29 | 🔥 The Startup That Broke All The Rules — And Sold for Millions Without Investors! 💥💸 with Alexis Bowen (Elsewhere.io by Lonely Planet)

Alexis Bowen is the co-founder of Elsewhere.io, a travel marketplace acquired by Lonely Planet in 2022. In this episode of Good Revenue, host Neeta Bidwai and Alexis cover:Elsewhere’s rapid development and sale within a year during the COVID-19 pandemic (the company connects travelers directly with local travel agencies to plan and book international trips).Insights on the challenges of launching a startup during a pandemic.The company’s unique approach to branding and product development, which led to early profitability without external investments.Strategic use of partnerships and influencer marketing to gain traction.How the exit strategy & decision to sell to Lonely Planet evolved so quickly, including the emotional and business considerations behind the move.Alexis emphasizes the importance of compelling storytelling and an all-in culture in building a successful business._Where to find Alexis:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bowen-9ba18423/Where to find Neeta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/neetabidwai/ Where to find Good Revenue:https://goodrevenue.io/goodrevenue https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHrhuWbpYnUwrR75H2Ip4yQ _Highlights:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:30 The Journey of Elsewhere.io00:39 Building a Marketplace Model02:12 Starting During the Pandemic05:22 Bootstrapping to Success13:39 Marketing Strategies and PR Hustle17:33 Decision to Sell and M&A Process23:02 Integration and Final Thoughts_Referenced:• Elsewhere.io: https://www.elsewhere.io/• Lonely Planet: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ FOLLOW GOOD REVENUE ON YOUTUBE! Or wherever you get your podcasts:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHrhuWbpYnUwrR75H2Ip4yQ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/44me6PABSQ0k0GfphM70auApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-revenue/id1707461473 Web: https://goodrevenue.io/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.