Taskrabbit

The company was founded as RunMyErrand in Boston in 2008, during the Great Recession, by Leah Busque, a former software engineer for IBM.{{Cite news | url=https://fortune.com/2019/06/25/taskrabbit-founder-advice/ | title=How TaskRabbit Got Its Start and Helped Spawn the Gig Economy | first=DINAH | last=ENG | work=Fortune | date=June 25, 2019 | url-access=subscription}} She got the idea to start the company when she needed dog food but didn’t have time to get it herself.{{Cite news | url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/201706/jeff-bercovici/task-rabbit-leah-busque-founders-forum.html | title=This Founder Raised $1M for Her Startup With a $700 Plane Ticket to Meet Tim Ferriss | first=JEFF | last=BERCOVICI | work=Inc. | date=June 2017}}{{cite news | title=Temping fate: can Taskrabbit go from side gigs to real jobs? | url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/23/4352116/taskrabbit-temp-agency-gig-economy | first=Casey | last=Newton | work=The Verge | date=May 23, 2013}}

In 2009, the company received funding from Facebook's startup incubator, fbFund, and Tim Ferriss became an advisor.{{Cite news | last=Eldon | first=Eric | url=https://venturebeat.com/2009/05/28/fbfund-17-companies-and-2-nonprofits-win-head-to-palo-alto/ | title=FbFund: 18 companies and 2 nonprofits win, head to Palo Alto | work=VentureBeat | date=May 28, 2009}}

In April 2010, the name of the company was changed from RunMyErrand to Taskrabbit.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2010/04/runmyerrand-changes-name-to-taskrabbit.html | title=RunMyErrand changes name to Taskrabbit | first=Galen | last=Moore | work=American City Business Journals | date=April 8, 2010 | url-access=subscription}}

In June 2010, the company moved its headquarters to San Francisco.

In May 2011, Taskrabbit raised a $5 million Series A financing round from Shasta Ventures, First Round Capital, Baseline Ventures, Floodgate Fund, Collaborative Fund, 500 Startups, and Lisa Gansky.{{Cite news | last=Parr | first=Ben | url=https://mashable.com/archive/taskrabbit-iphone | title=Taskrabbit for iPhone Lets You Outsource Your Chores | work=Mashable | date=July 28, 2011}}{{Cite news |last=Tsotsis |first=Alexia |date=May 4, 2011 |title=Taskrabbit Gets $5M From Shasta Ventures, First Round And Others To Help People Get Stuff Done |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/05/04/taskrabbit-gets-5m-to-help-people-get-stuff-done/ |work=TechCrunch}}

In July 2011, Taskrabbit launched a mobile app for iOS.{{Cite news | last=Tsotsis | first=Alexia | url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/07/28/taskrabbit-drops-its-amazing-iphone-app/ | title=Taskrabbit Releases Its Amazing iPhone App | work=TechCrunch | date=July 28, 2011}}{{Cite news | last=Brustein | first=Joshua | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/nyregion/the-app-taskrabbit-outsources-chores.html | title=Outsourcing Chores Made Easy | work=The New York Times | date=August 21, 2011 | url-access=limited}}{{cite news | url=https://www.thrillist.com/home-gadgets/new-york/taskrabbit_services_websites_iphone-apps/ | title=Other people do everything for you | first=Andrew | last=Zimmer | work=Thrillist | date=August 15, 2011}}{{Cite news | last=Myers | first=Courtney | url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/07/28/taskrabbit-goes-mobile-and-its-in-nyc-which-is-awesome/ | title=Taskrabbit goes mobile! | work=The Next Web | date=July 28, 2011}} At that time, the company had 1,500 active taskers.{{Cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lindseyhoshaw/2011/07/28/need-someone-to-run-your-errands-theres-an-app-for-that/ | last=Hoshaw | first=Lindsey | title=Need someone to run your errands? There's an app for that | work=Forbes | date=July 28, 2011 | url-access=limited}}

In October 2011, Eric Grosse, the co-founder and former president of Hotwire.com, was named CEO.{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taskrabbit-names-former-expedia-head-ceo-founder-shifts-to-chief-product-officer-131583168.html | title=TaskRabbit Names Former Expedia Head CEO; Founder Shifts to Chief Product Officer | publisher=PR Newswire | date=October 12, 2011}}{{Cite news | last=Tsotsis | first=Alexia | url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/12/taskrabbit-gets-a-new-ceo-eric-grossa/ | title=Taskrabbit Gets A New CEO, Eric Grosse | work=TechCrunch | date=October 12, 2011}} At that time, the company had operations in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City; Chicago; Los Angeles; and Orange County, California.{{Cite news | last=Shontell | first=Alyson | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/taskrabbit-interview-2011-10 | title=Founder Q&A: Make A Boatload Of Money Doing Your Neighbor's Chores On Taskrabbit | work=Business Insider | date=October 27, 2011}}{{Cite news | last=O’Dell | first=Jolie | url=https://venturebeat.com/business/taskrabbit/ | title=How one woman technologist single-handedly created thousands of jobs | work=VentureBeat | date=November 2, 2011}}

In December 2011, Taskrabbit received an additional $17.8 million in a Series B round of funding from existing investors as well as Lightspeed Venture Partners, Allen & Company, and The Tornante Company. It also engaged Michael Eisner as an advisor.{{Cite news | url=https://allthingsd.com/20111213/taskrabbit-raises-17-8-million-brings-in-eisner-as-advisor/ | title=Taskrabbit Raises $17.8 Million, Brings in Eisner as Adviser | first=Lauren | last=Goode | work=All Things Digital | date=December 13, 2011}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/taskrabbit-raises-17-8-million-in-series-b-funding/ | title=Taskrabbit raises $17.8 million in Series B funding | first=Steven | last=Musil | work=CNET | date=December 13, 2011}} At the time, the firm had 35 employees and generated $4 million in business each month.{{cite news | last=Bilton | first=Nick | url=https://archive.nytimes.com/bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/taskrabbit-looks-to-expand-cities-and-offer-an-a-p-i/ | title=Taskrabbit Looks to Expand Cities and Offer an API | work=The New York Times | date=November 10, 2011 | url-access=limited}}

In June 2012, Busque reassumed the role of CEO, with Gross staying on with the company's board of directors, advising on strategy and operations.{{cite news | title=Taskrabbit Founder Leah Busque Takes Back The Reins, Stepping Back Into CEO Role | url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/06/07/taskrabbit-leah-busque-reassumes-ceo-role/ | first=Colleen | last=Taylor | work=TechCrunch | date=June 7, 2012}}

In July 2012, the company raised $13 million in funding, bringing its total funding to $37.5 million.{{Cite news | last=Jeffries | first=Adrianne | url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/23/3177860/taskrabbit-13-million-funding-peer-to-peer-labor-market-zaarly-done-exec | title=Taskrabbit takes on another $13 million in funding | work=The Verge | date=July 23, 2012}}

In January 2013, the company hired Stacy Brown-Philpot, formerly of Google, as the company's first COO.{{cite news | title=Taskrabbit Hires Google’s Brown-Philpot in a Renewed Management Expansion | url=https://allthingsd.com/20130114/taskrabbit-hires-googles-brown-philpot-in-a-renewed-management-expansion-video/ | first=Kara | last=Swisher | authorlink=Kara Swisher | work=All Things Digital | date=January 14, 2013}}{{cite news | title=Taskrabbit Nabs Ex-Googler Stacy Brown-Philpot For COO Spot | url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/01/14/taskrabbit-stacy-brown-philpot-coo/ | first=Colleen | last=Taylor | work=TechCrunch | date=January 14, 2013}}

In March 2013, "Taskrabbit Business" was launched. It allowed businesses to hire temporary workers from the Taskrabbit users, with a 26% commission.{{cite news | title=Taskrabbit Debuts Tools For Hiring Ongoing Temp Work As It Hones Focus On Business Users | url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/05/23/taskrabbit-for-business-temp-workers/ | first=Colleen | last=Taylor | work=TechCrunch | date=March 23, 2013}}

In November 2013, the company launched in London, its first international market.{{cite news | title=Taskrabbit online marketplace for chores and errands arrives in the UK | url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/taskrabbit | first=KATIE | last=COLLINS | work=Wired | date=November 21, 2013}} Because of declines both in bids and in completed and accepted tasks in the U.S., the company chose to test a new system in London whereby Taskers set their own rates and schedules, and when a new job was posted that matched their profile, the platform would send them an alert. The first to respond got the job.{{cite news | url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/17/5816254/taskrabbit-blows-up-its-auction-house-to-offer-services-on-demand | last=Newton | first=Casey | title=Taskrabbit is blowing up its business model and becoming the Uber for everything | work=The Verge | date=June 17, 2014}} In London, the results were positive: almost all the company's metrics improved, and the average amount of money that individual Taskers on the platform were taking home increased.

In June and July 2014, Taskrabbit began implementing this new format in all markets.{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/06/17/following-a-drop-in-completed-jobs-errands-marketplace-taskrabbit-shakes-up-its-business-model/ | last=Perez | first=Sarah | title=Following A Drop In Completed Jobs, Errands Marketplace Taskrabbit Shakes Up Its Business Model | work=TechCrunch | date=June 17, 2014}} The new format was met with significant backlash from the Tasker community.{{cite news | title=Through The Fire: What Taskrabbit Learned From Its Big Backlash | url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/01/21/through-the-fire-what-taskrabbit-learned-from-its-big-backlash/ | first=Colleen | last=Taylor | work=TechCrunch | date=January 21, 2015}}{{cite news | title=Taskrabbit users revolt as the company shuts down its bidding system | url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/07/10/taskrabbit-users-revolt-as-the-company-shuts-down-its-bidding-system/ | first=Harrison | last=Weber | work=VentureBeat | date=July 10, 2014}} Taskrabbit incorporated some of the feedback into an updated version of its app that launched in January 2015. In 2014, Taskrabbit received 4,000 applications to be a tasker; it received 15,000 applications in 2015.

In April 2016, Stacy Brown-Philpot was promoted from chief operating officer to CEO and founder and former CEO Leah Busque became executive chairwoman.{{cite news | last=Guynn | first=Jessica | title=TaskRabbit names new CEO | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/04/14/taskrabbit-stacy-brown-philpot-ceo/83051030/ | work=USA TODAY | date=April 14, 2016}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.fastcompany.com/4003409/taskrabbit-just-promoted-coo-stacy-brown-philpot-to-ceo-2 | title=Taskrabbit just promoted COO Stacy Brown-Philpot to CEO | first=PAVITHRA | last=MOHAN | work=Fast Company | date=April 14, 2016}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/stacy-brown-philpot-promoted-taskrabbit-ceo/ | title=STACY BROWN-PHILPOT PROMOTED TO TASKRABBIT CEO | first=Samara | last=Lynn | work=Black Enterprise | date=April 15, 2016}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/taskrabbit-promotes-stacy-brown-philpot-to-ceo-1460730021 | title=Taskrabbit Promotes Stacy Brown-Philpot to CEO | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=April 15, 2016 | url-access=subscription}}

By January 2017, the company had 55,000 active taskers.{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/17/strangest-jobs-people-have-paid-others-to-do-on-taskrabbit.html | title=Some of the strangest jobs people have paid others to do on Taskrabbit | first1=Andrea | last1=Kramar | first2=Mary | last2=Stevens | work=CNBC | date=January 17, 2017}}

In September 2017, the company was acquired by an affiliate of IKEA.{{Cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/28/ikea-buys-taskrabbit/ | title=Ikea has bought Taskrabbit | last=Dickey | first=Megan Rose | work=TechCrunch | date=September 28, 2017}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/business/ikea-taskrabbit.html | title=Ikea Enters ‘Gig Economy’ by Acquiring Taskrabbit | first=Tiffany | last=Hsu | work=The New York Times | date=September 28, 2017 | url-access=limited}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/report-ikea-acquires-taskrabbit-2017-9 | title=Ikea has acquired Taskrabbit — and it could fix the most annoying thing about the furniture giant | first=Kate | last=Taylor | work=Business Insider | date=September 28, 2017}}{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ikea-group-signs-agreement-to-acquire-taskrabbit-300527686.html | title=IKEA Group signs agreement to acquire Taskrabbit | publisher=PR Newswire | date=September 28, 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/28/ikea-buys-taskrabbit-gig-economy-tradespeople | title=Ikea enters gig economy by buying freelance labour firm Taskrabbit | first=Sarah | last=Butler | work=The Guardian | date=September 28, 2017}}

In February 2018, Taskrabbit began operations in Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester.{{cite news | last=Tan | first=Emily | title=Ikea's Taskrabbit to launch in Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester | url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/ikeas-taskrabbit-launch-birmingham-bristol-manchester/1457535 | work=Campaign | date=February 20, 2018 }}

In March 2018, IKEA launched a furniture assembly service from Taskrabbit in the U.S.{{Cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/13/ikea-u-s-launches-a-furniture-assembly-service-from-taskrabbit/ |title=IKEA U.S. launches a furniture assembly service from Taskrabbit | last=Perez | first=Megan | work=TechCrunch | date=March 13, 2018}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/ikea-rolls-out-nationwide-assembly-services-with-taskrabbit.html | title=Ikea rolls out nationwide assembly services with Taskrabbit | first=Ingrid | last=Angulo | work=CNBC | date=March 13, 2018}}{{Cite news | url=https://archive.curbed.com/2018/3/13/17113286/ikea-taskrabbit-acquisition-furniture-assembly-launch | title=Ikea officially launches Taskrabbit assembly service | first=Barbara | last=Eldredge | work=Curbed | date=March 13, 2018}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/13/17116276/ikea-taskrabbit-furniture-assembly-service-us| title=Ikea now offers Taskrabbit furniture assembly service in the US | first=Zac | last=Estrada | work=The Verge | date=March 13, 2018}}

In April 2018, the company was affected by a data breach. At that time it had 1.5 million users and 60,000 taskers.{{Cite news | url=https://mashable.com/article/taskrabbit-cybersecurity-incident | title=Taskrabbit notifies users of 'cybersecurity incident,' shuts down service | first=Rachel | last=Kraus | work=Mashable | date=April 16, 2018}}{{Cite news | last=Alaimo | first=Dan | title=Ikea-owned Taskrabbit hit by apparent data breach | work=Industry Dive | url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/ikea-owned-taskrabbit-hit-by-apparent-data-breach/521714/ | date=April 19, 2018}}{{Cite news | url=https://gizmodo.com/taskrabbit-is-back-online-after-suspected-data-breach-w-1825372303 | title=Taskrabbit is Back Online After Suspected Data Breach With Plans to Bolster Security | first=Dell | last=Cameron | work=Gizmodo | date=April 19, 2018}}{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taskrabbit-hit-with-security-breach-goes-offline/ | title=Taskrabbit hit with security breach, goes offline | agency=Associated Press | work=CBS News | date=April 18, 2018}}

In September 2018, Taskrabbit expanded to Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and other Canadian cities.{{cite news | last=Lau | first=Lucy | title=You no longer have to assemble your own Ikea furniture, thank God | url=https://www.straight.com/life/1153311/you-no-longer-have-assemble-your-own-ikea-furniture-thank-god | work=The Georgia Straight | date=October 19, 2018}}{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ikea-ab-taskrabbit/ikeas-services-platform-taskrabbit-expands-to-canada-idUSKCN1LY0JO |title=IKEA's services platform Taskrabbit expands to Canada | first=Anna | last=Ringstrom | work=Reuters | date=September 18, 2018}}

In December 2018, the company launched operations in Brighton, Cardiff, Coventry, Liverpool, Warrington, Oxford, and Reading.{{cite news | last=Jones | first=Harrison | title=Oxford residents offered everyday task help with rabbit launch | url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17320205.taskrabbit-oxford-residents-offered-everyday-help-launch/ | work=Oxford Mail | date=December 26, 2018}}{{Cite news | url=https://thenextweb.com/news/errand-service-taskrabbit-launches-in-six-new-uk-cities | title=Errand service Taskrabbit launches in six new UK cities | first=Matthew | last=Hughes | work=The Next Web | date=December 6, 2018}}

In September 2019, Taskrabbit launched service in Paris and followed it with a rollout to other French cities.{{cite news | title=À Toulouse, cette entreprise monte les meubles Ikea pour vous | trans-title=In Toulouse, this company assembles Ikea furniture for you | url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/05/04/cette-entreprise-qui-monte-les-meubles-ikea-pour-vous-9524702.php | work=La Dépêche du Midi | date=May 4, 2021 | language=fr}}{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taskrabbit-launches-in-france-amidst-high-demand-for-outsourcing-tasks-300925472.html | title=Taskrabbit Launches in France Amidst High Demand for Outsourcing Tasks | publisher=PR Newswire | date=September 26, 2019}}

In October 2019, the company launched in Germany, with operations in Berlin, Bochum, Cologne, Dortmund, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Krefeld, Monchengladbach, Oberhausen, Wuppertal and the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taskrabbit-announces-launch-into-germany-300942468.html | title=Taskrabbit Announces Launch into Germany | publisher=PR Newswire | date=October 22, 2019}}

In January 2020, Taskrabbit launched service in 39 cities in Spain.{{cite news | last=Belen | first=Rodrigo | title=Ikea trae a España su plataforma digital de "manitas" | trans-title=Ikea brings its digital “handyman” platform to Spain | url=https://www.abc.es/economia/abci-ikea-trae-espana-plataforma-digital-manitas-202011100218_noticia.html | work=ABC | date=November 10, 2020 | language=es}}

In August 2020, Brown-Philpot resigned as CEO.{{cite news | last=Gelles | first=David | authorlink=David Gelles | title=Taskrabbit C.E.O. to Step Down, a Blow for Silicon Valley Diversity | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/business/stacy-brown-philpot-taskrabbit.html | work=The New York Times | date=June 23, 2020 | url-access=limited}} Taskrabbit named Ania Smith, formerly of Walmart, Expedia, Airbnb, and UberEats, its new CEO.{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ania-smith-named-chief-executive-officer-at-taskrabbit-301110433.html | title=Ania Smith Named Chief Executive Officer at Taskrabbit | publisher=PR Newswire | date=August 11, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Wang | first=Nancy | title=From Sabbatical To CEO, Taskrabbit CEO Ania Smith Shares Advice For Building Global Platforms | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nancywang/2021/04/06/from-sabbatical-to-ceo-taskrabbit-ceo-ania-smith-shares-advice-for-building-global-platforms/ | work=Forbes | date=April 6, 2021 | url-access=limited}}{{cite news | last=Thier | first=Jane | title=Taskrabbit’s CEO on how the gig economy helps everyone. | url=https://fortune.com/2022/01/24/taskrabbit-ceo-on-the-gig-economy/ | work=Fortune | date=January 24, 2022 | url-access=subscription}}{{Cite news | url=https://apnews.com/article/bcc4537158aab10674d0c360ce492a12 | title=Ania Smith Named Chief Executive Officer at Taskrabbit | work=Associated Press | date=August 11, 2020}}

In November 2020, the company launched service in Portugal, with operations in Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Coimbra, and Faro.{{cite news | title=Taskrabbit chega a Portugal. Empresa do IKEA quer ajudar a criar empregos | trans-title=Taskrabbit arrives in Portugal. IKEA company wants to help create jobs | url=https://eco.sapo.pt/2020/11/19/taskrabbit-chega-a-portugal-quer-ajudar-consumidores-e-criar-empregos/ | work=SAPO | language=pt-PT | date=19 November 2020}}

In March 2021, Taskrabbit launched in Italy in Rome and Milan.{{cite news | last=Cimpanelli | first=Giulia | title=Arriva in Italia Taskrabbit, la startup californiana dei lavoretti acquistata da Ikea | url=https://corriereinnovazione.corriere.it/cards/arriva-italia-taskrabbit-startup-californiana-lavoretti-acquistata-ikea/taskrabbit-italia_principale.shtml | trans-title=Taskrabbit, the Californian craft startup purchased by Ikea, arrives in Italy | work=Corriere della Sera | language=it | date=March 23, 2021}}

In May 2022, Taskrabbit announced that it would close its physical offices, including its San Francisco, California headquarters, and transition to becoming a distributed company, with all employees engaging in remote work.{{cite news | last=Kost | first=Ryan | title=Taskrabbit to close all office locations, including S.F. headquarters, as it moves to remote work model | url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/tech/article/taskrabbit-sf-remote-17188335.php | work=San Francisco Chronicle | date=May 23, 2022 | url-access=subscription}}{{cite news | last=Murphy | first=Mike | title=Taskrabbit to close its offices, go entirely remote | url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/taskrabbit-to-close-its-offices-go-entirely-remote-11653362034 | work=MarketWatch | date=May 24, 2022 | url-access=limited}} Taskrabbit launched a global brand refresh, introducing an all lower-case wordmark with two different "a" characters. The company also removed the image of the "rabbit" from its logo and updated its default brand colors.{{cite news |date=May 27, 2022 |title=Il marketplace Taskrabbit aggiorna il marchio e sceglie un nuovo logo |trans-title=Taskrabbit marketplace updates branding and chooses a new logo |url=https://youmark.it/ym-interactive/il-marketplace-taskrabbit-aggiorna-il-marchio-e-sceglie-un-nuovo-logo/ |website=YM! |language=it-IT}}{{cite news |last=Almeida |first=Filipa |date=May 30, 2022 |title=Como a Taskrabbit cresce em Portugal: 5.500 faz-tudo em 18 meses |trans-title=How Taskrabbit grows in Portugal: 5,500 handymen in 18 months |url=https://marketeer.sapo.pt/como-a-taskrabbit-cresce-em-portugal-5-500-faz-tudo-em-18-meses/ |work=SAPO}}{{cite news |last=Neves |first=Carolina |date=May 31, 2022 |title=A Taskrabbit perde o coelho |trans-title=Taskrabbit loses the rabbit |url=https://www.briefing.pt/noticias/a-taskrabbit-perde-o-coelho/ |website=www.briefing.pt |language=pt-pt}}

In July 2022, Taskrabbit launched service in Monaco.{{cite news | last=Castano | first=Lilou | title=Taskrabbit, une plateforme pour déléguer les tâches du quotidien | trans-title=Taskrabbit, a platform for delegating everyday tasks | url=https://lagazettedemonaco.com/actualites/technologie/taskrabbit-une-plateforme-pour-deleguer-les-taches-du-quotidien | website=La Gazette de Monaco | date=July 9, 2022 | language=fr}}

In November 2024, Taskrabbit acquired Dolly, which was a moving services company based in Seattle. The two brands will still stay separate.{{Cite web |last=Soper |first=Taylor |date=2024-11-07 |title=Taskrabbit takes over on-demand moving service Dolly in latest twist for former Seattle startup |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2024/taskrabbit-quietly-acquired-on-demand-moving-service-dolly/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US}}

Taskrabbit has been criticized by users and in the media for high fees on tasks; fees added by the platform can be as high as 70% of the original bid. Users of the platform have complained that this contributes to an exploitative attitude by clients using the platform.{{Cite web |last=Shontell |first=Alyson |title=My Nightmare Experience As A Taskrabbit Drone |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/confessions-of-a-task-rabbit-2011-12 |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Taskers have also complained that decisions taken by the platform have detrimental effects on taskers, and leave them no recourse to address their grievances.{{Cite web |last=Kessler |first=Sarah |date=February 17, 2015 |title=The Gig Economy Won't Last Because it's Being Sued to Death |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3042248/the-gig-economy-wont-last-because-its-being-sued-to-death |access-date=August 3, 2024 |website=Fast Company}} In 2016, MIT Technology Review wrote about the research related to racial and gender biases in Fiverr and Taskrabbit's recommendation algorithms.{{Citation |last=Baron |first=Naomi S. |title=What Research Tells Us About Audio (and Video) |date=2021-03-18 |work=How We Read Now |pages=155–185 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190084097.003.0008 |access-date=2024-08-03 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-008409-7}}{{Cite web |title=Is the Gig Economy Rigged? |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2016/11/17/6355/is-the-gig-economy-rigged/ |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=MIT Technology Review |language=en}} Taskrabbit's "Happiness pledge" which allows users to claim up to $10,000 for damages caused by taskers has been criticized as deceptive due to numerous exclusions and clauses.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Carolyn |date=June 28, 2023 |title=Taskrabbit's ‘Happiness Pledge' may not make you so happy, attorney says |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/taskrabbits-happiness-pledge-may-not-make-you-so-happy-attorney-says/3178625/ |access-date=August 3, 2024 |website=NBC Los Angeles}}

Taskrabbit was the subject of a class action lawsuit in which 10,000 taskers alleged that they had been improperly labeled as "independent contractors" rather than employees. On August 17, 2020, the plaintiff was awarded $1.75 million by the court.{{Cite web |title=John-Michael Finholt v. Taskrabbit, Inc. et al|url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/cacdce/2:2018cv07294/720270 |access-date=2024-08-03 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Finholt v. Taskrabbit – The Graves Firm, A Professional Corporation |url=https://www.gravesfirm.com/results/finholt-v-taskrabbit/ |access-date=2024-08-03 |language=en-US}} The company has also been criticized for its terms of service, which claim indemnity even in cases where a court determines taskers can be legally classified as employees.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Sarah |date=January 12, 2016 |title=What the small print tells us about Uber, Task Rabbit and Upwork |url=https://www.ft.com/content/86cca5c8-b87b-11e5-bf7e-8a339b6f2164 |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Financial Times}}

• The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt episode "Kimmy Bites an Onion!" centers on a character creating a song for the service.{{cite news | url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/23/15675054/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-season-3-taskrabbit-uber-airbnb | title=Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is weirdly into the gig economy | first=Kaitlyn | last=Tiffany | work=The Verge

| date=May 23, 2017}}

• The Simpsons episode "Dad Behavior" parodies the service as ChoreMonkey.{{Cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3nW7Ef0IMs | title=Chore Monkey Tries To Get Maggie To Quit The Pacifier Season 28 Ep. 8 The Simpsons | via=YouTube | date=November 18, 2016}}
• The iCarly (2021) episode "iGot Your Back" parodies the service as PostRabbit.{{Cite news | url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1283265/all-the-burning-questions-the-icarly-revival-has-answered-and-the-mysteries-that-still-remain | title=All the Burning Questions the iCarly Revival Has Answered, and the Mysteries That Still Remain | first=LAUREN | last=PIESTER | work=E! | date=June 24, 2021}}{{Cite news | url=https://ew.com/tv/icarly-revival-grown-up-moments/ | title=Kinks, furries, and sex workers: 5 moments from the iCarly revival that show Carly is all grown up | first=Rachel | last=Yang | work=Entertainment Weekly | date=July 20, 2021}}
• In Single All The Way, the main character Nick subsidizes his career as a writer by working as a handyman for Taskrabbit.{{cite news | url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/02/entertainment/single-all-the-way-race-deconstructed-newsletter/index.html | last=Tensley | first=Brandon | title=Analysis: 'Single All the Way' is a necessary queer fantasy | work=CNN | date=December 2, 2021}}
• In Killing It, a cash-hungry character Jillian works for Taskrabbit.{{cite news | title=Peacock’s ‘Killing It’: TV Review | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/killing-it-peacock-review-1235129855/ | last=Han | first=Angie | work=The Hollywood Reporter | date=April 14, 2022}}
• The American Dad! episode "The Long March" references Taskrabbit.{{cite AV media |title=American Dad - Taskrabbit the app | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAAQoN2Wco4 | via=YouTube | date=September 21, 2019}}
• In Magic for Humans' "Guilt Trip" episode (aired December 4, 2019), a character telecommutes with a Tasker.{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/magic_for_humans/s02/e05 | title=ALL WORK AND NO PLAY | work=Rotten Tomatoes | date=December 4, 2019}}
• The Silicon Valley episode "Exit Event" series references Taskrabbit.{{cite news | last=Morrow | first=Jamie | title=‘Silicon Valley’ cracks its last jokes; series mirrored reality, got the details right — Season 6, Episode 7 – | url=https://padailypost.com/2019/12/09/silicon-valley-cracks-its-last-jokes-series-mirrored-reality-got-the-details-right-season-6-episode-7/ | work=Palo Alto Daily Post | date=December 9, 2019}}
• In Girls5eva's "Triumphant Return to the Studio" episode, Dawn searches Taskrabbit for "geriatric button pushers with no opinions."{{cite news | title=Girls5eva Recap: All the Women, Independent | url=https://www.vulture.com/article/girls5eva-season-2-episode-2-recap-triumphant-return-to-the-studio.html | last=Kubicek | first=Joan | work=Vulture.com | date=May 6, 2022}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.taskrabbit.com}}

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