Hello Alfred
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Property management |
| Founded | March 2014 |
| Founder | Jess Beck, Marcela Sapone, Christian Bjelland V |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Over 20 metropolitan areas |
| Products | Resident management software, in-home services platform |
Alfred, also referred to as Hello Alfred, is a software solution designed for resident management that allows property developers and managers to deliver personalized in-home services and experiences to tenants. Individuals residing in Alfred-managed properties are assigned dedicated home managers, known as Alfreds, who are employed as W-2 staff members. Residents can submit service requests through the company's mobile application. The Alfred platform seamlessly integrates with systems like RealPage, Yardi, and Entrata, enabling property teams to manage operations from a unified interface.
Having secured $56.5 million in investment capital, the company currently operates across more than 20 metropolitan areas.
History
Founded in March 2014 by Jess Beck and Marcela Sapone—both alumni of McKinsey & Company and Harvard Business School—alongside Christian Bjelland V, Alfred began as a personal time-saving tool before expanding commercially due to interest from neighbors.
In the same year, Alfred earned recognition by winning the Harvard Business School New Venture Competition as well as TechCrunch Disrupt SF. By November 2014, it had raised $2 million in seed capital from investors including Spark Capital, SV Angel, and Crunchfund. The business initially launched in New York City, relocating its headquarters there while continuing operations in Boston. In April 2015, Alfred completed a $10.5 million Series A funding round with contributions from New Enterprise Associates, Spark Capital, Sherpa Ventures, and CrunchFund.
In May 2015, the company acquired significant assets from WunWun, a firm specializing in on-demand services. Alfred collaborates with real estate developers and property managers to offer its "in-home commerce" platform as an amenity for residents. By 2017, partnerships were established with entities such as The Related Companies.
July 2019 marked Alfred’s acquisition of Bixby, a technology platform focused on building management. Later, in October 2020, the company raised $42 million in funding led by 166 2nd LLC, the family office of Adam Neumann.
Worker classification
Alfred has been recognized for employing its workforce as W-2 employees starting at $16 per hour, setting itself apart within the sharing economy by providing benefits and healthcare coverage. This employee-first model was notably discussed in a New York Times opinion piece emphasizing its distinction from using independent contractors.
Awards
The company received accolades including winning TechCrunch Disrupt SF in 2014 and being listed among Fast Company's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies worldwide.
Other
Alfred is acknowledged as a trailblazer within the On Demand Economy 2.0 sector for transforming home management services into a commoditized offering.