June 5×5 Night at Start Garden
Voting Closes:
June 16, 2025 11:59 pm
Impact
Vanly empowers RV and van travelers to access safe, bookable parking both outside and within cities—bringing them closer to the events, food, and culture they love. For RVers, this means using their RVs more often, especially for concerts, festivals, weddings, and sporting events. They can enjoy quick, affordable overnight stops near urban hubs and highways, while saving money on hotels, pet boarding, and long drives to distant campgrounds.
For small businesses and downtown areas, Vanly attracts new, mobile customers—many of whom travel with disposable income. Hosts can generate $10,000 to $20,000+ annually from parking alone (at an average of $60 per night), with additional revenue from food, drink, or amenity sales. Most importantly, Vanly helps stimulate local economic development as travelers spend at nearby shops, restaurants, and attractions.
What I'll do with $5,000
As Vanly expands into downtowns and business districts, this $5,000 will help us accelerate our Grand Rapids pilot—bringing more hosts and RV travelers into the ecosystem while showcasing the economic potential for cities across Michigan and beyond.
We’ll use these funds to grow both sides of our marketplace. $1,500 will go toward a local digital marketing campaign targeting RV travelers and vanlifers passing through West Michigan, with tailored messaging to drive bookings in Grand Rapids. Another $1,500 will support host outreach and onboarding, focusing on small businesses, nonprofits, and homeowners. This includes covering onboarding costs and providing simple promotional kits for hosts to display—like QR codes, signs, and FAQs.
An additional $1,000 will be used for traveler incentives, offering limited-time discounts to generate early bookings, build reviews, and encourage stays near urban and cultural destinations. Finally, $500 will support event-based partnerships, collaborating with local festivals, breweries, and venues in Grand Rapids to bundle parking with event access—creating a win-win for both guests and hosts.
This isn’t just about parking—it’s about proving that Vanly can activate overlooked real estate to support small businesses, boost tourism, and build stronger, more connected cities. The momentum from this $5K will help position Grand Rapids as a national model for mobile-friendly downtowns.
Quick Bio
After struggling to travel with my wife and two dogs in our RV—including our 14-year-old—Vanly offers flexible, with many pet-friendly stays near cities, events, and real experiences.