Venture Capital News: KEYPR Completes $12.8M Series A1 Round
2017-06-20
LOS ANGELES, CA, KEYPR today announced that it has closed its Series A1 financing with an additional $12.8M, bringing the total raised to $19 million.
The round was led by Karlani Capital and strategic investors including former Starwood Hotels & Resorts President of Global Development, Simon Turner and former CEO of Bally Technologies, Richard Haddrill. KEYPR was founded by Nizar Allibhoy, Mark Anderson and Sabir Jaffer to drive increased efficiency in the hospitality industry by using the latest technologies to greatly enhance the guest experience through mobile services and to unite back of house operations.
KEYPR will focus these funds on continued platform innovation, IP development and operational scaling. The company will advance research and development on its proprietary Guest Experience Management System (GEMS), KEYPR Intelligent Lock Technology (KILT) and its extensive mobile services layer, including voice-based functionality, to meet with the latest in guest expectations. In addition, KEYPR will expand its sales force with a focus on hotel, casino and residential growth in new markets.
"I am a huge believer in both the KEYPR team and their vision," said Rudy Karsan, founder of Karlani Capital. "They have truly created the most comprehensive platform that exists in the hospitality industry today. I am so excited to be working together with them to grow and scale the business even further."
"Efficiently maximizing technological applications in the hospitality industry to both enhance guest experience and increase owner profitability has become a mission-critical competitive aspect for all lodging sector participants. Hotel guests expect the same level of convenience and functionality in their hotel experiences as they enjoy at home and in their travels. Consumer technology has and will continue to evolve very quickly and, to stay competitive, hotels will need to keep pace. What KEYPR's platform is offering in terms of proven effectiveness, scope, cost-efficiency, and adaptability is very value-additive to both owners, operators and brands," said Simon Turner.
Turner and Haddrill join other industry innovators on KEYPR's advisory board, which currently includes Matthew J. Hart, former COO of Hilton Hotels Corporation; Yair Landau, Chairman and COO of Vadio; and David Perry, co-founder of Gaikai.
"Guest expectations in terms of service and experience have changed immensely," said Nizar Allibhoy, KEYPR's Co-Founder and CEO. "We see this being addressed in ground transportation, airlines and online travel agencies, but the hotel sector has been slower to respond. KEYPR's ability to deliver personalized services, send offers and upgrades instantly and, most importantly, fix problems in real-time is essential in a marketplace that is so competitive."
"I was introduced to KEYPR prior to G2E 2016 and realized immediately that the platform is a natural fit for casino hotels not only in the US, but globally. So much so, I wanted to get involved," said Richard Haddrill.
KEYPR is currently deployed across a portfolio of hotels and luxury residential properties. The company has brand deals with Denihan Hospitality, Proper Hospitality, L.E. Hotels and Greystone Hotels, among others. In June, the KEYPR platform begins deployments in casinos starting with Odawa Casino Resort and Lac Vieux Desert, with more properties to follow in 2017.
About KEYPR
KEYPR is a cloud-based guest experience and management platform for hotels, casinos and residences. The platform delivers a personalized, friction-free guest experience, while creating new operational efficiencies and additional revenue opportunities for property owners and operators. Guests can access a directory of services, including dining, entertainment, third-party content and more through an in-room tablet and custom mobile app. The app also allows guests to bypass the front desk via KEYPR's Keyless Entry. Additionally, owners and managers gain valuable insight through the integrated dashboard (GEMS) and intuitive tools that provide visibility into guest needs before, during and after their stay -- all while easily monitoring operational KPIs across multiple properties. For further information, visit: www.keypr.com
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