Startup Alley Spotlight: Stasher on Solving Travel Painpoints

Our interview series of Startup Alley participants continues with insights from Anthony Collias of Stasher.

Ant is the Co-Founder and COO of Stasher and a member of Travel Massive London. In this Q&A, he tells us about how the idea of Stasher was born and how they hope to make travel better for everyone.

How did you get into the travel industry?

Having grown up abroad (Holland, Istanbul, Dubai and the UK), I have always had an interest in travel. I started Stasher with my co-founder Jacob Weddeburn-Day straight after University, so this is our first venture into the travel industry!

Tell us more about Stasher and how you came up with the idea?

Stasher is the world’s largest luggage storage network – our platform connects travelers with hotels and shops where they can safely store their luggage and make the most of their day.

As of right now, we have more than 800 StashPoints in over 80 cities across 20 countries.

The idea arose because friends would often stash luggage at my house as I lived so close to King’s Cross station in London. I joked about charging them for the privilege and then realized that if my friends were struggling to find an affordable place to store their bags, there were probably thousands of people who faced the same problem. This was the light bulb moment – and Stasher was born.

What is unique about your product or service?

Stasher is the world’s first sharing economy for luggage storage. Unlike traditional station lockers, which are not always conveniently located and generally expensive, we have locations spread out across the city and near all major areas of interest. This allows us to provide a 24/7 service without any fixed rent costs. From a storage location perspective, we offer a way for them to monetize their unused space, drive ancillary revenue, and drive footfall into their location.

How is your startup changing the future of travel?

Luggage is a notorious pain point during your trip. We’ve all been there, you check out your Airbnb at 10am and your flight isn’t til the evening. You want to spend your final day exploring but end up sitting in a café with your suitcases. Stasher is your key to unlocking the whole potential of your holiday – without luggage weighing you down.

What’s another travel company you admire and why?

Expedia’s breadth and depth across the travel industry is admirable. We have worked closely with them throughout the year and have learned an invaluable amount from their mentoring and the time they have invested in helping us grow. From their excellent UX design, to maintaining a strong company culture on a huge scale, to their world leading travel content – we are proud to be their partner.

Thanks, Ant, for these insights!

Follow Anthony and Stasher on Travel Massive to connect with them and learn more.