StayFi
About the Company
StayFi is a technology company that provides WiFi marketing and management services for short-term rental operators. Its primary customers are vacation rental operators who manage anywhere from 1 to 500 properties, listed on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. StayFi allows these operators to create captive WiFi splash pages that introduce their brand to all guests and capture marketing data. This helps rental operators reduce their reliance on online travel agencies, saving them money on fees and increasing direct bookings through their own platforms.
StayFi's main service is providing a seamless and customizable way for operators to market directly to every guest in a property, not just the person who booked it. The service also helps operators capture marketing data from all guests, enabling remarketing efforts and direct rebooking without using third-party platforms. StayFi's solution is widely used by over 600 companies, covering nearly 10,000 rental properties across 10 countries.
Idea Behind Company
Arthur Colker got the idea for StayFi while working as a marketing consultant in the short-term rental industry. He noticed that online booking platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo did not share guest data with hosts, making it difficult for operators to remarket to their guests. This problem was compounded by the fact that there were often multiple guests staying in a single rental property, yet only the primary booker's information was available.
Arthur realized that a solution to this data gap could be found in WiFi marketing, a practice already common in industries like hospitality and retail. By introducing WiFi splash pages in short-term rentals, operators could collect information from every guest who logged in. This would allow operators to market directly to all guests and encourage direct bookings in the future. Arthur decided to pursue this idea after pitching it to a rental operator who agreed to buy his minimal viable product (MVP).
Creating the Company
The initial version of StayFi was built using an existing product called OpenMesh, which allowed Arthur to set up a simple system for capturing guest data through a branded WiFi splash page. Arthur spent around 20 hours working with a developer in New Orleans to create the first version of the product, which was a barebones but functional system. This MVP allowed rental operators to collect guest data and integrate it with Mailchimp for marketing purposes.
As StayFi grew, Arthur realized that building a product for a single client was not enough to meet the needs of the wider short-term rental market. He began interviewing other operators to understand their needs better and discovered that most were interested in using guest data to drive direct bookings but lacked the tools to do so. With this feedback, Arthur began iterating on StayFi's features, slowly expanding its capabilities to meet the demands of more customers while keeping costs low.
Launching the Business
Arthur faced significant challenges in launching StayFi and acquiring his first few customers. Despite the strong interest in his product, many short-term rental operators were too focused on day-to-day challenges to prioritize a direct booking strategy. Arthur persisted by cold-calling, emailing, and attending conferences to network with potential clients.
StayFi's growth started to pick up after Arthur partnered with influencers and educators in the short-term rental industry. He also leveraged digital marketing, targeting operators through platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Sponsorship of short-term rental conferences further boosted StayFi's visibility. As the company continued to grow, Arthur focused on making the product as easy as possible for operators to use, ensuring it became an integral part of their business operations.
Earnings
StayFi currently generates $80,000 per month in revenue, with over 6,500 properties using its services. The company's growth has been driven by the demand for more direct bookings and reduced dependency on online travel agencies. StayFi's revenue is supported by its subscription model, and the company has seen near-zero customer churn, except in cases of acquisitions or business closures.
StayFi continues to grow steadily, with plans to further develop its marketing and email tools to enhance customer retention and acquisition. Arthur's focus remains on delivering value to his customers, and the company is looking to raise additional funding to support these initiatives.
