easyBoat: The new yachting venture of Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou

The company’s second campaign aims to revolutionise yacht charter.

With marine tourism, and by extension, yachting, continuing to grow in Greece, the online platform easyBoat has announced the launch of its second fundraising campaign through the Crowdbase platform, with 350,000 euros so far raised.

easyBoat, part of the renowned easy® family of brands, backed by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of easyJet and easyGroup, stands out in the market for simplifying the yacht charter booking process.

The innovative platform allows users to compare prices from different boat owners and brokers on a single page, providing transparency and unparalleled convenience to the industry.

Founded in 2022, easyBoat was the first of its kind to enable would-be dream travellers to compare boat charter prices and enjoy their vacations as affordably as possible, and above all, with health and safety on board.

Since its first successful campaign—which attracted 141 investors, the highest number ever on Crowdbase—easyBoat has made significant strides in making yacht chartering accessible to everyone.

The platform has expanded its fleet from 10,000 to 50,000 boats, introduced innovative features like yacht price comparison and integrated flight matching, and is projected to close 2024 with €1.2m in Gross Booking Value (GBV), up from €128k in 2023.

“We’re thrilled to launch our second crowdfunding campaign and invite both new and existing investors to climb aboard,” said Alex Nastos, Co-Founder & CEO of easyBoat.

“With our first-mover advantage in offering comprehensive yacht price comparisons, we are confident in our ability to revolutionise the yacht charter industry. Together, we can make yacht rentals simple and accessible for everyone.”

Currently focused on high-demand vessel markets such as the Mediterranean, easyBoat operates in regions such as Greece, Italy, Croatia, Spain, and Turkey while evaluating new markets to expand its footprint.

Backed by a pre-funding round that raised €700,000, easyBoat is now looking to raise an additional €1 to €1.5 million. euros through this second round, part of which is facilitated by the Crowdbase campaign.

“We are excited to support easyBoat once again in their second crowdfunding campaign,” said Frixos Larkos, Co-Founder & CEO of Crowdbase. “Their impressive growth and innovative approach to simplifying yacht chartering have not only attracted a record number of investors but also demonstrated real progress in transforming the industry. We believe easyBoat presents a compelling opportunity for our investor community.”

For future growth, easyBoat plans to:

1/ Expand into High Demand Regions by identifying emerging sailing hotspots and building partnerships with local boat providers to ensure availability and competitive pricing.

2/ Optimise its platform by improving the user experience, launching a mobile app and enabling multi-language and currency support to serve a wider international audience.

3/Strengthen marketing efforts through targeted digital campaigns, influencer partnerships, and seasonal promotions to attract different customer segments.

Investors interested in joining easyBoat’s exciting journey can visit the crowdfunding campaign page to learn more and join the campaign. With a minimum investment of just €100, easyBoat offers an affordable opportunity to invest in the future of yacht charter.

Alex Nastos has experience in the wider tourist and business sector, beginning a few years ago when he founded the shipping company Sail In Greece, the first small ship cruise company in Greece, with an initial capital of 30,000 euros.

He now owns a fleet of seven ships with a total value of 3 million euros.

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