We created BananaLab in 2015 and started to operate in late 2017. We were on our way back from a surfing trip in Torquay when the idea for BananaLab first came. Both hailing from France, we moved to Australia around five years ago. But like many startup founders, and after many years in large corporate firms, we felt the urge to take a risk and create a business from scratch that was more aligned with our values and interests.

We both like sports, adventure, and travel, and we were thinking about different ideas. In France, selling experiences via gift-box sets are very popular and we hadn’t seen any in Australia. So it looked like a market opportunity in a space that we loved – we took a leap of faith and went for it, and it worked. Whilst all our competitors were selling experiences one over one, online, we have started to package our experiences per price points at $100, $200, $300 in different gift boxes and sell it.

The recipients receiving a $200 box were able to pick 1 experience from our 100+ available Australia wide, where all the experiences proposed in the $200 box were worth $200, making the choice possible. This was the beginning of our success.

Difficulties

No one knew us…! Okay, of course, we were 2 Frenchies with no network, no market knowledge and no experience in this field but we had a lot of energy and no idea that what we were trying to achieve would be this hard!

Achievement

We have been able to build the 2nd largest experience offer in Oz.

1.2 million foundraising

Partnership with Coles and Woolies

2 000 retailers shops

We plan to revolutionise the gift market and tourism industry to push Australian to discover Australia, as a similar concept of ours already did in Europe, which is a big call – we get that. But we understand the challenge and we love challenges! So far, Australians have been very supportive and we will keep on improving our offer and the way we deliver our experiences to keep on putting smiles on every Australian’s face! And support local partner during this hard time.