Yogendra Vasupal

Yogendra Vasupal is the co-founder and CEO of Stayzilla, an online marketplace for homestays and alternative accommodations in India. Here are some key details about him:

Background and Career

• Yogendra founded Stayzilla (originally called Inasra Technologies) in 2005.2
• He served as the CEO of Stayzilla from its founding in 2006 until 2017 when the company halted operations.1
• Stayzilla was based in Chennai, India.1

About Stayzilla

• Stayzilla aimed to become India's largest online marketplace for various types of accommodations, including homestays, guesthouses, and hotels.1
• At its peak, Stayzilla had over 15,000 properties listed across 1,100 cities in India.2
• The company raised $33.5 million in funding over its lifetime.2

Challenges and Shutdown

• In February 2017, Yogendra announced that Stayzilla would halt operations and look to "reboot with a different business model".3
• He cited challenges like high operational costs and losing focus on the company's core mission as reasons for the shutdown.23

Legal Issues

• In March 2017, Yogendra was arrested in Chennai on charges of fraud related to unpaid dues to an advertising agency.45
• His arrest sparked controversy in the Indian startup community, with many tech leaders writing to the government in protest.4
• After about a month in jail, Yogendra was granted bail in April 2017.45

Yogendra Vasupal's experience with Stayzilla, from its founding to its eventual shutdown and his subsequent legal troubles, became a widely discussed case in India's startup ecosystem.