![pageSearch](/themes/hestia/images/page-search.webp)
Zoljargal Purevdash talks Cannes Title ‘If Only I Could Hibernate’
May 25, 2023Ferguson Marine: Scotland's long
Jun 27, 2023House on a House / Bloot Architecture
Jul 19, 2023Seeking Interior Design Rooted in Cultural Heritage
Jul 27, 2023Epax close to 100% circularity for marine biomaterials
Jun 29, 2023Startup that turns unused buildings into "sexy" self
![Jun 12, 2023](/themes/hestia/images/news-details-icon1.webp)
Photo courtesy of Stuf
As a commercial real estate professional, Katharine Lau has walked through a lot of buildings, always noting weird and unused "funky" spaces.
Driving the news: Struck by the wastefulness of such vacant square footage in otherwise dense urban areas, Lau founded Stuf Storage in 2020. The startup transforms unused basements, storefronts and other spaces into self-storage units.
Why it matters: In cities like Seattle with a plethora of office vacancies, city leaders are calling for innovative ways to use that space and encouraging businesses to see opportunity in serving the needs of a growing residential population.
Of note: Stuf, named among the world's most innovative companies by Fast Company in 2022, secured $11 million in a Series A financing round.
How it works: Lau enters into a revenue-sharing contract with owners who have space. She then installs prefabricated, secure and tech-enabled storage equipment.
What's next: Lau said she wants to do for self-storage what Warby Parker did for eyeglasses, elevating a common item into something "accessible, sexy and fashionable."
Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
Support local journalism by becoming a member.
Learn more
No stories could be found
Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Seattle.
Support local journalism by becoming a member.
Learn more
Driving the news: Why it matters: Of note: How it works: What's next: