Mariano Kostelec, Miguel Amaro and Ben Grech: Uniplaces

Mariano Kostelec, Miguel Amaro and Ben Grech, 26, 27 and 27
Company: Uniplaces
Web: www.uniplaces.com 

Meeting as three friends at university, Mariano Kostelec, Miguel Amaro and Ben Grech realised that, despite the enormous global student market, there was no online platform to help students book their accommodation.

Together they founded Uniplaces, an online marketplace connecting private landlords, property managers and purpose built student residencies with students from more than 140 different countries looking for accommodation. And the concept has clearly hit home with its target market seeing more than 500,000 nights of accommodation booked on the site since launch in 2013 – with Uniplaces receiving performance-based commission from each one.

Started with their own personal savings, the trio has now received £3.5m in funding to build their global brand. Currently undergoing a period of international expansion, Startups 100 listed Uniplaces wants to go beyond just offering accommodation and branch out into related services to “enrich the whole student experience”. With a global industry estimated to be worth hundreds of millions at their doorstep, this disruptive start-up and its 100-plus strong team has bags of potential. Watch this space.