Gold Coast Tech Startup Helping Families and Small Businesses with Cost-of-Living Crisis
Announcement posted by Rentsy 17 Mar 2026
Press Release
Gold Coast Tech Startup Helping Families and Small Businesses with Cost-of-Living Crisis
Gold Coast, QLD — Gold Coast tech startup Rentsy has launched Australia's first marketplace dedicated to rental and hire businesses, connecting customers with everything from party equipment and wedding services to cars, boats, tools and camping gear all in one seamless platform. As cost-of-living pressures continue to rise, Rentsy is making it easy for Australians to access what they need without the upfront cost of buying, while also giving small rental and hire businesses a powerful new way to reach customers and grow.
Rentsy replaces fragmented and outdated rental processes with a single platform where customers can discover, book and pay for multiple hire items from different businesses in one place.
"We created Rentsy to make hiring simple and to give customers more choice than ever before." said Will Hawkins, Co Founder and CEO of Rentsy. "People waste hours searching websites, sending emails and waiting for quotes. With Rentsy, you can organise everything in one place, quickly and confidently."
Launched on the Gold Coast, where the founders live and work, Rentsy has gained strong early traction having had over 350 business already join the platform. "The Gold Coast is home for us and it made sense to start here," said Alicia Prince, Co Founder of Rentsy. "There is an incredible community of small businesses on the Coast, and we wanted to create a platform that genuinely helps them grow while making life easier for customers."
Alicia said the diversity of what people can hire through Rentsy reflects how broad the platform has become. "We have hired everything from marquees to a houseboat, even a petting zoo" she said. "Today, Rentsy offers 18 different categories to choose from, including Automotive, Weddings, Water Sports, Parties and Events as well as services like booking a photographer or a DJ. It shows how much demand there is for a simpler way to hire."
Built by a local team, Rentsy is a sophisticated marketplace platform developed over several years. Since July, the platform has facilitated hundreds of bookings, positioning Rentsy as the fastest growing player in the rental and hire space. "Rentsy made planning our Christmas party incredibly easy," said Emily E from LJ Hooker Solutions on the Gold Coast. "When our original supplier double booked us, Rentsy helped us secure a photobooth at short notice and everything ran smoothly."
As Australians continue to feel cost of living pressure, demand for rental options is accelerating. Rentsy offers a practical alternative to ownership, helping customers access what they need without unnecessary expense or upfront costs of purchasing. "My daughter wanted to go camping but we didn't want to buy all the gear. Rentsy made our first family camping trip really easy and affordable" said Phoebe, mum of three from the Gold Coast.
For local businesses, Rentsy is becoming an important digital channel. "Rentsy has been great for our business," said Tom from Gold Coast Events and Party Hire. "The platform is easy to use and we are seeing consistent bookings. The team is responsive and supportive, which makes a big difference."
Rentsy recently raised $840,000 in its latest investment round, including investment from Gold Coast based venture capital fund Admiralty Capital Group, reinforcing confidence in the platform and its growth potential. Ryan Holsheimer, ACG's CEO and Managing Partner said,
"We're delighted to invest in a Gold Coast born and bred technology platform that is revolutionising the way Australian's experience rentals. Rentsy's successful funding round will allow them to explode onto the rental market on the Gold Coast, positioning them well for their nationwide rollout later in the year."
With strong momentum, Rentsy is preparing to expand into Brisbane in the second half of this year, followed by a national rollout in 2027. As the platform grows, Rentsy aims to become the go to marketplace for hiring in Australia, with its signature pink branding set to become a familiar sight across cities.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alicia Prince
Co-Founder, Rentsy
M: 0420977866