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10 Interesting Learnings About Vacasa Co-Founder Eric Breon's New Startup, Fairly. 1️⃣  Founder-Led and Self-Funded:  Fairly raised $10.1 million through internal funding from its co-founders and employees, skipping the traditional VC route. 2️⃣  Leadership Team from Vacasa:  Eric Breon, former CEO of Vacasa, is joined by Vacasa veterans Subechya Person (Chief Product Officer) and Jeff Flitton (Chief Technology Officer). 3️⃣  Local Partnership Model:  Fairly operates on a unique partnership model. Each property is supported by a two-person team—a Caretaker managing day-to-day operations and an Advisor, typically a real estate agent, guiding compliance and maximizing revenue. 4️⃣  Revenue Sharing with Local Partners:  Fairly retains 20% of rent, splitting half with local partners. Caretakers and Advisors each receive 5% of the total rent, aligning incentives for exceptional service. 5️⃣  Direct Owner Communication:  Caretakers are the primary point of contact for guest questions, bypassing traditional property management layers. Owners have visibility into all communications, and can join the conversion if they like. 6️⃣  Technology-Driven Platform:  With 25 employees, mostly software engineers, Fairly emphasizes SaaS-powered automation, yield management, and seamless integrations with major channels like Airbnb and Vrbo. 7️⃣  Building out a Caretaker Network: As a homeowner, you can choose the caretaker you work with, and you can easily switch if they’re not meeting your needs. Thousands of exceptional caretakers have already joined our platform, and they are always adding more. 8️⃣ Customizable Property Goals:  Fairly adapts to homeowners’ unique priorities. As Breon explains, "Is their home purely an investment, from which they want to extract the maximum potential revenue? We make that easy. Is their home a treasured family sanctuary, for which they’d prefer to maintain higher prices to minimize wear and tear while maintaining availability for personal use? We make that easy, too." Homeowners can adjust preferences to balance profitability, availability, and property care. 9️⃣ Fairly will be borrowing some of what Breon and others created at Vacasa, such as modern yield management that as well as a focus on partnering with third party channels like Vrbo and Airbnb. 🔟 “The vacation rental management model is broken. Large property managers generate more revenue, but they generally fail when it comes to delivering what matters most: exceptional guest experiences.” ~ Eric Breon I’d love to hear your thoughts on this model down below 👇🏻 ______________________________ ➡️ I’m Brooke Pfautz. 4x startup founder.  ➡️ Passionate about the short-term vacation rental industry.  ➡️ Grew a vacation rental company from 0 to 500 Properties in 5 Years.  ➡️ Helped over 800 companies grow their rental inventory.  ➡️ Authored 3 books for the short-term vacation rental industry. 👉 Follow me for stories from my journey.

Phocuswright's Travel Startups Interactive Database shows that after a down year in 2023, funding for #travel startups has increased in the first quarter of 2024. Learn more about the database on #PhocusWire: https://bit.ly/441dIIA #travelnews #travelindustrynews #travelindustry #travelstartups #startups #phocuswright

A significant design conference was held in San Francisco in 2008, with thousands of participants from across the globe. But there was a big problem with this inflow of tourists: there were not enough hotel rooms. In this period, two aspirational young entrepreneurs who were having trouble making ends meet—Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia—saw the need for a novel solution. The idea was simple; offer visitors a place to sleep and a complimentary breakfast in the morning at $80 per night. They purchased air mattresses and dubbed their venture "Air Bed and Breakfast." and thought it would be a great way to make a few bucks. Airbnb was struggling to generate revenue. With over eight angel investors rejecting Brian's idea, the company was bankrupt, in debt, and struggling to remain afloat. The founders of Airbnb went into the cereal business, selling election-themed cereals dubbed "Obama O's" and "Cap'n McCains," in order to raise money for their fledgling company. This lighthearted strategy attracted attention and yielded outstanding results, bringing in an astounding $30,000 in sales. Their genius business strategy caught the attention of Paul Graham, founder of Y Combinator and he decided to cut them a check of $20,000 which kept the company afloat for few months and helped them refining their product and getting traction. Airbnb brought consumers into the sharing economy with its revolutionary peer-to-peer travel marketplace. Brian, Joe and Nate had a clear vision to disrupt a fragmented vacation rental market. The frustration of trying to book hotels during convention peaks was just the hook. They drew us in further with their scrappiness, imagination and storytelling. If everything went right, Airbnb saw an opportunity to redefine the large, global and enduring travel market. This thesis led Sequoia to invest $600,000 in Airbnb in 2009. In July 2011, the company raised $112 million in a Series B funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent venture capital firm. This significant investment catapulted Airbnb's valuation to over $1 billion, officially marking its entrance into the unicorn club. Airbnb's initial public offering (IPO) marked a significant milestone in the company's journey. On December 10, 2020, Airbnb went public on the NASDAQ. Sequoia's $600,000 is valued currently at $11.9 Billion. These gains are the result of the bet Alfred Lin took on three young entrepreneurs trying to solve the problem which they deeply cared about. Initially a website that connected strangers to sleep on air mattresses on each other’s floors, Airbnb defied the odds as it exploded to become one of the breakout tech unicorns of the early 2010s. Today the company connects people around the world with its unique homes and unforgettable experiences. Thanks for reading, share it with your VC friends and let them know how Sequoia got astonishinh returns. #thevcfellowship #venturecapital #fundingstory

Do you want the solution to your property management problems? If you’re a property investor, are you happy throwing away your profits? A few months ago, I discovered an incredible proptech startup, FindaHost. This company is set to transform property management by merging short and long-term rental solutions into one AI-powered platform designed for seamless, scalable, and cost-effective management. Its intuitive interface caters to all users tech savvy or not making it accessible to a broad audience. Though still in its early stages, FindaHost has massive potential. After speaking with its founder, Landry Ntahe, and seeing a demo of the platform, I was blown away. It simplifies the listing process across platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and trivago. This is a game changer for those in serviced accommodation. If you're in property, check it out I have linked the website below. Why should angel investors or VCs pay attention? @FindaHost operates in the booming short-term rental and vacation property management industry, valued at $75B in 2022 and projected to exceed $110B by 2027 (Compound Annual Growth Rate:7.4%). The platform’s AI tools for dynamic pricing, listing synchronization, and automation address key challenges faced by hosts and property managers leveraging platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com. The broader property management market is also set for growth, driven by wage stagflation, rising property prices, and increased demand for rentals. FindaHost is perfectly positioned to capitalize on these trends with its focus on automation, revenue optimization, and scalability. The platform’s advanced features AI-driven pricing, predictive analytics, and streamlined guest communications help hosts boost revenue and improve guest satisfaction. Integration with 60+ major channels, including Airbnb and Expedia, ensures seamless synchronization for both individual hosts and large-scale property managers. Why am I speaking so highly about the company? It’s because I plan on using the software. I’m going to start building my rental property empire in Ghana in the next few years. This software will help me operate remotely from the UK, handling maintenance, budgeting, and more to keep my portfolio profitable. I’m not an investor, but the potential here is undeniable. Don’t miss the chance to back the next Airbnb or HubSpot when FindaHost begins its next funding round. https://findahost.io #VentureCapital #Property #Tech #Startup #Airbnb #PropertyManagement

Airbnb has a pretty cool origin story that sounds more like a buddy movie than a typical startup story. Founders Joe G. and Brian Chesky were struggling to pay their rent when they came up with this wild idea: why not throw some air mattresses in their living room and offer breakfast for guests? They put up a simple website with a map, and to their surprise, people went for it. Nathan Blecharczyk later joined, and together they faced the challenge of convincing investors of their unconventional concept. Brian Chesky has even shared initial rejection emails (check here: https://rb.gy/4919p1) from VCs on Medium. So, let's dive into Airbnb's investment journey and their famously straightforward pitch deck. Before going public on December 20, 2020, and raising $3.5 billion through its IPO, Airbnb had several rounds of equity funding. Their pitch deck, which you can find plastered all over the internet, is a prime example of how simplicity can be key. Here’s a quick breakdown of what made their pitch deck stand out: 1)Simplistic Design: They kept the design super clean and straightforward. Instead of cluttering slides with tons of design elements or photos, they stuck to concise 1-2 liners paired with impactful stats. This minimalism runs through the entire deck. 2)Market Validation: They smartly pulled in stats from Craigslist, their competitor at the time, which also had housing and home-sharing listings. This move helped validate their market presence and potential for home-sharing as a new category. 3)Market Sizing: They used the classic TAM-SAM-SOM framework to define their market scope. However, they opted for transaction stats over monetary values, which is a bit unusual but still effective in showing scale. 4)Product Slide: They presented the customer journey in the most straightforward way I’ve ever seen. It’s clear, and direct, and makes it easy to grasp how users interact with their service. 5)Competition Slide: They used an old-school competition matrix to highlight how Airbnb is both affordable and online, contrasting sharply with more traditional options. 6)Financial Slide: They clearly presented the investment opportunity—detailing the funding required—and the expected outcomes in terms of the number of trips and projected revenue. This clarity of thought effectively instills confidence in potential investors. Join me as I share one pitch deck daily, decoding the secrets of successful startups that have raised millions. Follow, share, and suggest the next pitch deck we should explore together!

10 Pioneering Startups We Can't Afford to Ignore In the ever-evolving world of innovation, certain companies have defied expectations and risen to incredible heights. We’ve compiled a list of 10 pioneering startups that emerged from unexpected places, founded by unlikely individuals, and faced significant initial skepticism. Each day, we will feature one of these companies, delving into their unique challenges and celebrating their extraordinary successes. Join us as we explore these inspiring stories and highlight their relevance to our mission at 1844X-NATO. By learning from their journeys, we can draw valuable insights and rally support for our vision to disrupt the Oil & Gas and Energy sectors, setting a foundation for the next generation of innovators and industry leaders. We encourage you to join us early so you are not left behind after the major places and positions are taken - the doors of interest are opened to those who knock: Airbnb: Transforming Hospitality from a Living Room Idea Day 1: Airbnb Introduction Airbnb, founded by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia in 2007, started with the simple idea of renting out air mattresses in their San Francisco apartment during a design conference. Despite its humble beginnings, Airbnb has transformed the hospitality industry. Challenges Faced Initially, the concept of staying in a stranger's home was met with skepticism and resistance. Potential investors and customers were unsure about the safety and feasibility of this new way of travel accommodation. Success Story Airbnb overcame these challenges by building trust through reviews, robust verification processes, and excellent customer service. Today, it is a global platform with millions of listings worldwide, revolutionizing the way people travel and stay. Relevance to OUR Vision At 1844X-NATO, we strive to emulate Airbnb’s journey by fostering a collaborative and innovative environment. Our goal is to disrupt traditional sectors like Oil & Gas and Energy by connecting professionals and organizations worldwide. Much like Airbnb, we believe in the power of trust, transparency, and user-driven feedback. By providing a platform for knowledge sharing, resource access, and strategic partnerships, we aim to build a robust network that supports various industries. This approach aligns with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to achieve their goals through seamless access to resources, training, and collaboration opportunities. Call to Action: Join Us - HTTPS://1844X-NATO.UK At 1844X-NATO, we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation. By connecting professionals and organizations worldwide, we create opportunities for growth, learning, and positive impact. Join us in our mission to build a brighter future for the next generations. Contact to express your interest: admin@1844x-nato.uk

TAM, SAM, SOM? No, I’m not blabbering… This is how Airbnb built an empire! Why fish the whole ocean when you can start with a pond? 🎣 This analogy perfectly explains how smart startups scale, and it’s something Airbnb mastered! When Airbnb started, they didn’t try to capture the entire global lodging market right away. Instead, they took a strategic approach—breaking down their market focus to build a strong foundation. Here’s the game-changing strategy they used: 🌐 TAM (Total Available Market): Airbnb’s TAM was huge: the entire global lodging industry, worth billions. But as a small startup, trying to go head-to-head with global hotel chains wasn't feasible. 🎯 SAM (Serviceable Available Market): They narrowed it down to travelers open to staying in unique, budget-friendly spaces instead of hotels. This subset of travelers was Airbnb’s SAM—a smaller but highly interested audience. 📍 SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market): Finally, Airbnb focused on just a few cities—New York, San Francisco, and Boston—where they could realistically capture early adopters. By building traction in these key locations, they proved their model and created a springboard for scaling. The Result? The focus on TAM, SAM, and SOM helped Airbnb become the global powerhouse it is today. Takeaway for Us: Instead of casting a wide net, start with a specific, attainable part of the market. Build success locally, then expand. Think big, but scale smart. So What’s your TAM, SAM, and SOM? #TAMSAMSOM #StartupStrategy #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #MarketStrategy

Looking to create the ultimate vacation rental platform? 🌴🏠 Check out our Vrbo Clone script for all the essential features you need! ✨ Get Now: https://lnkd.in/gWSZMYtW #migrateshop #vrboclone #vrbocloneapp #vrboclonescript #vacationrentalplatform #rentalscript #business #startup

Airbnb connects you to stays. Wandertrails connects you to stories. A wedding problem turned into a million-dollar startup. Some of the best ideas are born out of frustration. It all started when one of the founders couldn’t find a way to give her wedding guests an authentic #Kerala experience.  Fast forward, and they created a platform with over 4,000 handpicked stays and 3,500 local activities.  Unlike big players shouting about destinations, Wandertrails whispers the stories behind them.  While MakeMyTrip and Airbnb dominate with scale, Wandertrails won with soul. Every stay, every activity is curated like a fine piece of art — think local flavors, hidden gems, and immersive vibes.  Now imagine this: 30% of their suppliers didn’t even have a digital presence before. They’re not just building a business; they’re building a community. 💡  But here’s where Wandertrails really stood out — human touch.  They assign a personal brand experience manager to every query.  Not many big names in the travel game do that.  Millennials are obsessed with experiences over “combo schemes.” Wandertrails got it.  $1 million raised, on-ground audits, and a model that feels personal and real.  Lessons to learn: ✅ Keep the customer journey front and center. ✅ Build trust through quality. ✅ Solve a real problem. The travel industry is a $40 billion playground.  But while the giants play, it’s startups like Wandertrails that made waves with heart and hustle. Kudos to Hari Gangadharan, Narayana Menon. K, Pranav Kumar, Sruti Ramesh Chander, and Vishnu Menon What’s stopping you from creating your own ripple?  At GRG Gen Nxt Incubator, we’re here to turn your sparks into fires. Join us today, and let’s build something extraordinary together 🚀 #startup #startups #coimbatore

STARTUP STAGE✨ Founded in 2023, StretchBill creates a pay-over-time option for those booking #shorttermrentals, including an option that lets individuals traveling together each take responsibility for specific payments. Learn more about Stretchbill and other #startups on #PhocusWire: https://bit.ly/3URziv8 #travelnews #travelindustrynews #travelindustry #travelpayments #travelstartups