NYC Tech Startup Expands to DC

Getting a room in our home or office painted has always involved blue painter’s tape and drop cloths. But Paintzen CEO Mike Russell is trying to change how we find the people to do the job. The NYC-based startup recently entered the DC market, offering consumers its quoting engine app. They put in info like number of rooms, ZIP code and ceiling height and the algorithm calculates how much paint to order, a quote for labor and the cost of the Benjamin Moore paint. (The company has an exclusive partnership with BM that links Paintzen with local retailers.) A conversation with a project manager in Paintzen’s NY office helps with color selection and to book the job with a local painter in Paintzen’s database. Mike says the ability to book a job online will come soon. 

Paintzen takes a percentage on top of the cost of labor, supplies and paint. Mike says revenue so far has been equally split between office and home jobs. Paintzen’s biggest competition comes from large franchises like SertaPro, but there haven't been many other apps developed for finding painters, says Mike. The 60 companies in Paintzen’s database have gone through vetting that includes background checks and a painter's exam. 

Paintzen’s DC team includes a GM, three sales reps and four painting companies. Mike says the company came to DC after market data revealed the region buys a lot of paint. (Lots of whitewashing history?) After DC, the company will expand westward.