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Hayley Melidonis
Founder CEO of Bubbl Reinventing Social Travel. Ex Uber, Ex Intel, Aussie 2 x Travel Entrepreneur, Impact Angel Investor
Hayley Melidonis is the Founder and CEO of Bubbl, a social travel platform launched in January 2024.13 Here's a comprehensive overview of her background and career:
Professional Experience
Hayley is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in strategic global business development. She has held positions at several major technology companies, including:
- Uber (most recently ran strategic partnerships for autonomous vehicles)
- Intel
- Nokia
- Motorola
Entrepreneurial Ventures
Bubbl is not Hayley's first entrepreneurial endeavor. She is a two-time travel entrepreneur:
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Bubbl: A social travel app that allows travelers, nomads, and event-goers to safely share accommodations, make new connections, and optimize their travel budgets.1
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Total Heliski: A lifestyle heliski concierge business she founded in 2009.2
Background and Interests
- Australian by origin
- Passionate skier and adventurer
- Has lived and worked on four continents
- Angel investor and advisor to startups, particularly in the sustainability space1
Education
Hayley attended the University of New South Wales.3
Personal Achievements
- Skied over 100 resorts and backcountry areas across six continents
- Completed the Haute Route on alpine touring skis in 2007
- Ski mountaineered the Grand Paradiso (4061m, highest peak in Italy) in 2008
- Participated in various adventure sports including white water rafting, parachuting, rock climbing, trekking, and sailing2
Hayley's diverse background in technology, travel, and entrepreneurship has culminated in her current role as Founder and CEO of Bubbl, where she aims to reinvent social travel.
Highlights
Here is part 2 to How running Ski Leases inspired me to build Bubbl: the social travel platform based on real community experiences- PART 2
Lesson 3: Serendipity Is a Key Ingredient
One of the most beautiful things about those ski leases was the serendipity of it all. You never knew who was going to walk through the door or what adventures the day would bring. It was in those moments of unpredictability that some of the best memories were made. Whether it was a new friend who shared your love of powder days or a surprise group trip to a local après-ski spot, these spontaneous connections are what made the experience special. Bubbl embraces serendipity as a core value. We believe that when you bring like-minded people together, magic happens. Whether you’re traveling solo and joining a group or bringing your own crew, Bubbl ensures that every trip is infused with the possibility of new connections and shared adventures. It’s this spirit of spontaneity and openness that we hope to cultivate within our community.
Lesson 4: Simple Tools, Big Impact
Managing a ski share house taught me the importance of having the right tools to make organizing seamless. From coordinating who’s bringing what to the cabin to splitting costs and making sure everyone shows up on time, the logistics can quickly become overwhelming. That’s why Bubbl was designed with simplicity in mind. We wanted to take the hassle out of organizing group trips, making it easy for anyone to become a Bubbl Leader. Our platform offers all the tools necessary to plan, manage, and execute a group trip—from setting up a Bubbl listing to managing payments and coordinating details. Bubbl was built to take the stress off the organizer’s shoulders so they can enjoy the experience just as much as everyone else.
Lesson 5: People Crave Authentic, Shared Experiences
In today’s world, where travel is often hyper-commercialized, people are craving authentic, shared experiences. The ski share houses weren’t fancy—they were simply a place where like-minded people could come together, share costs, and enjoy the beauty of the mountains together. This is exactly what Bubbl aims to recreate on a larger scale: authentic, shared experiences that bring people together in meaningful ways. Bubbl is for travelers who want more than just a hotel room or a vacation rental—they want to share the experience with others. Whether it’s a digital nomad looking for community, a startup Founder attending a conference to network for their startup, or a solo traveler seeking connection, Bubbl provides a platform where people can find their tribe and create unforgettable memories together.
Conclusion: The Future of Social Travel
The ski leases that inspired Bubbl were more than just a place to stay—they were a catalyst for building community, creating memories, and forging connections that lasted long after the snow melted.
Thoughts?
Discussing product market fit for Bubbl with Natalie Hughes Fractional Product Leader at SHACK15.
Loving the chat- Showed Natalie Hughes the Bubbl platform, and when we got to the hotel room listings for Dreamforce, she got the aha moment- she’s heading to a couple of conferences coming up. She’s going to post her room with two queen beds, on Bubbl and share in the slack groups for other female conference goers. Who doesn’t need to extend their runway…it’s expensive enough to get to and pay for the conference. If you can save on the accommodation, stay closer, and meet another friend in your space, why not?
Then we got talking more about the opportunity that conferences give soloprenuers like Natalie, thought leaders and creators to gather really awesome people- because they are already going to be there- and to curate a house, run a workshop and lead purposeful shared experiences. Over the breakfast or in the loungeroom. Very casual….very organic.
What do you all think? Are we crazy?
=#bubbl #foundernetworking #extendtherunway #soloprenuers
