# MetroResidences

> MetroResidences is a Singapore-founded proptech platform that curates furnished serviced apartments and monthly rentals for business travellers, expats and urban professionals across Asia Pacific. Launched in 2014 by James Chua and Lester Kang, it matches corporate tenants needing month-plus stays with quality apartments and layers on hotel-style services like housekeeping, maintenance and front-desk support. Backed by Rakuten Capital and 500 Durians, the company positions itself as a professionally managed alternative to both traditional serviced-residence operators and Airbnb-style listings.

- **Founded:** 2014
- **Headquarters:** Singapore
- **Founders:** James Chua (Co-Founder & CEO), Lester Kang (Co-Founder & COO)
- **Team size:** ~28-29 employees
- **Products:** Serviced Apartments, Monthly Apartments, Residential Rentals, Asset Owner / Property Management Services
- **Notable:** Raised US$3.52M total, including a S$4M Series A led by Rakuten in 2017., Served 800+ corporate clients and booked 115,000+ room nights., Expanded from Singapore into Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

## Products & services

- **Serviced Apartments** — Fully furnished apartments for stays under a year, with front-desk and maintenance support, weekly housekeeping and add-on services; minimum stays typically around 3 months.
- **Monthly Apartments** — Flexible month-to-month furnished rentals for business travellers and relocating professionals across Asia-Pacific cities.
- **Residential Rentals** — Long-term unfurnished and furnished leases launched in 2020 across 280+ residential buildings in Singapore and Tokyo, targeting expats and local residents.
- **Asset Owner / Property Management Services** — Third-party management and marketing for property owners, who earn an estimated 30-40% more revenue than through traditional letting agencies.

## Achievements

- Raised US$3.52M total, including a S$4M Series A led by Rakuten in 2017.
- Served 800+ corporate clients and booked 115,000+ room nights.
- Expanded from Singapore into Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
- Grew portfolio to 3,000+ listings including 1,000+ self-managed apartments by 2020.
- Pivoted successfully to long-term Residential Rentals during the COVID-19 travel slump.

## Latest updates

- **2020-01** — Launched Residential Rentals with 1,000+ apartments for long-term leases across Singapore and Tokyo, targeting 15,000 units by end of 2021.
- **2017-04** — Closed S$4M Series A led by Rakuten to fund expansion into Japan and Hong Kong.

## Links

- Website: https://metroresidences.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/metro-residences
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/MetroResJP
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metroresidences_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroResSG/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/metroresidences
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-27