In the world of investments, some deals are so scorching hot that they demand our attention, even if they sit at the edge of our usual focus. Deal #9 from BADideas.fund is exactly this case. RoomPriceGenie, a rising star in hotel tech, has pushed the envelope, combining an innovative business model, impressive sales numbers, and an exceptional founding team to create a solution that promises to revolutionize the industry, and they appeared on our radar after one of the smartest VCs - Flashpoint VC - introduced us to the founders through our founding member Artis Kehris.

Our member Daniel Marhel, ex-CPO & CMO at Printify and the driving force behind Cherry's ecommerce sales growth from $5M to $28M, had this to say about RoomPriceGenie:

RoomPriceGenie takes on a persistent problem for small to medium-sized hotels - price setting and management. Research shows that price is a key factor in decision making for 85% of travelers. However, only 5% of accommodation providers (mainly large and chain hotels) currently use automated pricing software. RoomPriceGenie has built a solution for the other 95% of properties that do not use any solution for automating pricing, serving as a lifejacket in a sea of manual processes.

RoomPriceGenie's automated pricing software lets hotel owners set up and then step back, letting the system do the heavy lifting. It simplifies price management and frees up valuable time for hotel owners to focus on improving guest experiences and other core aspects of their business. RoomPriceGenie's software provides the needed pricing expertise in an easy-to-use package, accessible for even those with no previous experience in price management systems.

Steered by an exceptional trio of co-founders - Ari Andricopoulos (CEO), Marvin Speh (COO), and Jörg Siegel (CTO) - RoomPriceGenie's fully remote team has not only navigated but also thrived in the unpredictable waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, doubling their business even during these challenging times. Their methodical approach and clear vision are reflected in the company's impressive business metrics. The team's combined expertise and dedication are driving RoomPriceGenie towards exciting new frontiers in the hotel industry.

With 1.15M properties estimated without automated pricing, the market is ripe for RoomPriceGenie's solution, and the company's founder foresees a majority of the market adopting automated pricing solutions within the next 5 years. RoomPriceGenie is poised to capture a substantial portion of this market with its customer-centric and easy-to-use solution.

Yes, you read that right - we invested in a team that fall outside our primary focus on early-stage CEE startups, because we believe it's crucial to occassionally expose ourselves to the global maximum. RoomPriceGenie, we believe, fits the bill perfectly.

We are thrilled to back RoomPriceGenie thanks to the value the team brings to the hotel industry and our portfolio, and the chance to participate in a top globally ambitious startup journey.

So, fellow startup founders, take a note of that this is the kind of investment we look out for - high potential, exceptional team, and a commitment to solving real-world problems, even if it means bending the rules (a tiny little bit).

We are looking for the most promising startups in the CEE region. If you're a founder and see a fit with BADideas.fund, hit apply.

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BADideas.fund is an early stage angel community, providing €50K-€200K funding for CEE startups, led by 150+ helpful founders & operators, who have scaled companies that have collectively attracted €13B+ in funding.