SleepOut.com
{{Short description|Online marketplace}}
{{Orphan|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox website
| logo = Sleepout logo 300x80.png
| name = SleepOut.com
| foundation = {{start date and age|2011}} in Nairobi
| location_city = Port Louis, Mauritius
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Johann Jenson (CEO)|Paul Schwarz (CTO)|Mikul Shah (COO)}}
| industry = Lodging
| homepage = {{URL|sleepout.com}}
| commercial = y
| registration = y
| current_status = Redirects to Airbnb
}}
SleepOut.com was an online marketplace for booking lodging in Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean islands.
It shutdown in February 2017 and the domain name now links to Airbnb.
History
SleepOut was founded in December 2011 on Lamu Island, Kenya. The company was created by Canadian hospitality marketeer, Johann Jenson and Kenyan digital entrepreneur, Mikul Shah.
In June 2012, at the time of the beta launch, the platform listed 1,500 properties for rent throughout East Africa.{{cite news | url=https://techmoran.com/2013/04/19/ceo-weekends-sleepouts-johann-jenson-on-handling-over-150000-visitors-monthly-their-next-big-thing/ | title=SleepOut's Johann Jenson on handling over 150,000 visitors and their next big thing | work=TechMoran | date=April 19, 2013}}
In March 2013, the company launched NOMAD, an online travel and lifestyle magazine.{{cite web | url=https://ventureburn.com/2013/05/sleepout-raises-200-000-seed-funding-launches-online-travel-mag/ | title=SleepOut raises $200,000 seed funding, launches online travel mag | first= Ronan | last=Steyn | work=ventureburn | date=May 22, 2013}}
In May 2013, the company received funding from Dutch venture capital firm, Africa Media Ventures Fund (AMVF).{{cite news | url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Kenyan-gets-second-foreign-funding-for-online-venture/-/539552/1861002/-/u4ux3bz/-/index.html | title=Kenyan gets second foreign funding for online venture | work=Business Daily Africa | date=May 23, 2013}}
In June 2013, Zimbabwean software engineer Paul Schwarz became chief technology officer.{{cite press release | url=https://www.pr.com/press-release/495390 | title=SleepOut.com Appoints Paul Schwarz as Chief Technical Officer | publisher=PR.com| date=June 6, 2013}}
Towards the end of 2013, the company released a user-generated platform offering 3,000 accommodation options in 32 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean islands.{{cite news | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/14/business/14-african-startups-to-watch-in-2014/index.html | title=15 African technology startups to watch in 2014 | first=Toby | last=Shapshak | work=CNN | date=January 14, 2014}}
In March 2014, the company moved its headquarters to Port Louis, Mauritius.{{cite news | url=https://techmoran.com/2014/03/08/sleepout-moves-its-headquarters-to-mauritius-islands-investment-board-promises-support/ | title=SleepOut Moves its Headquarters to Mauritius; Island’s Investment Board Promises Support | first=Sam | last=Wakoba | work=TechMoran | date=March 8, 2014}}
It shutdown in February 2017 and the domain name now links to Airbnb.{{cite news | url=https://techmoran.com/2017/02/25/accomodation-site-sleepout-goes-sleep-might-good/ | title=Accommodation booking site SleepOut goes to sleep and it might be for good | first=Milcah | last=Lukhanyu | work=TechMoran | date=February 25, 2017}}