Thumbtack (website)

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Thumbtack
Type of businessPrivate
Type of site
Consumer service
Available inEnglish
Founded2008; 17 years ago (2008)[1]
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California
Founders
CEOMarco Zappacosta
Key peopleLarry Roseman (CFO)[2]

P.J. Linarducci (CPO)[3]

Llibert Argerich (CMO)[4]
RevenueUS$400 million[5]
URLthumbtack.com
Current statusActive

Thumbtack is an American online home services marketplace that allows users to locate and hire professionals for home improvement projects.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, the platform allows customers to compare prices, read reviews, and hire local professionals directly through its website and mobile app. The company is privately held and backed by investors including Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, Javelin Venture Partners, Baillie Gifford, and Capital G. Thumbtack operates as a remote, virtual-first company, with employees across the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines.[6]

History

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Thumbtack was founded in San Fancisco, California, in 2008, by Marco Zappacosta, Jeremy Tunnell, Jonathan Swanson, and Sander Daniels.[7] Thumbtack was an early contributor to what would be coined the "gig economy."[8] The company looked to solve pain points users experienced on platforms such as Craigslist, including lack of seller verification and reviews, and ease of use of these platforms.[9] The platform was designed as a directory of service providers with listings including their photo, bio, and details of the services offered.[9]

By February 2012, Thumbtack had reached 250,000 local merchants and service professionals utilizing the platform.[10]

In December 2020, Thumbtack acquired Setter, a Toronto-based startup that offered virtual home consultations to help homeowners find home improvement vendors.[11][12] The acquisition terms were not disclosed.[13]

In April 2024, Thumbtack released an updated mobile app that offered automated recommendations, project advice, and AI-supported search capabilities.[14] The app's redesign was largely based on millennial homeowner phone-centric habits and preferences.[14] In August of that year, the company launched "Thumbtack for Real Estate," a service that allowed buyers, through their agents, to find support on home improvement projects.[15]

As of June 2025, American business magazine Forbes reported that 300,000 local professionals from service businesses are active on the platform.[16]

Investment

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In June 2010, Thumbtack.com raised $1.2 million in funding, primarily from angel investors.[17] In January 2012, Thumbtack raised another $4.5 million through a Series A round of venture capital funding.[18] In June 2013, Thumbtack raised an additional $12.5 million through a Series B round of venture capital funding.[19] In May 2014, Thumbtack raised $30 million through a Series C round of venture capital funding from Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global Management.[20] In August 2014, Thumbtack raised $100 million through a Series D round of venture capital funding, led by Google Capital.[21] In September 2015, Thumbtack raised $125 million of venture capital funding, led by Baillie Gifford.[22]

In July 2019 the company secured $150 million in Series F at a valuation of nearly $1.7 billion.[23]

In July 2021 the company raised $275 million at a $3.2 billion valuation led by the Qatar Investment Authority.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Michael Guta (July 28, 2020). "12 Thumbtack's New Instant Results Feature Matches Customers with Service Pros Fast". Small Business Trends. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  2. ^ Blum, Sam (2024-10-15). "Larry Roseman Q&A". Inc.
  3. ^ "The Cupcake Approach: Validating Product Concepts with P.J. Linarducci". ProduxLabs. 2024-11-19.
  4. ^ "Thumbtack home project app brings homeowner anxieties to life in animated ads". Ad Age. 2024-08-01.
  5. ^ Safdar, Khadijah (2024-12-02). "Home services company Thumbtack is thriving even as the real estate market stays slow". Fast Company.
  6. ^ Thier, Jane. "Tech CEO on the merits of virtual work: 'To think we should work in the exact same way as our industrial forefathers just seems odd to me'". Fortune. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  7. ^ "Thumbtack, a marketplace for local services, raises $30 million". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  8. ^ a b "Home services platform Thumbtack raises $275M on a $3.2B valuation to double down on home management". TechCrunch. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  9. ^ a b Shieber, Jonathan (2018-05-05). "How did Thumbtack win the on-demand services market?". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  10. ^ "Thumbtack's Business Model: How to set up your dream online marketplace". White Label Marketplace Platform For Non-Tech Entrepreneurs | CNXION. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  11. ^ Chowdhry, Amit (2020-12-09). "Why Thumbtack Is Buying Setter". Pulse 2.0. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  12. ^ Constine, Josh (2018-11-02). "Sequoia leads $10M round for home improvement negotiator Setter". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  13. ^ Ha, Anthony (2020-12-08). "Thumbtack acquires home management startup Setter". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  14. ^ a b Melendez, Steven (April 2, 2024). "Thumbtack wants to become the go-to app for your home improvements". Fast Company.
  15. ^ Rowe, Craig (August 21, 2024). "Thumbtack for Real Estate has launched". Inman. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  16. ^ Frye, Andy. "Tony Hawk's New Quest: Conquering Home Improvement". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  17. ^ "Well-known angels back local services startup Thumbtack.com". VentureBeat. 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  18. ^ "Local Services Marketplace Thumbtack Raises $4.5 Million". TechCrunch. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  19. ^ "Thumbtack Partners with Sequoia to Reimagine Local Services". Thumbtack Journal. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  20. ^ "Local Services Marketplace Thumbtack Raises $30 Million". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  21. ^ Mac, Ryan. "How Thumbtack Plans To Be Your One-Stop Local Services Shop For Plumbers, Chefs And Belly Dancers". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  22. ^ Benner, Katie (29 September 2015). "Thumbtack Raises New Funding at a $1.3 Billion Valuation". bits.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  23. ^ "Thumbtack raises $150 million for its local services marketplace". TechCrunch. 23 July 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
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