Big Rentals, a Los Angeles-based equipment rental platform, has secured $2.8 million in seed funding. The round was led by SNAK Venture Partners, with additional participation from Ironspring Ventures, Forum Ventures, Jason Calacanis’ LAUNCH Fund, and NuFund Venture Group.

Expanding Into Construction and Heavy Equipment

The company plans to use the investment to deepen its presence in the construction and heavy equipment segment. Early results from its nationwide partner network have shown promising demand in the category.
The capital will also support the development of HQRent.com, the AI-driven software that enables independent rental operators to manage bookings, payments, and fleet operations through a single interface.

Improving Tools for Independent Operators

"For too long, local rental companies and small business owners have had to stitch together outdated tools, paper, and spreadsheets," said Pablo Fernandez, Co-Founder and CEO of Big Rentals. "We put the same technology used by national chains into the hands of independent operators, making it easy and affordable for anyone to start and scale a professional rental business."

Dual-Sided Marketplace Built for Small Businesses

Founded in 2023, Big Rentals operates as a dual-sided platform. It combines a national online marketplace with modern operations software for small and mid-sized equipment owners.
Independent businesses use the platform to automate scheduling, payments, and inventory—tasks that typically rely on manual processes. The marketplace also directs customer demand to local operators, improving utilization rates and opening new revenue streams.

Growing Investor Confidence

Investors view Big Rentals as an early mover in a traditionally offline category.
"Big Rentals is transforming an overlooked yet essential backbone of our economy. Pablo and the team are building a category-defining marketplace, and we're thrilled to back a founder who combines deep industry insight with a software-first mindset," said Sonia Nagar, Co-Founder of SNAK Venture Partners, who will join the company’s board.
Nagar brings marketplace experience from BacklotCars and Sittercity, along with early-stage investments in Machinery Partner, Cameo, and Coinbase at Pritzker Group Venture Capital.

Market Tailwinds Fueling Demand

Demand for equipment rentals continues to rise as U.S. manufacturing, infrastructure development, and data center construction reach new levels.
Manufacturing construction has climbed to $223 billion, exceeding historic norms. Meanwhile, data center construction hit a $40 billion annual run rate, rising 30% year-over-year.
As contractors shift from owning equipment to renting it, the $80+ billion U.S. equipment rental sector is undergoing significant change. Big Rentals aims to unify the fragmented supplier landscape with a technology-led approach tailored for small businesses.

About Big Rentals

Big Rentals builds technology for the U.S. equipment rental industry, helping independent rental businesses manage bookings, payments, and inventory online. The platform uses AI automation to simplify scheduling and operations for small business owners.
Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Los Angeles, CA and Nashville, TN, the company is backed by SNAK Venture Partners, Ironspring Ventures, LAUNCH Fund, Forum Ventures, and NuFund Venture Group.

—----------------------