statement.

Dolly started in Chicago last year after Howell, Jason Norris, Kelby Hawn and Chad Wittman launched the company there. It has worked with hundreds of customers and partnered with more than 40 retail, storage, housing and donation organizations, including Crate & Barrel, to help deliver large items.

The 11-person company re-located to Seattle earlier this year and today officially launched its service in the region for the first time. It will compete with a number of similar startups all based in the Seattle area, including Ghostruck, which just expanded nationwide, Wagon, which launched last year, and Fleetzen, another “Uber for deliveries” startup founded by two former Microsoft employees.

Dolly plans on expanding to 20 markets by the end of 2016.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.