Participated · Series D · Apr 2018

IfOnly operates a curated online marketplace featuring more than 3,000 unique experiences, from affordable activities to high‑end, one‑of‑a‑kind events. The platform has expanded from three cities to eight and now serves two million registered users, approximately 25% of whom engage regularly. IfOnly is broadening its catalog to reach a wider, more price‑sensitive audience while retaining higher‑ticket offerings. Strategic partnerships with brands like MasterCard, Hyatt and Sotheby’s are intended to make partners’ offerings stickier and to expand distribution. The company faces competition from entrants such as Airbnb, which is pushing into bookable local experiences; IfOnly emphasizes vetting and quality control as a differentiator. Leadership recently changed as John Boris joined as CEO, succeeding founder Trevor Traina. IfOnly operates an online marketplace that offers curated adventure, culinary and athletic experiences. The company connects customers to high-end, often expert- or celebrity-led experiences and occasional auctions. It plans to use new funding to accelerate expansion into new domestic and international markets and to invest in its technology. IfOnly is launching a partnership with Sotheby’s called “IFONLY PRESENTS: The Experiences Auction,” featuring approximately 25 experiences, with a portion of each sale benefiting charitable causes. Founded in 2012 and led by CEO Trevor Traina, the company is backed by several venture firms and angel investors. The most recent funding round was an undisclosed investment from Sotheby’s. IfOnly operates an online marketplace for curated experiences, letting vendors ("luminaries") list and sell activities ranging from celebrity-led events to accessible local classes. The company has about 60 employees and serves the Bay Area, New York and Los Angeles, with more than 10,000 experiences on the platform. Its proprietary platform handles taxes, ticketing and complex logistics (including background checks and blackout dates), and the company holds three issued patents with seven pending. IfOnly is pushing to broaden its customer base by adding lower-priced experiences ($50–$125) while maintaining higher-end offerings; Traina expects lower-priced offerings to become the majority of revenue within five to six quarters. Operational metrics disclosed in the article include a claimed addressable market of $225 billion and that 30% of customers shop recurrently; the founder declined to detail annual revenue, though he said the prior pricier model was on a 100% yearly growth path. The company donates 10% of gross sales to more than 200 charities. IfOnly.com, operated by Traina Interactive, runs a website that provides direct connections between select audiences and the luminaries they admire. The company positions itself as a creator of unique marketplaces that deliver extraordinary experiences with notable people. It was founded and funded by Bay Area artists, athletes and entrepreneurs and is based in San Francisco. IfOnly emphasizes delivering extraordinary experiences and helping society in its activities. Financially, the company has recently completed a $12 million funding round, indicating outside investor interest in its model.

Participated · Series D · Jun 2015

Onefinestay operates a curated platform that rents private luxury homes with hotel-style services (cleaning, linens, toiletries, concierge and loaner iPhones). The company lists homes in London, New York, Paris and Los Angeles and says its inventory is six times larger than the combined inventory of The Ritz, The Plaza, Hotel George V and Hotel Bel-Air. Hosts and guests are selectively vetted (about one property accepted for every nine rejected), and Onefinestay also sells a patented, key-free smart-lock system called Sherlock. It typically takes roughly a 50% cut on transactions and says it is currently "investing in growth." The business emphasizes partnerships with hospitality incumbents and operational expansion rather than disclosing valuation or revenue figures. Onefinestay operates a curated marketplace of luxury homes and apartments marketed as an “unhotel,” combining high-end short-term rentals with hotel-style amenities. The company provides linens, toiletries, an iPhone app with local tips, free local calling, and guest services including cleaning and access to private chefs. Launched in London a little more than two years ago, it has grown its inventory from six to about 500 homes. The company says some hosts are earning significantly more than $50,000 a year. It is launching in New York City and plans further international expansion. Onefinestay has raised $12M in a Series B and has now raised a total of $16M. Onefinestay operates a fully managed "unhotel" service that lets travelers stay in owners' private homes while the owner is away. The company handles inventory, insurance, and guest amenities (towels and toiletries supplied via the White Company) and even offers room service from local restaurants. Guests are loaned an iPhone for the stay to make local calls and access information about the home and area. Prices cited range from about £150 to £1,000 per night. Onefinestay launched initially in London and has been largely bootstrapped aside from friends-and-family funding to date. The new capital is intended to scale operations in London and to "build unhotels across the globe."