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Zolostays sells college accommodation biz to Good Host Spaces for Rs 108 Cr

EntrackrEntrackr · 2m ago
Zolostays sells college accommodation biz to Good Host Spaces for Rs 108 Cr
Medial

In October 2023, Alta Capital is said to have acquired the entire 100% stake held by Goldman Sachs and Warburg Pincus in Good Host Spaces for a reported $320 million. Co-living and home rental startup Zolostays has sold its student housing business, which manages accommodation for colleges and universities, to Good Host Spaces, as part of the firm’s move to focus on its core offerings. The board of Zolo Stays has approved a special resolution to sell the undertaking through a slump sale valued at Rs 107.8 crore (approximately $12.5 million), according to regulatory filings sourced from the Registrar of Companies. Of the total consideration of Rs 107.8 crore, Rs 97.02 crore (90%) will be paid in cash, while the remaining Rs 10.78 crore will be settled through debentures issued by Good Host Spaces to Zolo Stays. Good Host Spaces owns and operates third-party, purpose-built student accommodations located within leading university campuses such as Manipal University, OP Jindal Global University, and Shoolini University. “The sale will enable the company to focus on its core business operations and pursue growth opportunities in those areas. The lump sum consideration will improve the company’s liquidity position and strengthen its balance sheet,” the company added in the filings. Zolostays also raised Rs 20 crore debt by issuing non-convertible debentures to VentureSoul Managers India LLP for business expansion, meeting working capital and others, a separate resolution shows. Zolostays has secured over $110 million in funding to date, including a $56 million Series C round led by Investcorp and Mirae Asset. According to the startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Nexus Ventures is the largest external stakeholder, followed by Investcorp and Mirae Asset. Zolo Stays recorded an 11.4% year-on-year growth in revenue to Rs 204.4 crore during the fiscal year ended March 2024, while its losses narrowed by 17.4% to Rs 57 crore in the same period. The sale is an interesting development in the segment, where Good Host Spaces has stolen a march over competition in more ways than one. From funding to significant tie-ups with fast-expanding University campuses, it has built a strong business that might have convinced existing ZoloStays stakeholders to opt out. The distinct approaches taken by the acquired and the acquirer, in terms of offering independent PG accommodation versus captive campuses, is a good indicator of where the market has shifted, and it should be interesting to see how GHS handles the acquired business now.

Homversity raises $1 Mn from Shuru-UP, IPV and others

EntrackrEntrackr · 7m ago
Homversity raises $1 Mn from Shuru-UP, IPV and others
Medial

Student housing networks platform Homversity has raised $1 million in a pre-Series A round from Shuru-Up, IPV (Inflection Point Ventures), Value Angels, Vinners Group, TAS, Pro-Growth Ventures, Growth 91, and other investors. The Ahmedabad-based company had previously raised $378K from Shuru-Up and more. The proceeds will be deployed towards establishing a premium, scalable student housing operator model, supporting growth initiatives to enhance the platform's reach, and improving its offerings for students across India, Homversity said in a press release. Founded in 2019 by Saurav Kumar Sinha, Homversity is a student housing network organising several verticals of India’s student housing industry. The platform focuses on organising major verticals of the industry, such as quality of stay, good food, and a safe, secure ecosystem for students with hassle-free processes and support systems like a 100% refund on cancellations. Homversity eliminates the hassles of food and living costs by providing a high standard of living and healthy meals, whether students come from rural areas or urban centres. By doing so, it ensures students can focus on education, networking, and personal growth without worrying about these basic necessities. According to market research, the student housing industry in India presents a Rs 58,000 crore opportunity, driven by over 35 million annual student enrollments across 51,000 universities, colleges, and institutes. Homversity states that its strengths lie in its extensive, in-depth database and deep insights into the challenges tenants and landlords face. This understanding allows the platform to address key pain points in the student housing market, offering tailored solutions that enhance the experience for all users.

Homversity raises $1 Mn from Shur-UP, IPV and others

EntrackrEntrackr · 7m ago
Homversity raises $1 Mn from Shur-UP, IPV and others
Medial

Student housing networks platform Homversity has raised $1 million in a pre-Series A round from Shuru-Up, IPV (Inflection Point Ventures), Value Angels, Vinners Group, TAS, Pro-Growth Ventures, Growth 91, and other investors. The Ahmedabad-based company had previously raised $378K from Shuru-Up and more. The proceeds will be deployed towards establishing a premium, scalable student housing operator model, supporting growth initiatives to enhance the platform's reach, and improving its offerings for students across India, Homversity said in a press release. Founded in 2019 by Saurav Kumar Sinha, Homversity is a student housing network organising several verticals of India’s student housing industry. The platform focuses on organising major verticals of the industry, such as quality of stay, good food, and a safe, secure ecosystem for students with hassle-free processes and support systems like a 100% refund on cancellations. Homversity eliminates the hassles of food and living costs by providing a high standard of living and healthy meals, whether students come from rural areas or urban centres. By doing so, it ensures students can focus on education, networking, and personal growth without worrying about these basic necessities. According to market research, the student housing industry in India presents a Rs 58,000 crore opportunity, driven by over 35 million annual student enrollments across 51,000 universities, colleges, and institutes. Homversity states that its strengths lie in its extensive, in-depth database and deep insights into the challenges tenants and landlords face. This understanding allows the platform to address key pain points in the student housing market, offering tailored solutions that enhance the experience for all users.

Your-Space posts Rs 142 Cr revenue in FY24; losses up 20%

EntrackrEntrackr · 9m ago
Your-Space posts Rs 142 Cr revenue in FY24; losses up 20%
Medial

Student housing startup Your-Space recorded steady growth, with revenue surpassing Rs 140 crore in the fiscal year ending March 2024. However, the Delhi-based company also saw a slight increase in losses during the same period. Your-Space’s revenue from operations increased by 21.8% to Rs 142.7 crore in FY24 from Rs 117.2 crore in FY23, according to its consolidated financial statement filed with the RoC. Your-Space is a student housing company providing affordable PGs, hostels, and co-living spaces for girls and boys. The company operates over 60 smart spaces equipped with tech-enabled safety features such as facial recognition, biometrics, and digital locks. Income from residential services accounted for 99.5% of total operating revenue, which grew by 30%, reaching Rs 142.96 crore in FY24 compared to Rs 109 crore in FY23. The remaining income was derived from the sale of food, electricity, and other allied services. For the student housing startup, rental costs for accommodations accounted for 52.6% of total expenses, rising by 34% to Rs 92.2 crore in FY24 from Rs 68.9 crore in FY23. Employee benefits were Rs 21.1 crore in FY24. Additional overheads, including facility repairs and maintenance, advertising, and transportation, contributed to total expenses of Rs 175.3 crore in FY24, reflecting a 20% increase compared to FY23. See TheKredible for the complete expense breakdown. Your-Space recorded losses of Rs 30.7 crore in FY24, up from Rs 25.5 crore in FY23. Its ROCE and EBITDA margin stood at -809.54% and -69.15%, respectively. The company spent Rs 1.23 to earn a rupee of operating revenue in the last fiscal year (FY24). FY23-FY24 FY23 FY24 EBITDA Margin -14.47% -14.57% Expense/₹ of Op Revenue ₹1.24 ₹1.23 ROCE -69.15% -809.54% The eight-year-old startup has raised Rs 129 crore to date, including a $10 million round led by personal investments from Shantanu Rastogi (General Atlantic) and Ajay Gupta’s (Capital Foods) family office, AJAX Capital, along with Holy Basil Consultancy. The startup competes with Abuzz Oxfordcaps, Stanza Living, University Living, and Housr, among others. The student housing market offers two distinct opportunities. One, tie-in with large universities to manage hostels for them as a service provider, as Good Host Space has done with its hostel model, primarily in association with the Manipal Group. And then there is the second model to provide student housing in the environs of colleges and universities independently, to fill the gaps in those markets. Both models have their advantages, with the Your-Space model relatively insulated from policy impact, but facing higher marketing and promotion costs, for instance.Irrespective, much like higher education itself, the sector faces interesting times ahead should the murmurs around rising costs into a clamour for a deeper view on education costs, where hotel costs have become a significant component. A sector where cost escalations have to be considered very carefully, however large the potential and existing size, will always lead to some investor wariness, and explains the relatively later entry of these startups to the funding party. The student housing sector is fast reaching that point where a breakthrough on the stability of the business model and visibility of growth prospects will be needed more clearly soon to keep attracting investor interest.

Student housing startup Your-Space raises $8.2 Mn debt

EntrackrEntrackr · 3m ago
Student housing startup Your-Space raises $8.2 Mn debt
Medial

Exclusive: Student housing startup Your-Space raises $8.2 Mn debt Student housing startup Your-Space has raised Rs 70 crore (approximately $8.2 million) in debt led by existing investor Shantanu Rastogi, Managing Director of General Atlantic. The round also includes participation from other existing investors, including Castle Investments and Ajax Capital. The board at Your-Space has passed a special resolution to issue 10,14,493 compulsory convertible debentures (CCDs) at an issue price of Rs 690 each to raise Rs 70 crore, according to its January regulatory filing accessed from the RoC. Shantanu Rastogi led the round with an investment of Rs 25 crore, followed by new investor Ashish Kacholia, who will contribute Rs 10 crore. Other notable investments include Rs 7.5 crore each from Satyadharma Investments and Castle Investments, while Ajay Gupta’s family office, Ajax Capital, and Holy Basil Consultancy will invest Rs 5 crore each. The company has already received approximately Rs 51 crore out of Rs 70 crore while the rest of the amount will follow soon. The fresh proceeds will be used for working capital requirements, creditor payments, and other general business operations, the filings added. Notably, the conversion of debentures into equity shares will be done at the valuation of Rs 185 crore against the above-mentioned sum at a later date, the filings further added. Your-Space is a student housing company offering affordable PGs, hostels, and co-living spaces for both girls and boys. With over 60 smart spaces, the company integrates tech-enabled safety features, including facial recognition, biometrics, and digital locks. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, the company has raised around $17.6 million in funding including both debt and equity including a $10 million Series A round raised in January 2022 led by Shantanu Rastogi. The Delhi-based company reported over 20% year-on-year growth in operating revenue to Rs 142.7 crore in FY24, compared to Rs 117.2 crore in FY23. The Delhi-based company also posted a loss of Rs 30.7 crore during the same period.

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