Triumph and Tragedy: Guesty's $130M Funding Round Amidst Terror Loss

Founded in 2013 by twin brothers Amiad and Koby Soto, Tel Aviv-based Guesty celebrates a major milestone with the successful securing of $130 million in its latest funding round. The investment, led by global investment powerhouse KKR and supported by Inovia Capital, propels Guesty into a new phase of growth and innovation.

Guesty is a property management platform that provides software solutions for property managers, hosts, and hospitality operators to manage short-term rental properties. It offers features such as channel management, reservation management, guest communication tools, automation, and analytics. Guesty's platform aims to streamline the rental management process and enhance the overall guest experience.

Guesty's journey has been characterized by collaboration and feedback from its community, culminating in the development of tailored tools for hosts, property managers, and hospitality operators.

The current round valuation is estimated at $900 million—a significant surge from its $170 million Series E in August 2022—Guesty solidifies its position as a key player in the industry. The company's Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is currently estimated at $100 million, with transactions worth $4 billion facilitated through its platform.

"We are immensely grateful to our new strategic investors, KKR and Inovia Capital, for sharing our vision and to our existing investors, Apax Funds, BDT & MSD Partners, and Sixth Street, for their continued faith in our journey. Their partnership is invaluable as we forge ahead, shaping the future of the hospitality ecosystem together," says Amiad Soto, founder of Guesty.

The short-term rental industry, valued at $277 billion, has witnessed a notable preference shift towards short-term rentals over traditional hotels since 2022. This trend underscores the burgeoning complexity and opportunity within property management, a challenge that Guesty is uniquely equipped to tackle with its comprehensive management solutions.

Armed with this fresh infusion of capital, Guesty is poised to accelerate its global expansion through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. The company aims to broaden its offerings to encompass medium-term rentals, corporate housing, and fully-serviced stays, operating seamlessly in over 80 countries.

Guesty's expansion strategy focuses on key regions such as the US, Europe, and Australia. The company plans to strengthen its presence in traditional European vacation destinations while enhancing its offerings in the US market. Furthermore, Guesty aims to tailor developments to cater to the specific needs of Australian customers.

With Jonah Mandel joining as VP of Sales to lead expansion efforts in the US, Guesty is committed to delivering innovative features and services to customers. Following this, the company will extend its efforts to Europe and reinforce its presence in Australia.

In a somber turn of events, the Guesty team mourns the loss of one of its cherished members, Lidor Levy. Lidor, a talented developer, tragically fell victim to the terrorist attack in Gan Yavne, Israel, on Sunday night. Despite valiant efforts to fight for his life, Lidor succumbed to his wounds. He is survived by his wife, his 6-month-old daughter, his parents, and his two siblings.