Laws of Nature

Today's featured startup wants to make life easier for a particular kind of traveler.

Project Overview

Mallard Bay is a platform where travelers can find and book guided trips for hunting, fishing, or simply spending time in nature.

All trips are led by experienced guides and range from single-day getaways to multi-day expeditions. Accommodations vary from rustic lodges to bring-your-own-tent setups. Depending on duration, conditions, and experience type, trips can cost anywhere from $150 to $15,000 per person.

For travelers, the platform offers a seamless experience: browse trips, get detailed information, book with ease, and rely on a responsive support team. Think of it as an “Airbnb for the outdoors.”

For guides, Mallard Bay offers an all-in-one solution: tools to attract clients, create trip listings, handle bookings, and accept payments.

The platform helps guides promote their offerings through the Mallard Bay marketplace, Google search, and email campaigns. Even if a guide doesn’t have their own website, they can build one through the platform — complete with integrated booking and payment tools, a personal dashboard, and CRM capabilities.

The platform also supports partial payments: travelers can pay a 50% deposit upfront, with the remaining amount charged automatically after the trip starts. Group payments are also available, allowing participants to split the cost.

Guides can use the platform for free or subscribe to a $99/month premium plan that includes:

• Booking integration with personal websites

• Lower payment processing fees

• 50% discounts on additional services

These services include SEO tools, website customization, Google ads management, social media support, content creation, merch store integration, and more.

In 2023, Mallard Bay processed $6 million in bookings — and it’s targeting $30–35 million in 2024. That goal seems realistic: bookings in 2023 increased sevenfold from 2022, and January 2024 alone nearly matched the volume of all of 2022.

The platform now features 380 guides across 38 U.S. states and 7 countries, with over 4,500 travelers having already used the service. Mallard Bay recently raised $4.6 million, bringing total funding to $6.6 million.

What’s the Gist?

Despite its impressive traction, Mallard Bay’s founder admitted in an interview that raising the next investment round was no easy feat. Out of nearly 300 investor conversations, most declined — claiming they either didn’t “get the niche” or failed to see big market potential.

At first glance, that skepticism might seem justified. But in reality, the U.S. outdoor recreation economy is enormous: in 2022 alone, Americans spent a staggering $394 billion on hunting, fishing, and nature travel — including gear, licenses, and trips. That same year, there were 1.7 billion nature-related trips across the country. For a market this size, a dedicated “Airbnb” is long overdue.

Catch Co, centered around fishing, raised a whopping $61.3 million and operates with a strong e-commerce and content strategy.

But what sets Mallard Bay apart is its focus on guided experiences — not equipment. It’s a leaner business model in a massive, fragmented market, and it enables guides to earn from what they love without handling inventory, logistics, or supply chains.

Key Takeaways

To succeed, startups need more than just a big market — they need a big idea.

Some founders position themselves as champions of reconnection: not just encouraging people to go fishing, but helping society escape the trap of four walls and virtual reality. Their mission isn’t about rods and reels — it’s about purpose, tradition, and getting people back into nature.

But even without the philosophical angle, the numbers speak for themselves. Hunting, fishing, and nature travel represent a massive, underutilized market — one that’s still largely off the radar for most tech founders and investors.

That opens the door for new entrants. Whether it’s planning trips, selling equipment, or offering hybrid services — there’s room to build.

Mallard Bay’s model is especially appealing because it avoids the headaches of physical inventory, warehouses, and logistics. It's a lightweight business with real revenue — and one that turns fresh air into real money.

Company info:

Mallard Bay

• Website: mallardbay.com

• Latest round: $4.6M, March 18, 2024

• Total funding: $6.6M across 4 rounds