Virtual Place: Redefining Home Care Through Smart Technology

The Challenge

Nearly half of Australian homeowners face unreliable tradespeople who miss appointments or deliver poor workmanship. Hidden fees and unclear quotes add financial stress, often delaying or even abandoning projects. Existing platforms like Hipages and Airtasker, while widely used, lack consistent license checks, transparency, and automation. With the $15.7 billion home improvement market growing and a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople, homeowners urgently need a smarter, more trustworthy solution.

The Innovation

Virtual Place is Australia’s first AI-powered platform designed to deliver effortless, trusted home maintenance. In partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), it integrates cutting-edge AI with human-centered design to eliminate uncertainty. Secured a $1 million VCLP commitment, demonstrating investor confidence in it as a category-defining solution.

• Smart Matching: AI connects homeowners with the best verified trades for the job, learning from each interaction.

• Full Verification: Automated checks for licenses, insurance, and credentials ensure only qualified professionals.

• Transparent Pricing: Real-time cost comparisons and clear contracts eliminate hidden fees.

• End-to-End Automation: Scheduling, tracking, payments, and dispute resolution all happen in one seamless app.

• User-Centered Design: Every feature was directly shaped by feedback from homeowners, renters, and tradespeople.

The Impact

Virtual Place transforms home maintenance into a transparent, reliable process. Homeowners gain confidence and save an estimated 10–15% by avoiding inflated quotes. Automation reduces delays by up to 25%, while trades benefit from a fairer, more efficient system. This addresses over 4 million Australians in target segments — midlife homeowners, busy parents, and semi-retired households, markets valued at more than $7.5 billion combined with 7–8% annual growth.

The Partnerships

Our collaboration with University of Sydney Technology provides academic rigor and technical validation, ensuring ethical, scalable AI. We also engage licensed trade associations, property managers, and real estate agencies to build a trusted ecosystem.

Why It Matters

Virtual Place is not just another listing site; it is a trust infrastructure for Australian households. By uniting innovation, impact, and partnership, it redefines how we connect with trades — creating safer homes, stronger communities, and a smarter future for the $15.7 billion home services industry.