Captain Experiences
About the Company
Captain Experiences, founded by Jonathan Newar and Attison Barnes, is a platform for booking outdoor sports guides, particularly for fishing. Launched in March 2020 and based in Austin, Texas, the company has quickly become the largest platform for booking fishing guides in the US. The platform connects adventurers with over 1,200 vetted guides and has facilitated more than 47,000 hours of outdoor activities.
Captain Experiences differentiates itself by providing a seamless booking experience and a wide selection of trips. Users can filter over 2,400 unique trips based on various criteria such as location, group size, target species, price, and additional amenities. The platform prides itself on offering quality trips and has maintained a high customer satisfaction rating, with an average review score of 4.9 out of 5 stars from thousands of bookings.
Idea Behind Company
The idea for Captain Experiences emerged when Jonathan tried to book a fishing trip in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Frustrated by the cumbersome process of comparing charter prices, availability, and other details, he envisioned a platform that would simplify booking outdoor activities. Inspired by the ease of booking an Airbnb or calling an Uber, he saw an opportunity to create a similar experience for fishing charters.
Jonathan drove to Galveston to meet with fishing guides and received positive feedback about his idea. The guides expressed interest in a platform that could help them earn more trips and manage their calendars efficiently. This feedback motivated Jonathan to incorporate Captain Experiences and team up with Attison Barnes to develop the platform. They launched the company in March 2020, aiming to make outdoor sports more accessible and easy to book.
Creating the Company
Building the first version of Captain Experiences involved significant effort in developing a user-friendly website. The initial website was cluttered with features, making it cumbersome to use. However, through adventurer interviews, data analytics, and A/B testing, the team optimized the site's UI/UX. They removed unnecessary features based on user feedback and focused on creating a simplified and refined user experience.
To attract traffic, the company utilized various marketing channels, including SEO, ads, social media, and referrals. Over time, direct traffic grew as the brand gained recognition. The platform's filters and wide selection of quality trips ensured that users had a fantastic end-to-end experience. The team also placed great importance on company culture, fostering a tight-knit group that enjoyed working together and sharing a passion for outdoor activities.
Launching the Business
Launching Captain Experiences in March 2020, during the height of the pandemic, presented unique challenges. The company booked only four trips in its first month, relying on immediate friends and fishing buddies. However, the downtime allowed the team to improve the user experience significantly. As interest in outdoor activities surged during the pandemic, the company saw an explosion in bookings throughout 2020 and 2021.
The influx of interest led to a long-term increase in outdoor participation, positioning Captain Experiences as a valuable resource for adventurers. The company's focus on high-intent adventurers and personal marketing efforts, such as SEO, social media, and content marketing, helped attract and retain customers. Captain Experiences also emphasized providing a premium level of personal service, fostering a strong connection with repeat customers, known as "bucket listers."
Earnings
Today, Captain Experiences generates $100,000 in monthly revenue and continues to grow. The platform's success is attributed to its small but dedicated team, the high quality of guides and trips, and effective marketing strategies. Maintaining an average review score of 4.9/5 stars reflects the company's commitment to customer satisfaction. The team focuses on expanding its reach and aims to become the leading platform for booking outdoor sports guides in the US.
The company has learned valuable lessons about the importance of people and culture. Hiring passionate individuals who align with the company's mission has been crucial to its success. Captain Experiences uses various tools to maintain performance, including Slack for communication, HubSpot for CRM, and custom-built site analytics. The company's future looks promising, with goals to expand its offerings and maintain high standards of service and user experience.
