FamGuru

FamGuru

Early Stage

A better way for the Travel Industry to record and share insider travel knowledge

A better way for the Travel Industry to record and share insider travel knowledge

Overview

Raised to Date: Raised: $90,300

Total Commitments ($USD)

Platform

Wefunder

Start Date

11/15/2023

Close Date

04/15/2024

Min. Goal
$50,000
Max. Goal
$450,000
Min. Investment

$100

Security Type

SAFE

Series

Seed

SEC Filing Type

RegCF    Open SEC Filing

Valuation Cap

$5,000,000

Discount

20%

Rolling Commitments ($USD)

Status
Funded
Reporting Date

04/29/2024

Days Remaining
Funded
% of Min. Goal
Funded
% of Max. Goal
Funded
Likelihood of Max
Funded
Avg. Daily Raise

$598

# of Investors

22

Momentum
Funded
Create a free account today to gain access to KingsCrowd analytics.
Year Founded

2020

Industry

Travel and Hospitality

Tech Sector

MarketplaceTech

Distribution Model

B2B

Margin

Medium

Capital Intensity

Low

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Business Type

High Growth

FamGuru, with a valuation of $5 million, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company has developed a platform for the travel industry to record and share insider travel knowledge. FamGuru helps travel advisors and travel suppliers record and organize their travel knowledge and generate profit from this familiarisation. The platform was launched at Virtuoso Travel Week in 2023 and won third place in the American Society of Travel Advisors “Entrepreneur of the Year” competition. Carrie Wallace founded FamGuru in September 2020. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum target of $50,000 and a maximum target of $450,000. The campaign proceeds will be used for development, sales, marketing, and administrative expenses.

Summary Profit and Loss Statement

FY 2022 FY 2021

Revenue

$1,505

$0

COGS

$0

$0

Tax

$0

$0

 

 

Net Income

$-235,905

$-46,776

Summary Balance Sheet

FY 2022 FY 2021

Cash

$31,414

$2,291

Accounts Receivable

$0

$0

Total Assets

$31,414

$2,291

Short-Term Debt

$24,344

$9,316

Long-Term Debt

$250,000

$0

Total Liabilities

$274,344

$9,316

Financials as of: 11/15/2023
Create a free account today to gain access to KingsCrowd analytics.

Upgrade to gain access

Pay Monthly
Annually (Save 17%)

Edge

$25 /month
billed annually
Free portfolio tracking, data-driven ratings, AI analysis and reports
Plan Includes:
Everything in Free, plus
Company specific KingsCrowd ratings and analyst reports
Deal explorer and side-by-side comparison
Startup exit and failure tracking
Startup market filters and historical industry data
Advanced company search ( with ratings)
Get Edge Annual
Already a member? Log in here.

Ratings KingsCrowd Startup Rating Methodology Article

Blurred Ratings Bars Blurred Ratings Bars

Analyst Report

Synopsis

Travel advisors and suppliers possess a wealth of insider travel knowledge, from the best times to visit certain destinations to hidden gems off the beaten path. However, organizing and sharing this information can be challenging, often leading to missed opportunities for travel professionals and less-than-optimal experiences for travelers.

FamGuru seeks to address this issue by providing a platform for the travel industry to record and share insider travel knowledge. The platform allows travel advisors and suppliers to easily organize their knowledge and insights, making them readily accessible for planning and sales. This enhances the value of their services and enables them to generate additional revenue from their familiarization trips.

Since its launch at Virtuoso Travel Week in 2023, FamGuru has gained recognition in the travel industry, winning third place in the American Society of Travel Advisors' "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition. 

Next Section: Price

Price

FamGuru is raising funds on Wefunder at a valuation of $5 million. This valuation is based on the company's travel and hospitality industry potential. However, it is important to note that FamGuru is in the early stages of development and has not yet generated any revenue. The company only generates $1000 per month, which is negligible compared to its valuation. While the company's valuation is lower than many startups raising online, it is still slightly high since its product isn't defensible. However, the valuation is low enough that investors could see a return on their investment if the company succeeds.

 

Next Section: Market

Market

FamGuru operates within the global tour operator software market, valued at $611 million. With a compound annual growth rate of 11.1%, the market demonstrates a steady expansion in response to the increasing digitization of the travel industry.

The company aims to cater to a niche within this market, specifically targeting travel advisors and suppliers. FamGuru provides a platform for these professionals to record, organize, and share their travel knowledge, potentially increasing their revenue through enhanced familiarization (Fam) trips.

Nonetheless, it is important to note that the market potential for FamGuru is low, possibly due to the niche focus of the company's offerings. While the product may prove valuable for those within the travel industry, the broader market may not perceive the platform as addressing a significant pain point. Given the size of the addressable market and the niche target audience, FamGuru may face hurdles in achieving significant market penetration and user growth. The lack of established competitors could also indicate a lack of market need.

Next Section: Team

Team

FamGuru is led by Founder and CEO Carrie Wallace. Wallace brings over 20 years of experience as a Travel Advisor and Travel Agency Owner to the company. She has a strong background in the travel industry, having founded her own travel agency, which she continues to operate. Wallace's extensive experience and knowledge of the travel industry, combined with her educational background in Physics and an MBA, position her well to lead FamGuru.

Kymberly Milroy serves as the Chief Operating Officer of FamGuru. Milroy has over 20 years of experience as a Travel Supplier for Aman Resorts, AndBeyond, and others. She is a skilled travel industry sales and marketing executive and has planned more than 30 Fam Trips for Travel Advisors around the globe. Her experience and skills are invaluable to FamGuru's operations.

Javier DAccorso is the Lead Engineer at FamGuru. DAccorso brings over 25 years of experience in software to the company. He is a systems engineer and analyst with a master's degree in marketing. DAccorso has developed over 50 systems worldwide, making him a key asset to FamGuru's technical development.

Overall, the FamGuru team is well-rounded and experienced. The team's extensive experience in the travel industry, combined with their technical expertise, positions them well to develop and grow FamGuru's platform. Their dedication and commitment to simplifying how the travel trade acquires, organizes, and shares valuable Fam Trip knowledge are evident in their work and achievements.

Next Section: Differentiation

Differentiation

FamGuru aims to revolutionize the travel industry by providing travel advisors and suppliers a platform to record and share insider travel knowledge.

While there is one competitor in the market, My Fam Trip, the lack of established competitors may indicate a lack of market demand or product-market fit for this type of product. FamGuru will have to compete against Excel, the free solution that travel professionals already use. It is unclear whether the pain point will be strong enough for potential customers to switch to My Fam Trip.

Additionally, the company's product isn't defensible. It could be easy for potential competitors to replicate the product. If these competitors were to have more networks or funding, they could be a serious threat to FamGuru.

Next Section: Performance

Performance

FamGuru, a platform for the travel industry to record and share insider travel knowledge, has made notable achievements since its inception. The company was launched at Virtuoso Travel Week in 2023 and received recognition by securing third place in the American Society of Travel Advisors' "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition. This recognition highlights the potential of FamGuru's innovative platform in the travel and hospitality industry.

Financially, FamGuru has raised $500,000 in prior funding rounds and currently has a valuation of $5 million. The company has a monthly burn rate of $24,000 and had $75,300 in cash as of October 2023. While FamGuru generates revenue, it is still in the early stages of monetization, with a monthly revenue of $1,000. The company has signed a few paying customers and has the potential to increase its revenue in the future.

FamGuru established a major partnership with Luxury Travel Consortia Virtuoso, an influential player in the industry. This partnership demonstrates the recognition and support FamGuru has received from key players in the travel industry.

It is still early to evaluate the company's execution capabilities and potential product-market-fit as it just started this year. It would be interesting to see how many clients the company can sign every month and what is their churn rate.

Next Section: Risk

Risk

Investing in FamGuru carries several risks that potential investors should be aware of. Firstly, the company's defensibility is low, and there is a risk that other companies can easily replicate its product. This lack of defensibility can increase competition and impact FamGuru's market share and profitability.

FamGuru's target market is relatively small, with only 115,000 potential clients worldwide. This limited market size, combined with the fact that FamGuru's product is seen as a replacement for free tools like Excel, poses a risk. It may be challenging for FamGuru to convince tour companies and familiarization travelers to pay for a product they currently use for free. The perceived pain point may not be significant enough for potential customers to adopt FamGuru's platform.

Regarding financials, FamGuru is in the early stages of development and is currently in the pre-revenue phase. The company has generated only $1,000 a month so far in revenue, indicating that it has not yet fully monetized its platform. FamGuru has a negative net income, with a significant monthly burn rate of $24,000. This highlights the company's reliance on external funding and the need for strong financial management to sustain its operations.

Lastly, FamGuru operates in the travel and hospitality industry, significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing uncertainty and potential disruptions in the industry pose risks to FamGuru's growth and revenue generation. Changes in travel patterns, restrictions, and consumer behavior can all affect the demand for FamGuru's platform and its ability to attract new clients.

Overall, investing in FamGuru involves risks related to competition, market size, monetization, and the impact of external factors on the travel industry. These risks should be carefully considered by potential investors.

Next Section: Bullish Outlook

Bullish Outlook

FamGuru is poised to disrupt the travel industry with its innovative platform that allows travel advisors and suppliers to record and share insider travel knowledge. With the increasing demand for personalized travel experiences, FamGuru provides a solution that simplifies acquiring, organizing, and sharing valuable Fam Trip knowledge.

The platform has already gained traction in the industry, as evidenced by its successful launch at Virtuoso Travel Week in 2023 and its recognition with third place in the American Society of Travel Advisors "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition. This early validation demonstrates the potential of FamGuru to become a key player in the tour operator software market.

Although the market potential may be perceived as low due to the specific niche nature of the tour operator software market, FamGuru has a clear advantage with its unique offering and lack of competition. 

Next Section: Bearish Outlook

Bearish Outlook

FamGuru operates in a niche market within the travel and hospitality industry, offering a platform for recording and sharing insider travel knowledge. While the concept may seem appealing, FamGuru faces several challenges that could hinder its growth and profitability.

Firstly, FamGuru's revenue growth has been stagnant, with only $3,000 in annual revenue and no growth since the last funding round. This indicates a lack of market traction and raises concerns about the company's ability to generate significant revenue in the future.

Furthermore, FamGuru is competing with My Fam Trip, a direct competitor in the same space. While the competitive landscape is described as "not competitive," the presence of a direct competitor suggests that FamGuru may struggle to differentiate itself and capture market share.

Additionally, FamGuru's founders running her own travel business on the side, which raises questions about their commitment to the company's success. Without dedicated founders driving the vision and execution of the business, it may be challenging for FamGuru to overcome obstacles and achieve its goals.

Moreover, FamGuru's valuation of $5 million appears to be slightly inflated, considering the company's low revenue and lack of significant market traction. This suggests the company may be overvalued, which could deter potential investors from participating in the current crowdfunding campaign.

In summary, FamGuru's limited revenue growth, competition from My Fam Trip, founders' lack of dedication, and potentially inflated valuation raise concerns about the company's prospects for success in the highly competitive travel and hospitality industry.

Next Section: Executive Summary

Executive Summary

FamGuru is a platform for the travel industry that facilitates the recording and sharing of insider travel knowledge. The platform is designed to help travel advisors and suppliers organize their travel knowledge and generate profit from familiarization trips (Fam Trips).

It was launched at Virtuoso Travel Week in 2023 and won third place in the American Society of Travel Advisors "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition. FamGuru's goal is to simplify the planning and organizing of Fam Trips, making it easier for the travel trade to acquire, organize, and share valuable Fam Trip knowledge.

Since its inception, FamGuru has raised $500,000 in prior funding rounds. The company is currently in the pre-revenue stage, with a monthly revenue of $1,000. Despite this, the company has a high valuation cap of $5 million, which may be seen as overvalued given its current financial status.

FamGuru has few competitors, like My Fam Trip, which could indicate a lack of market demand. There is a risk that the company's potential customer's pain point isn't strong enough to get them to switch from a free to a paying solution.

Disclaimer

The AI-enhanced analyst reports ("AI reports") provided by KingsCrowd are experimental in nature and may exhibit certain limitations and uncertainties. These reports are generated in part or in whole by artificial intelligence algorithms, which have the potential to hallucinate (e.g. generate fictitious information), interpret data incorrectly, omit information, or reference sources of data that may contain inaccuracies.

While we strive to provide reliable and accurate information, it is essential to understand that the AI reports should not be solely relied upon as the basis for making investment decisions. We strongly advise all users to exercise caution, conduct thorough due diligence, and verify data and facts independently before making any investment decisions.

The AI reports are intended to serve as one of the tools in your investment research process, offering additional insights and perspectives, and exposing more of our dataset to customers by transforming that data into natural language. They should be used in conjunction with other sources of information and professional judgment. KingsCrowd does not assume any liability for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the AI reports or any investment decisions made based on them.

Investing in startups and early-stage companies involves inherent risks, and it is essential to consult with qualified professionals and seek independent financial advice before making any investment decisions.

By accessing and using the AI reports, you acknowledge and accept the experimental nature of this feature and agree to use it at your own risk.

Please note that this disclaimer may be subject to updates and revisions as we continue to enhance our AI algorithms and improve the accuracy and reliability of the generated reports.

Founders: enhance your startup's credibility on KingsCrowd. Create an account to claim this raise page.
Add to portfolio
FamGuru on Wefunder 2023
Platform: Wefunder
Security Type: SAFE
Valuation: $5,000,000

Follow company

Follow FamGuru on Wefunder 2023

Buy FamGuru's Deal Report

Warning: according to the close date for this deal, FamGuru may no longer be accepting investments.

FamGuru Deal Report

Get KingsCrowd’s comprehensive report on FamGuru including:

  • How our proprietary algorithm rates their current capital raise (1-5 stars)
  • Detailed price, market, team, differentiators, performance, and risk ratings
  • Whether FamGuru is undervalued or overvalued
  • Scores on the founding team and key personnel's background and expertise
  • Our deep-dive analyst report reviewing the deal's investment potential and bullish vs. bearish outlook

Buy the FamGuru deal report for only $10!

Email address:
Looking to buy more than one deal report? Get unlimited reports by upgrading to Edge