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Abandoned a high-paying $28 million position in the US to establish Homeyhuts, India's initial offering of a zero-fee homestay service platform

Homeyhuts, a startup, commenced operations in 2024 with an initial pilot in Uttarakhand. Shortly afterward, it introduced "Managed by Homeyhuts," a strategic service under which the company assumed responsibility for all aspects, such as listings, guest correspondence, and booking organization.

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Abandoned a lucrative $28 million position in the U.S. to establish Homeyhuts, India's inaugural...
Abandoned a lucrative $28 million position in the U.S. to establish Homeyhuts, India's inaugural no-fee homestay service platform.

Abandoned a high-paying $28 million position in the US to establish Homeyhuts, India's initial offering of a zero-fee homestay service platform

Homeyhuts, a Hyderabad-based startup founded by Yash Kumar in 2017, has been making waves in the Indian homestay market. Kumar, a software engineer from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, saw a need to simplify homestay hosting in India, particularly for middle-aged, family-run, and less tech-savvy hosts who struggled with online visibility, high commissions, and complex online ecosystems.

Homeyhuts offers a zero-commission subscription model, an all-in-one App, and AI-powered tools to help hosts manage their properties more efficiently. The startup's subscription plan starts at Rs 490 per property per month and includes a channel manager, while an alternative pay-per-booking model charges 8-10% commission.

One of the unique features of Homeyhuts is its strict verification process for travelers. Before allowing them to communicate with hosts directly via WhatsApp, travelers must undergo ID checks. This measure is designed to reassure hosts and provide a safe and reliable environment for all parties involved.

Homeyhuts supports multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, making it accessible to a wide range of hosts and travelers. The platform also offers platform support and payout communication in multiple Indian languages.

The startup has onboarded over 2,000 properties across 16 states in India and has a Facebook group of 169,000+ property owners. Homeyhuts' channel manager syncs availability across more than eight OTAs and includes a "Magic Cluster" tool to auto-sync multiple listings of the same property, ensuring that hosts can manage their properties effectively.

Homeyhuts aims to provide easy, affordable tools to homestay owners and reliable, verified, and human-centered stays to travelers. The Indian homestay OTA market was valued at Rs 24,100 crore ($2.9 billion) in 2024 and is projected to reach Rs 85,420 crore ($10 billion) by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 13.5%. With its focus on simplicity, affordability, and reliability, Homeyhuts is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth.

In addition to its success in India, Homeyhuts aims to take its AI-powered tools abroad under the separate brand, Letloom, starting with Southeast Asia. The startup recorded Rs 22 lakh+ in revenue so far and plans to expand aggressively, targeting 10,000 properties by 2026 and 20,000+ by 2027-28.

Homeyhuts defines clear property standards to reassure guests, including clean and well-maintained rooms, functional amenities, and proper hygiene practices. The startup's concierge service, "Managed by Homeyhuts", handles everything from listings, guest communication, dynamic pricing, and booking management, making it easier than ever for hosts to manage their properties.

In summary, Homeyhuts is a game-changer in the Indian homestay market, offering a zero-commission subscription model, AI-powered tools, and a focus on simplicity, affordability, and reliability. With its expansion plans and focus on Southeast Asia, Homeyhuts is poised to make a significant impact in the global homestay market.

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