A trained engineer, a graduate of CentraleSupélec, he co-founded this platform, which has become a global leader in the peer-to-peer home and apartment exchange market.
An increasingly popular alternative, HomeExchange offers affordable, people-centric vacations while fostering responsible tourism.
Today, HomeExchange is:
• 125,000 members (including 40,000 in France)
• A presence in over 130 countries
• 1 exchange finalized every 2 minutes on the platform
• 3.7 million overnight stays in 2022
During this meeting, Charles-Edouard Girard shared his main key learnings with the startups supported by 21st, after nearly 10 years of entrepreneurial journey.
- Be the leader of a niche rather than trying to be a generalist.
- Keep in mind that fundraising – especially in B2C – is often a necessary step. In HomeExchange's case, it was used to finance external growth.
- Opt for a two co-founder model. More than two is complicated. Alone, it's unmanageable. It's essential to have a partner for a complementary vision, but also to take over in case of a problem.
- Know how to adapt your business model for B2C, with a fair and simple rule.
"At HomeExchange, our system works because our customers are very loyal. This loyalty is rewarded, as they benefit from a decreasing rate over the years."
His background:
Charles-Edouard Girard is an engineer by training, a graduate of Centrale Paris. He began his career as a marketing consultant and digital marketing specialist in the publishing and pharmaceutical sectors.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to found two e-commerce companies, allowing him to gain solid experience as a business leader and in-depth knowledge of digital markets.
He co-founded GuesttoGuest based on the principles of a "liberated company," an innovative concept reflecting the service that revolutionized home exchange.
In 2017, GuesttoGuest acquired the American website HomeExchange. The group, now international and a global leader, launched a new brand in 2018 under the name HomeExchange, bringing together all the brands acquired by the group.
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