poppet
Poppet is a UK-based mobile marketplace app, operated by Patch Tech Holdings LTD, that connects parents with vetted babysitters, nannies, and childminders through Stripe-powered bookings with DBS and Yoti-verified caregivers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersCardiff, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What poppet does
Poppet is a UK-based childcare marketplace app operated by Patch Tech Holdings LTD, a private company incorporated in England and Wales in 2022 and headquartered in Cardiff. The platform connects parents seeking childcare with three categories of caregivers — babysitters, nannies, and childminders — addressing a fragmented UK childcare market through a mobile-first discovery and booking interface. Its core customers are individual parents and families, with no enterprise or institutional segment disclosed.
The product is delivered as a mobile application published on both the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The underlying technology stack comprises AWS for cloud infrastructure, Stripe for in-app payment processing, Verifile for DBS and background checks on caregivers, and Yoti for digital identity verification. Caregiver onboarding is anchored to UK regulatory frameworks including DBS checks, Ofsted registration, and Care Inspectorate Wales compliance, positioning trust and safety as the primary product differentiator rather than price or selection breadth.
Poppet operates a marketplace commission model, generating revenue as a percentage fee on each booking facilitated between parents and caregivers. Customer acquisition is currently driven through a waitlist-based early access flow supported by content marketing via a company blog and social media channels. The company is bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding rounds to date and no publicly reported revenue or GMV figures.
poppet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- poppet
- Legal name
- Patch Tech Holdings LTD
- Website
- https://joinpoppet.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Poppet is a UK-based mobile marketplace app, operated by Patch Tech Holdings LTD, that connects parents with vetted babysitters, nannies, and childminders through Stripe-powered bookings with DBS and Yoti-verified caregivers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
poppet industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Childcare Marketplace
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (6244)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Childcare & Eldercare Caregiving Platforms (BPAMAHAJ)
Keywords
Where poppet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cardiff
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
poppet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Transaction Commission: Poppet earns a commission from each completed booking transaction between parents and caregivers. Parents pay caregivers' rates directly through the app, and Poppet takes a percentage cut.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free app download for both parents and caregivers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
poppet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Poppet operates a mobile-first two-sided marketplace that connects parents seeking childcare with local babysitters, nannies, and childminders. Parents can browse caregiver profiles, message, book sessions, and pay securely in-app, while caregivers set their own rates, manage availability, and receive weekly payouts. The platform monetizes by taking a commission on each completed booking transaction.
Product overview
Poppet is a mobile childcare marketplace that operates as a two-sided platform connecting families with local childcare providers. The core product is the Poppet Mobile App, which enables parents to search for and book qualified caregivers (babysitters, nannies, and childminders) while allowing caregivers to create profiles, set their own rates and availability, and manage bookings. The platform includes features for finding caregivers, planning sessions, booking childcare, and secure in-app payment processing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Poppet Mobile App
Companies that use poppet
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
poppet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
poppet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- StripecoreStripe is used as the payment processor for in-app payments between parents and caregivers. It handles secure payment collection from parents and enables weekly payouts to caregivers.
- VerifilecoreVerifile provides background check services as part of the caregiver vetting process, including identity verification and employment history checks.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreAWS is the primary database and cloud infrastructure provider for storing user data and platform operations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
poppet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Koru Kids: UK-focused childcare marketplace connecting parents with vetted nannies and babysitters — direct competitor on geography, customer, and product, with venture backing that Poppet lacks.
- Childcare.co.uk: Long-running UK childcare directory and marketplace for babysitters, nannies, childminders and nurseries — overlaps Poppet's core supply and demand segments within the same geography.
- Tiney: UK platform focused on registered childminders and home nurseries with Ofsted-adjacent vetting, addressing the same regulated childminder segment that Poppet explicitly serves.
- Babysits: International childcare marketplace with active UK presence connecting parents to babysitters and nannies — same two-sided transactional model and overlapping parent personas.
Broad incumbents
- Care.com: Global leader in care marketplaces (childcare, senior care, pet care, housekeeping) with massive brand recognition and an IAC-backed product — comparable category and unit economics, broader portfolio.
- Sittercity: Established US-based sitter and nanny marketplace serving parents with background-checked caregivers — comparable vetting-and-marketplace model but US-only, making it a non-competing incumbent.
Regional players
- Yoopies: European (France-led) care marketplace covering childcare and home services with UK listings — comparable two-sided marketplace model but primarily serves continental Europe, not directly competing in Poppet's home market.
Others
- Helpling: On-demand marketplace for home services (cleaning primarily) with UK presence — adjacent marketplace operations and technology, useful comparability for trust-and-vetting marketplace infrastructure rather than direct childcare competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
poppet social profiles
Digital presencepoppet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
poppet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
poppet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
poppet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about poppet
What does poppet do?
Poppet operates a mobile-first two-sided marketplace that connects parents seeking childcare with local babysitters, nannies, and childminders. Parents can browse caregiver profiles, message, book sessions, and pay securely in-app, while caregivers set their own rates, manage availability, and receive weekly payouts. The platform monetizes by taking a commission on each completed booking transaction.
Is poppet a public or private company?
poppet is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was poppet founded?
poppet was founded in 2022.
Where is poppet based?
poppet is headquartered in Cardiff, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does poppet make money?
One revenue line is on record: transaction Commission.
Who are poppet's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Koru Kids, Childcare.co.uk, Tiney and Babysits. Broad incumbents are Care.com and Sittercity. Yoopies is listed as a regional player. Helpling is listed as an others.
Does poppet have an API?
No public API is recorded for poppet.
What industry is poppet in?
poppet's product category is Childcare Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAHAJ, Childcare & Eldercare Caregiving Platforms. Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.