AUSTIN, TX—Virdee, a SaaS company serving the commercial real estate industry, has revealed the closing of a $2-million seed round led by a group of strategic investors, including former La Quinta president Rajiv Trivedi.
In a time of disruptive change and shifting models of guest service and operation, Virdee’s software is leading the real estate industry toward the adoption of contactless, guest-centric interactions to reduce cost, increase margins and boost profitability for owners and operators, not only in the hotel industry, but also in multifamily, senior living, student housing and medical facilities.
By addressing concerns brought about by recent events, Virdee’s innovative suite of products elevates the check-in experience with payment and identity verification via either mobile device or on-premise virtual concierge. It also saves staff time and reduces guest friction around the check-in/checkout process as well. Via smartphone or in-lobby virtual concierge, guests can gain access to a property once they verify their identity and provide a form of payment—either on a self-serve basis or by video chat with a remote agent.
“Operational costs continue to compress margins and erode profitability at hotels and other real estate venues—at the exact same moment as consumers lead the industry in an evolution to implement contactless, frictionless modes of interaction,” said Trivedi, who serves as Virdee chairman. “This is the moment for the hotel industry to embrace—and lead—the move toward seamless and fully integrated guest experiences. Virdee’s break-through technology delivers on this promise, and I am excited by feedback I have gotten from leading brands, owners and operators. We look forward to supporting the company’s product growth and marketplace expansion and to an exciting future ahead.”
“Virdee is the only complete solution for frictionless, contactless check-in—capable of serving 100% of guests 100% of the time, simply and cost-effectively,” said Branigan Mulcahy, Virdee co-founder. “The solution is quick and easy to set up, and we have already integrated with the leading smart-lock manufacturers, payment processors and property management systems most used by hotel and multifamily owners.”
“By focusing first and foremost on the guest journey, we have built a product that is adaptable to a wide range of guest preferences and technical ability,” said Nadav Cornberg, Virdee co-founder/chief technologist. “We appreciate the validation of our solution from industry leaders and are pleased to enable true contactless interactions for guests and others in the built environment. The seed round enables us to invest in continued product differentiation and to meaningfully expand our sales and marketing efforts. We look forward to a period of rapid growth.”
For more on Virdee from Raj Travedi, check out the Tech Report in the Oct. 15 issue of Hotel Business.