Home-swapping platform Kindred launches affinity groups

Kindred, a home-swapping platform founded in 2021, has launched a new feature called "Circles." This initiative aims to connect users with shared affinities, such as professions or demographics, to foster trust and community within the platform.

The inaugural "Circles" group is the "Women Traveler Circle," which will cater to women and nonbinary users. Members can share travel tips and book stays in each other's homes. Kindred co-founder and CEO Justine Palefsky stated the idea for Circles emerged after observing users forming connections in company-created online communities.

Kindred operates on a model where members offer their homes to other travelers in exchange for credits, usable for stays elsewhere on the platform. Users incur costs only for cleaning and a service fee. The company announced $125 million in funding in February and reports over 350,000 members across more than 150 cities.

According to Kindred, over 90% of listings are primary residences, necessitating a high level of trust among users. The "Circles" feature is intended to address safety and comfort concerns. Previously, a pilot Circle for Google employees saw significant demand, with over 2,000 people on a waiting list.

Solo female travel is a significant market, accounting for 54.6% of solo travel revenue in 2025, according to cited research. Palefsky suggests that home-swapping through Circles can offer women more comfortable accommodation options at a lower cost when traveling alone.