Kelowna entrepreneur Cailan Libby is putting his engineering know-how to work for the community.
The recent UBC Okanagan graduate has partnered with Kenneth Chau, associate professor with the UBC香蕉视频直播檚 School of Engineering, on a new venture focused on addressing the difficulties in renting, especially in the Okanagan where some communities have seen vacancy rates as low as 0.6 per cent over the past year.
Helping people find their best matches in the rental market, Happipad.com is a novel online service that allows landlords and renters to search, advertise, screen potential matches, form rental contracts, and post reviews 香蕉视频直播� all in one place.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been a student renter for the last five years and Happipad.com is a tool I wish I had when I first moved to Kelowna,香蕉视频直播� says Libby. 香蕉视频直播淲hile traditional classified ads and online listings exist for renters to find places to live, they don香蕉视频直播檛 do the job very well. The system is not transparent and it香蕉视频直播檚 slow 香蕉视频直播� it can take weeks to find and secure a place to rent.香蕉视频直播�
Libby and Chau spent the past year talking to tenants and landlords to create the Happipad vision.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not just about making the process more efficient and it香蕉视频直播檚 not just a listing service,香蕉视频直播� say Libby. 香蕉视频直播淗appipad wants to make renting a connection, rather than a transaction.香蕉视频直播�
Designed to support long-term rather than brief vacation rentals, Happipad guides users through the entire rental process. Renters can search for their future home and submit applications, while landlords can list their properties, screen, and accept authenticated applications. And when the right match is made, rental contracts are electronically signed and delivered by email.
It took some heavy-duty engineering to develop Happipad.com from concept to the online experience now available to the community. Libby and Chau began exploring better ways to do it while Libby was still a fourth-year engineering student in one of Chau香蕉视频直播檚 classes. Now, the duo are partners and working together to tackle the practical challenges of renting while engaging the local rental community.
香蕉视频直播淲e worked well together and talked about all sorts of solutions that we could build,香蕉视频直播� says Libby, recalling the early discussions about how they might collaborate on addressing a compelling community challenge.
香蕉视频直播淎s engineers, we have been able to go through the visioning and development processes, and all the creative problem-solving, very quickly,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淎 large company might take months to do what we are able to do in a matter of hours.香蕉视频直播�
Libby also received direct support from Accelerate Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 Venture Acceleration Program, which provided access to experienced advisors including Lance Schafer, one of Accelerate Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 Executives in Residence.
香蕉视频直播淲orking with Lance has been great,香蕉视频直播� says Libby. 香蕉视频直播淎s an Executive in Residence, he has offered ideas about what to focus on, how to stay motivated and make the best decisions. The program has given us access to all the resources at Accelerate Okanagan 香蕉视频直播� help with our accounting and legal questions, advice about advertising and networking. It has been very beneficial.香蕉视频直播�
Creating a start-up venture isn香蕉视频直播檛 for everyone, Libby acknowledges, but he says the experience has been amazing 香蕉视频直播� and something he香蕉视频直播檚 very comfortable with. When he graduated with an engineering degree, he told people he was going to create a job for himself 香蕉视频直播� drawing on his education, perseverance and willingness to take a chance on a big idea.
Happipad recently hired its first employee, and while still in its first month the service is growing fast, seeing a 300 per cent increase in weekly traffic. Every day, new authenticated landlords and prospective tenants are registering to become part of the Happipad community.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to create something our society needs,香蕉视频直播� Libby says 香蕉视频直播淚 realize most people are not willing to take on the risk and struggles, that香蕉视频直播檚 where I香蕉视频直播檓 a bit different. I want to change the way renting is done. Renting should be simple and stress-free. I want everyone to be able to find a 香蕉视频直播榟appy香蕉视频直播� home quickly and easily.香蕉视频直播�
Happipad launched in Kelowna in July and has plans to expand across North America.
