THE BACKSTORY

🚤 Picture this—it's 2019. Co-founders Nate & Gina are at the beach with their daughters. One day, they thought it’d be fun to pick them up from summer camp by boat. But when they got to the public dock, the water was too shallow. In a panic, Nate pulled up to what looked like a vacant house, and Gina sprinted across the lawn to grab the kids. Not their proudest moment as parents forcing their kids to trespass, but that little episode sparked the idea for Dockshare—a peer-to-peer dock rental marketplace.

⚓If you’re not a boater you may not already know this, but most marinas are at capacity with waiting lists that are sometimes years long! And with 95% of the shorelines in the US being privately owned, adding public docks and access points is almost impossible.

A recent study revealed that there are about 1.1 million marina slips in the U.S and 14 million recreational boaters. Therefore, for every available slip, there are 14 boats that need dock space.

As marinas are at capacity, tons of privately-owned docks remain unused. These underutilized spaces represent a valuable opportunity for boaters in need of dock space and dock owners looking to earn extra income.

📱That’s why we created Dockshare: a tech-driven platform that connects boaters with property owners who have unused dock space. Built with real-time search functionality, instant messaging, and simple booking tools, Dockshare makes it easy to reserve dock space on-demand—by the day, week, or the entire season.

This is transforming how people find dock space and access the water. Most marinas have rigid contracts and limited transient docking options. And generally, the maritime industry is pretty low tech. There are many marinas that still use fax machines or only take reservations by phone!

📈 Our business model is pretty straightforward. We make money by charging service fees to both the dock owner and the boater. And it’s also a secure setup for everyone involved—we verify every user’s identity, handle all payments securely, and offer property damage protection for our hosts.

💸 With the average marina slip valued at $5,800 annually, and roughly 1.4 million waterfront homes in the U.S. that have unused docks, the total addressable market is around $8 billion. Of course, not every dock is located in a high-demand boating area, and not every homeowner is interested in renting theirs out—so based on our research we estimate the obtainable market to be closer to $400 million.

📈 Since the initial launch, we’ve acquired 6,000 registered users, 1,400 docks, and had over 600 bookings. We have been growing exponentially over the last few years.

🎣 While it’s exciting to see some hosts earn tens of thousands of dollars by hosting luxury vessels in their backyards, nothing makes us happier than the bookings that are expanding access to the water. People are booking docks to launch kayaks, fish, take wedding photos, tend oyster gardens, and even hold baptisms. These aren’t just bookings; they’re creating new outdoor experiences, supporting the environment, and making lasting memories.

🌎 Our vision goes beyond docking convenience. Through our work and partnerships, we’re building a better way for boaters to plan journeys, map out stops, discover new places, and connect with others. One day, our network could help boaters relocate before or after hurricanes, and a Dockshare sign on a dock is a symbol of safety for a boater in distress.

By unlocking existing waterfront space, we reduce the need for new marina construction, tap into an underutilized resource, and create more ways for people to connect with the water. And when people build personal connections our waterways, they’re more likely to protect them in the future.

👥 Our diverse and forward-thinking team is small but mighty. We are nimble, creative, and ready to scale. Our team has experience in real estate, design, the maritime industry, marketing, customer service, and technology, as well as experience in both the private and public sectors.

💻 As we raise capital, we have big plans to be able to scale. We look forward to improving our user interface by implementing new user tools and features, adding a liability coverage option for our hosts, onboarding new talent, growing our digital marketing campaigns, and updating the overall experience with new app designs.