Investment & Fund Management
a fund backed by the European Investment
Full Credential Description
Sofia and Christina, childhood friends from Athens, founded Vyra in 2015, aiming to simplify the boat rental process for travelers seeking holidays at sea. They identified a significant gap in the market, noting the lack of accessible information and reviews for boat rentals. With backgrounds in finance and marketing, they combined their skills to create a user-friendly online platform that not only facilitates boat rentals but also offers concierge-level customer service to ensure clients have memorable Mediterranean experiences.
To finance their venture, they sought support from PJ Tech Catalyst, a fund backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), in 2016. This partnership proved to be a perfect match, allowing Vyra to expand its operations into new countries and introduce additional services such as daily cruises and fishing trips. The funding enabled them to hire four new employees and invest in marketing and website development, significantly enhancing their business capabilities. As a result, Vyra now boasts a fleet of 9,500 vessels across six Mediterranean destinations and is poised for further expansion, with aspirations to become the leading brand for holiday-makers in Greece, a premier sailing destination in the Mediterranean.