ShearShare

ShearShare operates a B2B mobile marketplace that functions as a space-as-a-service platform for the beauty and barbering industry. The company connects salon, spa, and barbershop owners with licensed professionals, such as cosmetologists, estheticians, and barbers, who need temporary workspace. This model addresses the significant issue of underutilized space in salons, where an estimated 40% of chairs sit empty daily. For property owners, ShearShare provides a channel to monetize their vacant stations, suites, and booths, thereby generating additional revenue. For individual practitioners, the platform offers a flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional, long-term booth rental contracts or commission-based employment. Professionals can rent professional, secure workspaces on-demand—by the day, week, or for a specific occasion—across more than 1,017 cities.

The company was founded in 2015 by the husband-and-wife team Dr. Tye Caldwell and Courtney Caldwell. The idea originated in 2012 from their own experience as salon owners in Texas when a stylist requested to rent space in their salon for just a few days a week. This initial, successful arrangement led them to manually match other stylists with salons before recognizing the need for a scalable technology solution, which culminated in the launch of the ShearShare app. Dr. Tye Caldwell is a 25-year veteran of the beauty industry, working as a master barber-stylist, educator, and award-winning salon owner. His deep industry expertise provided the foundational understanding of the market's pain points. Courtney Caldwell complements this with over two decades of experience in B2B technology marketing, having held executive roles at major firms like Oracle. Her background in digital strategy and revenue generation was pivotal in shaping the platform. Together, their combined expertise created the foundation for ShearShare.

ShearShare's business model is primarily commission-based, taking a percentage of the transaction fee for each booking facilitated through the platform. It also generates revenue from value-added services, most notably usage-based liability insurance, which offers stylists coverage of up to $1 million per day. The platform is free for owners to list their spaces. Key milestones include participating in the Y Combinator accelerator program, winning Google Demo Day in 2018, and securing multiple funding rounds. The company raised $2.3 million in a seed round in 2021 and has since relocated its headquarters from Texas to Buffalo, NY, after winning the 43North startup competition. Pitchbook data from November 2024 indicates the company was acquired.

Keywords: B2B marketplace, salon space rental, barbershop booth rental, on-demand workspace, beauty tech, cosmetology gig economy, stylist freelance platform, salon management solutions, Tye Caldwell, Courtney Caldwell, space-as-a-service, flexible salon lease, daily booth rental, beauty professional resources, esthetician workspace, mobile booking app, hairdresser app, salon monetization, independent stylist tools, beauty industry platform