Tandem

What do they actually do

Tandem runs an online marketplace where small and mid‑sized teams can find fully furnished, move‑in‑ready office space. Listings are organized into two types: Shared Offices (plug‑and‑play desks inside a shared suite) and Private Offices (dedicated suites with more customization and longer terms) Tandem site How it works. The service is live in major U.S. markets, with New York and San Francisco as primary focus areas; the company advertises hundreds of hosts and listings on the site, and YC reports that Tandem has matched hundreds of companies so far Tandem site YC company page.

Teams browse and filter listings, book tours or message hosts, then complete pre‑approved paperwork to move quickly—often within days for shared offices and within weeks for private suites. Tandem can also handle logistics like internet, janitorial, insurance and legal via its optional Concierge service, and it processes rent payments and basic lease administration through the platform How it works Concierge.

Tandem describes itself as AI‑assisted: YC highlights an AI co‑pilot that reduces manual work in matching, scheduling, and paperwork to make shorter, flexible agreements economical. Public materials emphasize automation of workflows; specific AI features are described at a high level today YC company page Tandem site.

Who are their target customer(s)

• Early‑stage startups (2–30 people) needing a ready‑to‑use office fast: They lack time for build‑outs and lengthy lease negotiations and want furnished, short‑term space with move‑in in days or weeks How it works.
• Fast‑growing startups needing a dedicated private suite on predictable timelines: Traditional leases are slow and create legal/broker back‑and‑forth; they need 6–24 month deals with less friction so hiring and headcount aren’t delayed How it works.
• Remote‑first or hybrid teams needing occasional desks or satellite space: They don’t want to pay for unused real estate or juggle multiple subscriptions; they prefer plug‑and‑play shared offices without setup hassles How it works.
• Landlords/hosts with underused office suites: They want to monetize idle space without building leasing operations; they benefit from a marketplace that brings tenant demand and handles transactions Tandem site YC company page.
• Office managers/ops leads at small/mid companies: They dislike coordinating internet, janitorial, insurance, and legal; they want a single vendor to handle logistics and paperwork so move‑in is quick Concierge.

How would they acquire their first 10, 50, and 100 customers

• First 10: Use founder networks (YC, accelerators) and local meetups to recruit early tenant teams with pilot discounts and guaranteed fast move‑in via pre‑approved agreements and Concierge; in parallel, onboard nearby host suites through direct landlord outreach and simple listing setup How it works Concierge YC company page.
• First 50: Layer targeted SEO/content for “move‑in‑ready offices,” accelerator newsletter placements, and referral incentives; run paid local ads only in high‑converting markets (NY & SF). On supply, run short revenue‑share pilots with small landlords/boutique coworking and package Concierge onboarding to minimize host effort Tandem site Concierge YC company page.
• First 100: Formalize channel partnerships (brokers, coworking operators, remote‑work platforms) to expand neighborhoods/cities while hiring GTM and ops to handle volume; implement the AI co‑pilot and workflow automation to cut human time per transaction and enable more self‑serve bookings Tandem site YC company page.

What is the rough total addressable market

Top-down context:

Tandem’s TAM is the flexible, furnished office spend of small/mid‑sized teams in major U.S. cities, starting with NY and SF, where month‑to‑month and 6–24 month private suites are in scope; the platform participates in the rent stream via marketplace fees How it works YC company page.

Bottom-up calculation:

Illustratively, if NY+SF see ~2,000 suitable placements per year via flexible channels, at a 6‑month average term and a blended $8.5k/month price, that implies ≈$102M annual GMV; at a 10% take rate, ≈$10M platform revenue TAM in the initial markets. Extending to ~8–10 similar markets could 4–5x this, to ≈$400–$500M GMV and ≈$40–$50M in platform revenue potential.

Assumptions:

• ~2,000 annual flex placements (shared + private suites) in NY+SF that Tandem‑like channels can address.
• Average term ~6 months; blended monthly price ~$8.5k based on mix of shared and private suites in major markets.
• Marketplace take rate ~10%; similar demand/supply dynamics across the next 8–10 U.S. cities.

Who are some of their notable competitors

• LiquidSpace: Marketplace for on‑demand workspaces (hour/day/month) with tools for hybrid workplace programs; overlaps on fast, furnished short‑term bookings and multi‑market corporate needs LiquidSpace Overview.
• WeWork: Large operator of furnished private offices, coworking, and on‑demand rooms; competes on turnkey private suites and network scale. The company restructured through bankruptcy but continues to operate many sites WeWork Reuters.
• Industrious: Operator focused on hospitality‑driven private offices and managed suites, often via landlord partnerships; competes on white‑glove operations for SMB and enterprise customers Industrious CNBC.
• Peerspace: Marketplace for hourly/daily event and meeting spaces; overlaps for teams needing immediate, occasional space without committing to a suite or monthly office Peerspace guide.
• SquareFoot: Tech‑enabled brokerage and listings platform with a FLEX offering for shorter or more flexible leases; competes on sourcing private office space quickly for startups and SMBs SquareFoot FLEX.