VaycayHero

VaycayHero, initially founded as Zaranga in 2011 by Anirban Bardalaye and Amitav Chakravartty, operated as an online marketplace specializing in professionally managed vacation rentals. The San Francisco-based company aimed to address inconsistencies in the vacation rental market by ensuring all its listings were verified, with automatically updated calendars and pricing to prevent unexpected issues for travelers. The platform served guests seeking hassle-free booking experiences and property managers who could integrate their back-end systems for seamless rental management and dynamic pricing.

The founders, both Y Combinator alumni from the Winter 2013 batch, embarked on this venture to bring a new level of reliability to the sector. Bardalaye, who served as CEO, and Chakravartty, the CTO, initially launched Zaranga with a "Make an Offer" feature to introduce dynamic pricing, a concept common in the broader travel industry but not yet prevalent in vacation rentals. However, the market wasn't ready for such a model, leading to a rebranding to VaycayHero in 2013. The new focus was a more straightforward online travel agency model for instantly bookable, professionally managed properties. Revenue was generated by collecting fees from the traveler rather than the property supplier.

VaycayHero's key value proposition was its curated inventory of high-quality, predictable properties. By working exclusively with professional managers, the company guaranteed cleanliness, safety standards, and accurate information, distinguishing itself from peer-to-peer marketplaces. The service also included a booking concierge to assist travelers. The company raised a total of approximately $2.9 million over several funding rounds from investors including Structure Capital, MicroVentures, FundersClub, and angel investor Alexis Ohanian. Despite its efforts and having served over 15,000 guests by late 2014, VaycayHero suspended its operations in early 2017. The company was ultimately acquired by RedAwning on March 3, 2017.

Keywords: VaycayHero, Zaranga, vacation rental marketplace, professionally managed rentals, online travel agency, Anirban Bardalaye, Amitav Chakravartty, Y Combinator, dynamic pricing, instant booking, RedAwning acquisition, property management software integration, vacation home booking, travel technology, curated rental inventory, concierge service, Structure Capital, MicroVentures, Alexis Ohanian