Rapidly expanding utilities firm The Bunch is taking its innovative bills solution to the US market, in a move that seeks to harness the vast market potential lying across the pond.

The Bristol-based business, which consolidates all household bills into one monthly payment and grants individual liability for tenants, is sending a team to Boston to build relationships, garner VC interest and set up initial operations. This follows a highly successful year of trading for the company, having grown by 350%, partnering with the UK’s largest student accommodation search platform, and closing its latest funding round in just eight days.

Taking business across the pond

With a majority student customer base, The Bunch has the opportunity to take hold of a market-grabbing opportunity in the US, where there are more students residing in Boston and New York alone than in the entire UK. Beyond this lies expansion into the wider rental and homeowner markets.

There is also potential for large-scale B2B partnerships through American property managers and landlords – particularly given the monopoly of several property owners across the country. 26-year-old founder Elliott Herrod-Taylor, who was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Growing Business Awards 2021, is seeking partners and investors to accelerate his mission. Existing investors include Pario Ventures, Haatch, SFC Capital and Bristol Private Equity Club.

Elliott Herrod-Taylor, founder and CEO at The Bunch, says, “With a market over 10 times the size of that in the UK, the US boasts a significant opportunity that we cannot ignore.

“We’ve proven after five years of exponential growth in the UK that our model works. I’m keen to speak with VCs and partners who are as excited as we are about the untapped potential on US soil as we head out to Boston.”

Bristol Startups