KITEBNB RAISES SEED STAGE INVESTMENT TO EXPAND IN SOUTH AFRICA AND MAURITIUS
The investment by 800 Ventures aims to support KiteBnB in rolling out a new business model on the first two markets, South Africa and Mauritius
Germany, 21st September 2018. – KiteBnB, launched in 2015, is the first global online marketplace for kitesurfing accommodation. Now, the company has raised first investment from 800 Ventures and it is slightly changing its business model. Travel tech startup KiteBnB now offers only handpicked accommodations and focusses on the world’s most relevant kitesurfing destinations. Seed funding will be used to expand in South Africa and Mauritius. However, KiteBnB will not pivot the purpose of the company – its mission stays the same: to create authentic travel experiences for kitesurfers.
There are no fees or set-up costs to work with KiteBnB, but only the best hosts will be invited to join the portfolio. By being exclusive and limiting the number of properties for every destination, KiteBnB ensures that each of the hosts receives the maximum exposure and maximizes their bookings. KiteBnB will roll out destination by destination. After South Africa and Mauritius in 2018, Tarifa, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic might follow in 2019.
“We have decided to value quality over quantity and to geographically narrow our focus to several key kitesurfing destinations.
A KiteBnB Destination Manager visits each property in person and puts it into the right budget category. Kitesurfers and other watersports lovers are now able to choose from a broad portfolio of accommodations, from Budget to Standard, to Premium and Luxury. The property classification is of course based on the kitesurfers’ point of view” – said Pascal, CEO of KiteBnB.
“We have been following the KiteBnB journey for the last 3 years, since its start in 2015. The founders have a deep understanding of the industry and have bootstrapped for a long time. Not only that we have a passion for travel, tech, and kitesurfing, but we can add value and help them to grow in Africa. We believe that niche marketplaces which are community driven are what the online customer demands today.” – said Matija Rukavina, CEO of 800 Ventures.
More about KiteBnB
KiteBnB is a community marketplace dedicated to creating authentic travel experiences for kitesurfers. We focus on handpicked accommodations in the best kitesurfing locations around the world. Every apartment, guest house, and hotel is inspected by a local KiteBnB Destination Manager. Whether you’re a kitesurfing junkie traveling on your own or with a group of friends or family, a digital kitesurfing nomad seeking for a remote office or a luxury traveler looking for a tailor-made kitesurfing holiday in a 5* hotel, you’ve come to the right place. KiteBnB offers a place to stay for any budget and connects you with like-minded people. KiteBnB. The ecosystem for kitesurfers.
More about 800 Ventures
800 Ventures is a seed stage investment company with offices in Zagreb and Cape Town that invests in startups with high growth potential in Africa. In the network of the investors, there are successful entrepreneurs, managers, high net individuals, and companies from all over the world. More information is available on www.800ventures.com.