STARTUP STAGE: Sleap.io is a blockchain-based hotel booking platform

Sleap.io

Sleap.io uses the capabilities of web3 and blockchain to reimagine the hotel booking process to offer travelers a seamless, secure and personalized platform.

Founded in 2023, Sleap.io has more than 350,000 hotels on its platform and accepts payment in more than 200 cryptocurrencies. 

What is your 30-second pitch to investors?

Welcome to Sleap.io, the pioneering web3 hotel booking platform that’s
transforming the travel industry. Based in Zug, Switzerland, and led by CEO
Michael Ros, we offer an exclusive gateway to over 350,000 hotels worldwide.
Our platform stands out by accepting over 200 cryptocurrencies, making us a
leader in digital currency adoption. With Sleap.io, we’re not just offering a
booking service; we’re providing a seamless, secure and personalized travel
experience. Our blockchain technology ensures transparent transactions,
enhanced security and tailored offers right to your digital doorstep. Join us
in revolutionizing the way the world books hotels, where convenience meets
innovation.

Describe both the business and technology aspects of
your startup.

• Business aspects – Sleap.io is strategically focused on web3 users and
  the new generation of travelers, particularly Gen Z. This demographic is
  tech-savvy, values digital experiences and is likely to be more receptive to
  innovations like cryptocurrency payments. The platform offers closed user group
  rates. These are special, personalized offers that are not available to the
  general public, providing a competitive edge in pricing and exclusivity.

  Sleap.io operates on a model of using net rates with a very small markup. This
  lean pricing strategy can make the platform highly attractive to cost-conscious
  travelers looking for value in their bookings. As of now, Sleap.io boasts a
  portfolio of 350,000 bookable hotels, with plans to expand to around 500,000 by
  the end of February. This growth trajectory highlights the platform’s
  scalability and ambition in the hospitality sector. Offering the option to pay with both credit cards
  and cryptocurrencies caters to a broader range of customer preferences, making
  the platform accessible to traditional and modern travelers alike.

• Technology Aspects – Sleap.io is built on the Camino blockchain. This choice
  underlines a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology for enhanced
  security, transparency and efficiency in transactions. The platform’s support
  for over 200 cryptocurrencies showcases its deep integration with the digital
  currency world, appealing to a crypto-savvy user base and positioning itself at
  the forefront of technological adoption in travel.

  Sleap.io’s technology enables hotels and hotel
  partners to respond directly to booking requests. This direct interaction
  potentially speeds up the booking process and ensures more accurate and timely
  communication.

  Emphasizing web3 technologies, Sleap.io is
  positioned to offer more than just hotel bookings. The use of web3 potentially
  opens avenues for decentralized applications (dApps), smart contracts for
  bookings and payments and enhanced user data security and privacy

Give us your SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the company.

• Strength: Innovative payment system: Sleap.io’s integration of blockchain
  technology for secure transactions and support for over 200 cryptocurrencies is
  a significant strength, setting it apart in the travel and hospitality
  industry.
• Weakness: Market niche focus: Focusing primarily on web3
  users and cryptocurrency enthusiasts might limit Sleap.io’s appeal to a broader
  audience who are less familiar with these technologies.
• Opportunity: Emerging market potential: The
  increasing global interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology
  presents a significant growth opportunity, especially among younger, tech-savvy
  travelers.
• Threat: Regulatory challenges: The evolving and
  often uncertain regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies and
  blockchain technology poses a potential threat, impacting operational stability
  and expansion plans.

What are the travel pain points you are trying to
alleviate from both the customer and the industry perspective

• Customer perspective
  • Payment flexibility and security: Customers often face limitations in payment
    options and security concerns when booking hotels. Sleap.io’s use of blockchain
    technology not only allows for secure transactions but also offers the
    flexibility of paying with various cryptocurrencies, catering to a market
    segment that prefers or exclusively uses digital currencies.
  • Pricing transparency and affordability: Travelers
    frequently encounter opaque pricing structures with hidden fees. By utilizing
    net rates with minimal markup and offering Closed User Group (web3) rates,
    Sleap.io provides more transparent and competitive pricing.
  • Ease of use and accessibility: The complexity and
    sometimes overwhelming nature of traditional booking platforms can deter users.
    Sleap.io, with its focus on a user-friendly interface and streamlined booking
    process, seeks to make hotel booking more accessible and less time-consuming.
  • Personalization: Modern travelers, especially Gen Z,
    demand personalized experiences. Sleap.io’s approach to offering tailored deals
    and accommodations caters to this desire for a unique and customized travel
    experience.
• Industry perspective
  • Market expansion and diversification: The hotel
    industry often struggles to tap into new customer segments. By embracing
    blockchain and cryptocurrencies, Sleap.io opens doors to a growing demographic
    of tech-savvy and crypto-oriented travelers, helping hotels reach a wider, more
    diverse audience.
  • Reduced dependency on traditional payment systems:
    The reliance on traditional banking systems and credit card networks can be
    limiting and costly for hotels. Sleap.io’s cryptocurrency payment options can
    reduce these dependencies, potentially lowering transaction fees and speeding
    up the payment process.
  • Adaptation to technological advances: The travel
    industry is under constant pressure to keep up with technological advancements.
    By integrating blockchain technology, Sleap.io positions itself and its partner
    hotels at the forefront of innovation, ready to adapt to future technological
    shifts in the industry.

So you’ve got the product, now how will you get lots
of customers?

Sleap.io plans to attract customers through targeted
digital marketing campaigns, focusing on platforms frequented by tech-savvy and
web3 enthusiasts. We’ll leverage social media, crypto forums, and online web3
communities to spread awareness. Partnerships with key influencers and
businesses in the web3 ecosystems and travel sectors are already playing a
vital role in expanding our reach. Additionally, we will attend tech and travel
industry events to network and show our platform.

Tell us what process you’ve gone through to
establish a genuine need for your company and the size of the addressable
market.

We conducted extensive market research to understand
the needs of modern travelers and the limitations of current booking platforms.
Surveys and focus groups with web3 users and cryptocurrency enthusiasts helped
identify their pain points in travel booking. Our analysis indicates a growing
demand for blockchain-based services among younger travelers, especially Gen Z,
and we estimate a substantial addressable market in this demographic.

How and when will you make money?

At Sleap.io, our primary revenue stream is
meticulously crafted through a modest markup on net rates from hotel bookings.
This strategy is at the heart of our commitment to offering competitive
pricing, ensuring that our customers receive exceptional value while we
maintain a sustainable model for revenue growth. Looking ahead, we are not just
confined to conventional revenue avenues. We are excited to announce the launch
of an exclusive NFT collection, representing a novel and innovative approach to
revenue generation in the travel industry. Moreover, the future introduction of
our own cryptocurrency token promises to open new dimensions of revenue
possibilities. These forward-thinking initiatives are designed not just to
enhance our financial robustness but also to deepen our integration with the
blockchain ecosystem, underscoring our dedication to being a trailblazer in the
fusion of technology and travel.

What are the backgrounds and previous achievements
of the founding team?

Our founding team comprises individuals with diverse
backgrounds in technology, web3, hotels and marketing. Michael
Ros, our CEO, has extensive experience in the travel industry and has
successfully led multiple startups. Other team members include experts in
blockchain technology, digital marketing, and business development, each
bringing valuable insights and achievements from their respective fields.

How have you addressed diversity and inclusion
within your business?

At Sleap.io, we are committed to fostering a diverse
and inclusive environment. We have implemented hiring practices that encourage
applications from diverse backgrounds. Our team represents a mix of genders,
ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. Our team comprises individuals from
various countries, including the Netherlands, the United States, Poland, South
Africa and others.

What’s been the most difficult part of founding the
business so far?

Due to the recent fraudulent activities, convincing web2
businesses about the benefits of web3 has become increasingly challenging. The
key lies in not just talking about the potential of web3, but actively
demonstrating its capabilities and ensuring robust security measures, which is
what we’re doing with Sleap.io. This approach requires balancing innovation
with a strong commitment to transparency and trust-building, especially in an
environment where skepticism towards new technologies is heightened.

Generally, travel startups face a fairly tough time
making an impact – so why are you going to be one of the lucky ones?

Sleap.io’s unique proposition of integrating
blockchain technology for secure, transparent and flexible hotel bookings sets
us apart. Our focus on a specific, emerging market segment – web3 and
cryptocurrency users – positions us to capture a niche yet growing customer
base. This focus, combined with our innovative technology and strategic
marketing, positions us to make a significant impact in the travel industry.

A year from now, what state do you think your
startup will be in?

In a year, we anticipate substantial growth in our
customer base and hotel partnerships. We aim to have expanded our hotel
portfolio to over 500,000 properties worldwide. We plan to enhance our platform
with personalized booking experiences and advanced blockchain functionalities
to improve the customer journey and retention.

What is your end-game? (Going public, acquisition,
growing and staying private, etc.)

Our end-game is to establish Sleap.io as a leading
force in the travel industry, particularly in the web3 space. We are not just
looking at traditional growth avenues; we’re also considering innovative
methods such as launching an Initial Coin Offering (ICO). This ICO could play a
pivotal role in fully decentralizing our operations, aligning with the ethos of
blockchain technology and providing a unique investment opportunity to our
supporters. While we remain open to future opportunities such as acquisitions,
our primary focus is on immediate growth and continuous innovation. We are
dedicated to leading the integration of blockchain technology in travel,
ensuring that Sleap.io stays at the forefront of this evolving industry.