StarRez is a global market leader in student housing software and residential community management. Pulse 2.0 interviewed StarRez CEO Travis Knipe to learn more about the company.
Travis Knipe’s Background
What is Travis Knipe’s background? Knipe said:
“I grew up just outside of Melbourne, Australia, and completed my Bachelor of Commerce degree at La Trobe University.
I joined his company at a young age to help with all aspects of the business, eventually taking it over and continuing his vision.
Recently, I served as the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Melbourne Yarra Chapter’s Chair and I am a proud ambassador for YPO globally.”
Formation Of StarRez
How did the idea for the company come together? Knipe shared:
“My late father, Alan Knipe, was an amazing technology visionary, who founded the company that would eventually become StarRez in 1992.
Originally, the company provided telephone management services in the Student Housing sector. But our team was always proficient at actively listening to our customers, and discovering what other problems we could solve. Responding to these needs led to the natural evolution of our offerings to a full-service residential platform, with a product suite that continues to expand and adapt today.
In my early 20s, I had a great opportunity to take the business international. At the time, it was called StarNet Systems. I created the StarRez brand in 2003.
In 2006, I officially set up our Denver, CO office and began assembling an amazing team to serve our expanding North American market. In 2008 we launched StarRez in London and Europe, followed by Singapore in 2009. StarRez continued to grow, expanding into more than 20 countries and managing over 2 million residential beds by 2021.
In late 2021, we ran a detailed strategic process and selected an outstanding new partner, a private equity firm based in the United States called Vista Equity Partners, to help drive growth and scale StarRez as a global platform to the next level. We then quickly completed two acquisitions and welcomed Adirondack Solutions and RMS (Residential Management Systems) to the StarRez family.
We now manage over 3 million beds across more than 1,350 community members in 25+ countries, with more than 250 team members worldwide. StarRez serves some of the most prestigious organizations in the world, including Harvard University, Stanford University, National University of Singapore, University of London, Australian National University, Vail Ski Resorts (Staff Housing), iQ Student Accommodation (PBSA), Scape Living (PBSA), and 1350+ more.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Knipe reflected:
“I have so many fond memories over the course of our 30-year journey. A real highlight was our 2009 Global Connect Conference at Cornell University. To host the flagship StarRez event at such a prestigious and beautiful location was an incredibly memorable experience.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Knipe explained:
“Our platform positively impacts millions of users from around the world, providing solutions to manage the resident experience (such as room selection, roommate matching, move-in/move out, front desk, package delivery, and maintenance), as well as housing administrative functions concerning occupancy, revenue, allocations, and more. Our automated solutions reduce administrative workload and streamline communications, providing a seamless and personalized experience for staff and residents alike.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Knipe and the team faced in building the company? Knipe acknowledged:
“The transition to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly a challenge for StarRez, as it was for many organizations. We embraced it, however, and built an even stronger, collaborative team that achieves amazing results together. We place a great amount of importance on having regular all-hands meetings and frequent communications to promote effective teamwork. We also make sure to frequently celebrate great news about our community members and team, and arrange in-person meetings and events to foster stronger professional and personal bonds.”
Evolution Of StarRez’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Knipe noted:
“StarRez evolves constantly, and we pride ourselves on our ability to do so. We are committed to continuous innovation and are passionate about our product suite.
Our platform provides real-time insights to optimize operations, improve decision-making, and enhance resident systems. It comprehensively integrates with other systems, ensuring a unified and efficient management experience. Cybersecurity is also a huge priority, and we ensure robust data protection and privacy with industry-leading measures.
A recent example of our platform’s evolution is the launching of Visual Room Selection, an interactive feature that allows users to virtually explore rooms within a residential building, helping them to make more informed choices when selecting their living space.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Knipe cited:
“A key milestone was when StarRez was able to expand its operations to North America, Europe, and Singapore within three years in the 2000s.
Another was the birth of our partnership with Vista Equity Partners in 2022, a leading global investment firm focused solely on enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled businesses.
This partnership has allowed us to expand the StarRez platform while staying true to our vision and community member base. Our partnership with Vista also ensures that we meet a growing need for additional security, compliance, and functionality without compromising our core values.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Knipe about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“We are immensely proud of our thriving customer community. Below is a brief summary of just four recent StarRez customer success stories, though we have many more on our website:
Using StarRez, Gonzaga University streamlined its housing process for students with approved accommodations, resulting in a more inclusive experience. Key outcomes include a 97% participation rate in self-service room selection, a 25-hour reduction in staff time per room selection process, and a 98% decrease in billing inquiries due to automated processes. This shift has improved both student satisfaction and operational efficiency.
The University of Tasmania achieved remarkable improvements by using StarRez, which streamlined its accommodation processes. Adopting StarRez led to a 40% increase in student satisfaction and reduced staff administrative workload by 60%. Critical workflows were automated, resulting in enhanced data accuracy and faster service delivery for students.
Berklee College of Music simplified its housing operations by leveraging the StarRez platform, saving 72 hours per placement cycle through digital processing. It saw a 10% increase in student engagement and a 62% decrease in room change requests, thereby improving housing satisfaction and efficiency. The implementation also boosted annual residential applications by 20%, enhancing both staff and student experiences.
Butler University significantly improved its housing operations by using StarRez’s Inventory & Inspections solution. The university reduced time spent on inspections by 80% and damage bill reviews by over 50%. By digitizing processes, it achieved 100% accuracy in assigning charges for damages, which fostered better collaboration between the housing and facilities teams. StarRez’s platform significantly improved communications, cut down on inspection times, and allowed Butler to complete summer turnovers faster and more efficiently.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Knipe affirmed:
“There are several ways that we distinguish ourselves as the leader in student housing software:
StarRez offers a true all-in-one platform in which we integrate all aspects of housing management, from application to occupancy, to provide seamless operations. We provide the most extensive range of features and services in the market.
We boast formidable industry expertise: approximately 80% of our employees come from the industry, providing unparalleled insights and support to our community members. With offices in the United States, Australia, and the UK, we combine a global reach with local knowledge to deliver exceptional, personalized service.
There is no outsourcing whatsoever associated with our products, delivery, services or implementation, ensuring consistent quality and accountability. We also provide state-of-the-art platform security so our communities have peace of mind knowing that their data is safe.
StarRez grows with our community members, always adapting to their changing needs.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Knipe concluded:
“StarRez is on a never-ending mission to help residential communities thrive, meaning our community members are connected and prospering in all aspects of their lives. This mission is our “north star,” and we’re focused on continuing to improve our platform, expand our product offerings, and support the evolving needs of communities around the world.”
