In 2022, Americans allocated over $144.8 billion toward fishing and hunting activities. Despite the significant contribution of guided hunting and fishing trips to this industry, the booking process has predominantly remained offline, involving phone calls and payments via physical checks or cash.
HELMSDALE, SCOTLAND—JANUARY 11: An angler fishes at the opening of the salmon fishing season on the River Helmsdale on January 11, 2019, in Helmsdale, Scotland. The river Helmsdale has been described as one of the best, if not the very best, in the north of Scotland. Opening on the 11th of January and continuing through to the 30th of September, it is one of the earliest rivers to open to fishermen in the UK. (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Mallard Bay: A Startup's Path to Changing Outdoor Adventures
Seeking to revolutionize this sector is Mallard Bay, a Houston-based startup aiming to streamline the booking experience for hunting and fishing excursions. As a marketplace for consumers, Mallard Bay enables users to book guided tours online, akin to reserving accommodations.
Moreover, Mallard Bay operates as a vertical Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, empowering outfitters to digitize their operations and offer supplementary services such as marketing through an online interface.
At the time, Meaux was working for his dad's startup Waitr, which raised $24 million in venture capital before exiting in 2018, and thought he could launch a company of his own. In 2019, he and two other co-founders got to work.
Simplifying Hunting and Fishing Trip Bookings
The original idea was just to create a marketplace like Airbnb for people to book these guided hunts. Once the company started asking outfitters and guides what they thought of the idea, they realized that they would need to bring more to the table to get guides to sign on.
That led them to start building out Guidetech, Mallard Bay's back-office solution for outfitters. During that period, Meaux was employed at his father's startup, Waitr, which successfully secured $24 million in venture capital funding before its exit in 2018, as reported by TechCrunch.
Inspired by this entrepreneurial environment, Meaux envisioned launching his venture. In 2019, together with two fellow co-founders, they embarked on this new endeavor. The team soon recognized the need to offer additional value propositions to entice guides and outfitters to participate.
Consequently, they initiated the development of Guidetech, Mallard Bay's proprietary back-office solution tailored for outfitters. He expressed that outfitters were receptive to the idea, acknowledging the need to stay current but emphasizing that their primary focus is on guiding rather than running a business.
Meaux noted that many outfitters started their ventures with a passion for the outdoors rather than a business mindset. Recognizing this, the team at Mallard Bay offered their expertise in both outdoor activities and software development to assist outfitters in making the transition.
Mallard Bay's growth trajectory since its inception in 2021 is particularly remarkable. The platform has experienced a staggering 600% increase in bookings year over year, a notable feat in an industry as specialized as hunting and fishing.
This success underscores the potential of niche markets, demonstrating that what may appear niche at first glance can yield substantial opportunities for growth and development. They assured outfitters that they were well-suited to support them in this process of evolution.
