INVEST IN WHIMSTAY TODAY!
Last-Minute Stays
$1,721,426.16 Raised
REASONS TO INVEST
Whimstay is the exclusive last-minute distribution partner to Vacasa and Turnkey, two of the largest property management companies in North America.
The global vacation rental market was valued at over $87 billion in 2020 and is only growing.
Whimstay has received over 100,000 customer downloads and has partnered with over 680 property management companies to exclusively list last-minute stays - all with zero marketing spend.
Encouraging travelers to "seize the stay"
Everyone deserves to enjoy the unique experience of escaping to a home away from home. After all, there’s nothing quite like a vacation when it comes to creating memories and soaking up quality time together. With people eager to travel more than ever, rental property managers shouldn’t be dealing with so many unbooked nights.
Enter: Whimstay. We offer exclusive, last-minute discounts to travelers and ensure fewer properties are left empty every night. Whether you’re on a budget or simply feeling spontaneous, Whimstay offers phenomenal deals for your last-minute getaway.
The Problem
Millions of vacation rentals go empty each night
With over 50% of vacation rental properties empty each night and billions of dollars in lost earnings each year, it's easy to see that the vacation rental industry has a problem with occupancy rates (source). But it’s hardly a surprise—the price tag on a vacation rental is unattainable for many travelers, and especially for those who aren’t able to plan their trips well in advance.
The combination of soaring prices and the increasing need to book properties far in advance has resulted in more and more people being excluded from the market.
The Solution
Lower fees, higher occupancy rates
At Whimstay, we’ve created a marketplace for travelers wanting the Airbnb and VRBO experience but at an affordable price.
We believe we've got a significant advantage over our competitors: Whimstay’s business is built on the negotiation of an exclusive discount with our property management partners which substantiates a lower fee structure and secures an unbeatable price advantage. Also, we proudly guarantee that if a traveler can find a lower advertised price on any of the major sites, we’ll pay for their trip. (Zero payouts so far!)
Our Business Model
Responsive and competitive pricing
We charge a 5–10% traveler service fee and a 3–5% host fee, which allows us to offer much more competitive prices when compared to the current industry leaders. For example, eight nights at the above property on Whimstay will cost you $1,396.03 compared to $2,406.48 on VRBO and a whopping $2,674.56 on Airbnb.
Unlike our competitors, we believe we are committed to going above and beyond with customer service, and we’ve taken it a step further to ensure that all property managers and guests have up to a $1.3M guarantee on accidental damage.
The Market
Unprecedented growth and still going
The vacation rental market has grown exponentially over the last 10 years. In 2020, it was worth over $87 billion (source).
By late May 2021, online searches for vacation rental information were 100% higher than they were the previous year, meaning a growing majority of travelers are exploring home and apartment rentals over hotel rooms (source). This trend has prompted the world’s biggest hotel companies to get into the vacation rental business in order to attract this critical demographic.
Unlike Airbnb and Vrbo, the two biggest names in the vacation rental game, we believe Whimstay’s innovative approach and responsive pricing strategy secures a new vertical in the vacation rental industry.
Our Traction
Over 131,000 rental properties and over 100,000 app downloads
Whimstay’s initial growth has been explosive, far outpacing that of our competitors in their early stages. Within just 1.5 years, we’ve had over 100,000 app downloads and listed over 131,000 properties—all with zero marketing spend.
But more notably, we’ve already been awarded recognition by industry leaders. We were nominated for the 2021 Best Online Accommodation Booking Platform by the Short Term Rentalz Awards (the Shortyz), beating out 500 other companies, including industry giants such as Marriott Homes & Villas (source). We’ve also secured our place as the exclusive, last-minute distribution partner to Vacasa and Turnkey, two of the biggest property management companies in North America. In addition, we were chosen this year as one of only 50 companies to participate in the Newchip accelerator program, presenting the potential for an investment of up to $250,000.
Why Invest
Paving the way for the next generation of travel
We’re currently in development on innovative and engaging technology geared toward the next generation traveler.
So far in 2022, we've released two new proprietary tools on both our web and app platforms: TripChat and Split It.
TripChat allows travelers to chat with friends and family directly from the Whimstay app or website. This feature offers users the ability to share properties, react to messages, and collaborate on planning a group trip without ever having to leave the Whimstay platform.
Whimstay's Split It feature allows travelers to split the total payment for their trip between multiple individuals. During the checkout process, users can invite fellow travelers to split payment for their trip between multiple individuals. During the checkout process, users can invite fellow travelers to split payment. Then each invitee receives a request to pay their share in order to confirm the reservation.
We also plan to be rolling out our Rent by Owner (RBO) listing portal by Summer 2022, as well as some additional new features due to be released during Q3 and Q4.
*This testimonial may not be representative of the experience of other customers and is not a guarantee of future performance or success.
At Whimstay, we believe that spontaneity should be celebrated, and the best memories are often unplanned, which is why we’re passionate about making unforgettable travel experiences more accessible to all. Our platform is designed with a diverse range of customers in mind— especially those without the luxury of planning trips far in advance or spending a small fortune on a three-day getaway. Even through a pandemic, our talented team has shown up every day dedicated to making Whimstay a breakout success—and we’d love to have you on board for the trip of a lifetime.
ABOUT
HEADQUARTERS
425 El Pintado Rd.
Danville, CA 94526
WEBSITE
View Site
Whimstay is a new vacation rental platform that offers travelers incredible last-minute deals on professionally managed properties. By negotiating a discount on unsold inventory Whimstay provides the best value to last-minute travelers while increasing occupancy and driving additional revenue for property management companies and property owners.
TEAM
Ben Jamshahi
Director & CEO
Alex Alioto
Head of Growth and Partnerships
From Yelp Alex started consulting startups as they scaled their sales efforts (including SwoopMe and Hitch-ride) In 2018, Alex received a call and was offered his dream role - to help build a unicorn travel marketplace with a brilliant founding team. As Head of Sales for Whimstay Alex has on-boarded over 580 PMC's with over 100,000 properties including V-Trips, TurnKey and Vacasa - the biggest Property Management Company in the U.S.
Kamesh Jasani
Chief Technology Officer
Jennifer Hardy
Head of Account Management
Noël Russell
Marketing Director
Jetal Patel
Business Operations Manager
Pamela Graves-Longley
Director, North American Sales
Prior to the hospitality industry, Pamela spent time developing marketing strategies for global clients of a large Los Angeles advertising agency start-up, directing sales, communications and marketing for multiple professional sports teams and entertainment venues, and acted as the Director of Sports Marketing for UNLV, where she received her master's degree in Marketing.
Keith Chreston
Vice President Finance - Part Time
Keith works for Whimstay on a part-time basis and contributes 16 hours per week.
Ken Ma
Advisor
Annie Holcombe
Advisor
Girish Bablani
Advisor
Eddie Borrero
Advisor
With more than 20 years of information security management experience, Borrero has extensive expertise in aligning cross-functional security strategies that protect organizations’ technology environments and business processes. Previously, Borrero served as Chief Information Security Officer at Robert Half International, Inc., a global human resource consulting firm, where he was instrumental in developing and implementing a security strategy to support business growth and accelerating a secure shift to a digital business model. Prior to that role, Borrero headed up the Office of the Chief Information Security Officer at Amgen.
Borrero is a core leader in Blue Shield’s corporate executive Diversity Council as well as the internal Hispanic and Veterans Groups. In his community, Borrero is committed to being a role model by supporting Hispanics and veterans in pursuing careers in technology. He also volunteers with organizations that support homeless people and survivors of domestic violence.
Borrero holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California. He is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program in Leadership. Borrero is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
David F. Bradshaw
Advisor
TERMS
Whimstay
Overview
PRICE PER SHARE
$1.38
DEADLINE
Oct 26, 2022
VALUATION
$33.88M
FUNDING GOAL
$10k - $5M
Breakdown
MIN INVESTMENT
$249.78
MAX INVESTMENT
$106,999.68
MIN NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERED
7,246
MAX NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERED
3,623,188
OFFERING TYPE
Equity
ASSET TYPE
Common Stock
SHARES OFFERED
Class A Common Stock
Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares
*Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares. See Bonus info below.
Voting Rights of Securities Sold in this Offering
Voting Proxy. Each Subscriber shall appoint the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “CEO”), or his or her successor, as the Subscriber’s true and lawful proxy and attorney, with the power to act alone and with full power of substitution, to, consistent with this instrument and on behalf of the Subscriber, (i) vote all Securities, (ii) give and receive notices and communications, (iii) execute any instrument or document that the CEO determines is necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its authority under this instrument, and (iv) take all actions necessary or appropriate in the judgment of the CEO for the accomplishment of the foregoing. The proxy and power granted by the Subscriber pursuant to this Section are coupled with an interest. Such proxy and power will be irrevocable. The proxy and power, so long as the Subscriber is an individual, will survive the death, incompetency and disability of the Subscriber and, so long as the Subscriber is an entity, will survive the merger or reorganization of the Subscriber or any other entity holding the Securities. However, the Proxy will terminate upon the closing of a firm-commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 covering the offer and sale of Common Stock or the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 covering the Common Stock.
Investment Incentives and Bonuses*
Time-Based:
Friends and Family Early Birds
Invest within the first 48 hours and receive additional 20% bonus shares.
Super Early Bird Bonus
Invest within the first week and receive additional 15% bonus shares.
Early Bird Bonus
Invest within the first two weeks and receive an additional 10% bonus shares.
Amount-Based:
$500+ | Tier 1
$100 Travel Credit.
$1,000+ | Tier 2
$150 Travel Credit + 2% bonus shares.
$2,500+ | Tier 3
$300 Travel Credit + 3% bonus shares.
$5,000+ | Tier 4
$400 Travel Credit + 5% bonus shares.
$10,000+ | Tier 5
$500 Travel Credit + 10% bonus shares.
*All perks occur when the offering is completed.
The 10% StartEngine Owners' Bonus
Whimstay, Inc. will offer 10% additional bonus shares for all investments that are committed by investors that are eligible for the StartEngine Crowdfunding Inc. OWNer's bonus.
This means eligible StartEngine shareholders will receive a 10% bonus for any shares they purchase in this offering. For example, if you buy 100 shares of Class A Common Stock at $1.38/share, you will receive 110 shares of Class A Common Stock, meaning you'll own 110 shares for $138. Fractional shares will not be distributed and share bonuses will be determined by rounding down to the nearest whole share.
This 10% Bonus is only valid during the investors eligibility period. Investors eligible for this bonus will also have priority if they are on a waitlist to invest and the company surpasses its maximum funding goal. They will have the first opportunity to invest should room in the offering become available if prior investments are cancelled or fail.
Investors will only receive a single bonus, which will be the highest bonus rate they are eligible for.
Irregular Use of Proceeds
We will not incur any irregular use of proceeds.
ALL UPDATES
10.28.22
Thank you to our supporters!
From our team to you, we want to thank you for investing in Whimstay.
We couldn’t be prouder of the goals we’ve achieved so far and are grateful for your support in our ongoing success.
We will continue to keep you updated on new happenings and developments over the coming year—We have our sights set high and we’re honored to bring you along on our journey.
If you ever have any questions, feel free to reach out to: investor@whimstay.com
Thank you again for investing in our company.
Gratefully,
the Whimstay team
10.25.22
Whimstay campaign ends TODAY!
Today is the final day of our campaign!
It’s not too late to join nearly 1,000 investors who want to see Whimstay succeed!
We are very grateful for those who have supported our growth so far. The future is bright for Whimstay and we’re excited to bring you along on our journey.
And don’t forget: those who invest in Whimstay will receive these wanderlust-worthy rewards:
- Investments of $500+ receive a $100 Travel Credit.
- Investments of $1,000+ receive a $150 Travel Credit + 2% bonus shares.
- Investments of $2,500+ receive a $300 Travel Credit + 3% bonus shares.
- Investments of $5,000+ receive a $400 Travel Credit + 5% bonus shares.
- Investments of $10,000+ receive a $500 Travel Credit + 10% bonus shares.
10.24.22
Whimstay campaign closes TOMORROW!
Only ONE DAY left to invest in Whimstay!
Our campaign closes tomorrow. You still have a chance to join the 925+ investors who want to see Whimstay succeed!
There’s no time to wait - Invest today!
And don’t forget: those who invest in Whimstay will receive these wanderlust-worthy rewards:
- Investments of $500+ receive a $100 Travel Credit.
- Investments of $1,000+ receive a $150 Travel Credit + 2% bonus shares.
- Investments of $2,500+ receive a $300 Travel Credit + 3% bonus shares.
- Investments of $5,000+ receive a $400 Travel Credit + 5% bonus shares.
- Investments of $10,000+ receive a $500 Travel Credit + 10% bonus shares.
10.21.22
Only 4 days left to invest!
Only 4 days until Whimstay’s StartEngine crowdfunding campaign will close!
Join us on our journey to disrupt an $87 billion industry and support our efforts as we work to build the largest last-minute vacation rental platform in the market!
It’s not too late - Invest today!
And don’t forget: those who invest in Whimstay will receive these wanderlust-worthy rewards:
- Investments of $500+ receive a $100 Travel Credit.
- Investments of $1,000+ receive a $150 Travel Credit + 2% bonus shares.
- Investments of $2,500+ receive a $300 Travel Credit + 3% bonus shares.
- Investments of $5,000+ receive a $400 Travel Credit + 5% bonus shares.
- Investments of $10,000+ receive a $500 Travel Credit + 10% bonus shares.
10.20.22
Just 5 days left to invest in Whimstay!
Join the 860+ investors who are excited to see Whimstay succeed!
There only 5 days left in our fundraising campaign. Invest today and support our efforts to disrupt an $87 billion industry and build the largest last-minute vacation rental platform in the market!
And don’t forget: those who invest in Whimstay will receive these wanderlust-worthy rewards:
- Investments of $500+ receive a $100 Travel Credit.
- Investments of $1,000+ receive a $150 Travel Credit + 2% bonus shares.
- Investments of $2,500+ receive a $300 Travel Credit + 3% bonus shares.
- Investments of $5,000+ receive a $400 Travel Credit + 5% bonus shares.
- Investments of $10,000+ receive a $500 Travel Credit + 10% bonus shares.
10.18.22
7 days left to invest in Whimstay!
In just 7 days, Whimstay’s StartEngine crowdfunding campaign will close!
Join the 850+ investors who are excited to see Whimstay disrupt an $87 billion industry. We’re growing fast and are grateful for all the support we’ve received as we work to build the largest last-minute vacation rental platform in the market!
And don’t forget: those who invest in Whimstay will receive these wanderlust-worthy rewards:
- Investments of $500+ receive a $100 Travel Credit.
- Investments of $1,000+ receive a $150 Travel Credit + 2% bonus shares.
- Investments of $2,500+ receive a $300 Travel Credit + 3% bonus shares.
- Investments of $5,000+ receive a $400 Travel Credit + 5% bonus shares.
- Investments of $10,000+ receive a $500 Travel Credit + 10% bonus shares.
10.17.22
New partnership in prime destination!
Whimstay customers can now 'Seize the Stay' in the Twin Cities!
Whether travelers are looking to soak up the sights of Fall at a cozy lakeside cabin or plan a family holiday gathering at an elegant Georgian Mansion – our newest partner Minnestay offers an abundance of premium St. Paul and Minneapolis vacation rentals to choose from!
And now, Whimstay offers exclusive access to last-minute discounts on Minnestay’s luxuriant and comfortable properties that look and feel like a home away from home.
Our team is onboarding new partners every day and our travelers continue to be delighted in seeing new listings loaded onto our platform! Stay tuned for more partnership news as we strive to build the largest last-minute vacation rental platform in the industry!
It’s not too late - Invest today!
And don’t forget: those who invest in Whimstay will receive these wanderlust-worthy rewards:
- Investments of $500+ receive a $100 Travel Credit.
- Investments of $1,000+ receive a $150 Travel Credit + 2% bonus shares.
- Investments of $2,500+ receive a $300 Travel Credit + 3% bonus shares.
- Investments of $5,000+ receive a $400 Travel Credit + 5% bonus shares.
- Investments of $10,000+ receive a $500 Travel Credit + 10% bonus shares.
10.12.22
In case you missed it—Here’s a recording of yesterday’s webinar!
Yesterday, Whimstay founder and CEO Ben Jamshahi hosted a live webinar highlighting insights and updates regarding the company’s recent growth and answered pre-submitted audience questions.
Check out this recording of his presentation to see what you might have missed!
To watch our journey and keep updated on our accomplishments, follow our page.
To help us grow, Invest Today!
10.11.22
14 days left to invest in Whimstay!
Join the 800+ investors who are excited to see Whimstay succeed!
There are 14 days left in our fundraising campaign. Invest today and support our efforts to build the largest last-minute vacation rental platform in the market!
And don’t forget: those who invest in Whimstay will receive these wanderlust-worthy rewards:
- Investments of $500+ receive a $100 Travel Credit.
- Investments of $1,000+ receive a $150 Travel Credit + 2% bonus shares.
- Investments of $2,500+ receive a $300 Travel Credit + 3% bonus shares.
- Investments of $5,000+ receive a $400 Travel Credit + 5% bonus shares.
- Investments of $10,000+ receive a $500 Travel Credit + 10% bonus shares.
10.10.22
TOMORROW: Webinar hosted by Whimstay Founder and CEO, Ben Jamshahi!
Tomorrow, you’re invited to a webinar hosted by Whimstay Founder and CEO, Ben Jamshahi!
Tune in on Tuesday, October 11 at 12pm PT as Ben shares informative insights and updates about Whimstay - the leading last-minute vacation rental marketplace.
During this 30-minute webinar Ben will highlight what makes Whimstay's value proposition unique, talk about recent developments and trends, and answer pre-submitted audience questions.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
It's not too late to join us in building the largest last-minute vacation rental platform in the industry!
REWARDS
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
0/2500
PINNED BY STARTUP
Marc Russell
103 INVESTMENTS
a year ago
I believe this is going to be a great service, already you are making strong waves in the near term rentals.
I have mentioned Whimstay with the upper management of ReAlpha, they are looking to purchase and do fractional ownership in many AIRBNB rentals that they will own. I think it would benefit both parties to have early discussions with them as they are rolling out their expansion soon.
I love seeing the updates and watching Whimstay grow. Keep up the good work.
1
1
Alessandro Spada
1 INVESTMENTS
a month ago
Hi, I'm a current investor in your company. Haven't seen an email or update from the company. Could you send emails to update us as other startups do.
1
1
Grigore Hreniuc
13 INVESTMENTS
2 months ago
I invested on 09/2022. I can't see the Agreement on my portfolio
1
0
Jonathan Bailey
1 INVESTMENTS
4 months ago
Hi, how do I claim my $500 travel credit from my investment? Thanks!
1
0
Dave Chapple
7 months ago
I was going to invest but when I tried the online app I see the prices that pop up on the map are not the prices you get when you click through. They are way different. This is a UI misnomer. I would like an explanation before investing.
0
0
Akbar Jaffer
7 months ago
Hi, I am considering investing. Did I miss revenue details? Specifically how much $ change hands through your system and what was Whimstay's revenue? Projections?
Thanks
0
0
Ajith Potluri
7 months ago
Hello Ben
I am early investor, past year watching the raise closely, its coming to an end, you guys made so much progress over the past year. Once this raise closes your valuations are going to go way north of current valuations. Who ever gets in now in the next 3 days are lucky to be part of this CF. She are you planning for Reg A+. All the best.
1
0
Simpson Brown
6 INVESTMENTS
7 months ago
Is there an exit strategy??
1
0
Raj Madhavan
6 INVESTMENTS
8 months ago
Ben, I was not able to log into Event Brite to join your webinar today. It just kept refreshing. I was looking forward to it. Can you send me a link to a place where I can view it? Thanks Raj Madhavan
2
0
HOW INVESTING WORKS
Cancel anytime before 48 hours before a rolling close or the offering end date.
WHY STARTENGINE?
REWARDS
We want you to succeed and get the most out of your money by offering rewards and memberships!
SECURE
Your info is your info. We take pride in keeping it that way!
DIVERSE INVESTMENTS
Invest in over 200 start-ups and collectibles!
With Regulation A+, a non-accredited investor can only invest a maximum of 10% of their annual income or 10% of their net worth per year, whichever is greater. There are no restrictions for accredited investors.
With Regulation Crowdfunding, non-accredited investors with an annual income or net worth less than $124,000, are limited to invest a maximum of 5% of the greater of those two amounts. For those with an annual income and net worth greater than $124,000, he/she is limited to investing 10% of the greater of the two amounts.
At the close of an offering, all investors whose funds have “cleared” by this time will be included in the disbursement. At this time, each investor will receive an email from StartEngine with their Countersigned Subscription Agreement, which will serve as their proof of purchase moving forward.
Please keep in mind that a company can conduct a series of “closes” or withdrawals of funds throughout the duration of the campaign. If you are included in that withdrawal period, you will be emailed your countersigned subscription agreement and proof of purchase immediately following that withdrawal.
StartEngine assists companies in raising capital, and once the offering is closed, we are no longer involved with whether the company chooses to list shares on a secondary market, or what occurs thereafter. Therefore, StartEngine has no control or insight into your investment after the close of the live offering. In addition, we are not permitted to provide financial advice. You may want to contact a financial professional to discuss possible investment outcomes.
For Regulation Crowdfunding, investors are able to cancel their investment at any point throughout the campaign up until 48 hours before the closing of the offering. Note: If the company does a rolling close, they will post an update to their current investors, giving them the opportunity to cancel during this timeframe. If you do not cancel within this 5-day timeframe, your funds will be invested in the company, and you will no longer be able to cancel the investment. If your funds show as ‘Invested’ on your account dashboard, your investment can no longer be canceled.
For Regulation A+, StartEngine allows for a four-hour cancelation period. Once the four-hour window has passed, it is up to each company to set their own cancelation policy. You may find the company’s cancelation policy in the company’s offering circular.
Once your investment is canceled, there is a 10-day clearing period (from the date your investment was submitted). After your funds have cleared the bank, you will receive your refund within 10 business days.
Refunds that are made through ACH payments can take up to 10 business days to clear. Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the bank, but we will do everything we can to get you your refund as soon as possible. However, every investment needs to go through the clearing process in order to get sent back to the account associated with the investment.
Both Title III (Regulation Crowdfunding) and Title IV (Reg A+) help entrepreneurs crowdfund capital investments from unaccredited and accredited investors. The differences between these regulations are related to the investor limitations, the differing amounts of money companies are permitted to raise, and differing disclosure and filing requirements. To learn more about Regulation Crowdfunding, click here, and for Regulation A+, click here.
PINNED BY STARTUP
Shahnaz Jamshahi
2 INVESTMENTS
a year ago
1
2