Nick Scappini, Jay Lee and Eric Winters of BabyShowerForGuys.com

The bachelor party has become an important rite of passage for guys, marking the transition from single to married life. Now, a Seattle startup is hoping to popularize a new tradition for the dudes. It’s called BabyShowerForGuys.com.

“Expectant fathers and their buddies deserve one last all-out getaway before welcoming a baby into the family, and we’re here to make sure those memories last a lifetime—or at least get you through the next 18 years,” the company writes on its Web site.

Visitors to the site, which launched today, can peruse thousands of vacation packages in L.A., Vegas, Puerto Rico and other destinations designed specifically with the expectant father in mind. But BabyShowerForGuys.com is more than an online travel site. It also includes some important articles for the expectant father, everything from how to deal with baby poop blow outs to managing a fantasy football team.

We chatted with co-founder and CEO Nick Scappini, a 32-year-old former national sales manager at Halosource, to get the inside scoop on a service that we wished had made its mark before our kids had arrived.

Explain what you do so our parents can understand it: “We are a network of travel sites providing niche vacation and adventure booking targeted at married men, fathers and the women in their lives. Our network also gives users a daily dose of sports, entertainment and advice content relevant to their place in life.”



Inspiration hit us when: “When my wife got pregnant with our first child it hit me that I had a whole new opportunity to get away for a much-needed “Mancation.” I got my friends together and addressed them as if I were Coach Harris in Revenge of the Nerds: “We are letting a golden opportunity slip right through our fingers!” I scolded them! And so began the first Baby Shower For Guys.

Plenty of couples take a babymoon when they are expecting their first child (and our network will eventually target that niche as well). But considering all of the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with becoming a new father, men really need a chance to let loose before they become slaves to the diaper bag. Six years ago marked my first Baby Shower For Guys, and I’ve helped coordinate one with my friends every year since. BabyShowerForGuys.com caters to men around the country looking for travel options targeted specifically at their place in life. They have no idea what they have been missing.”


VC, Angel or Bootstrap: “Bootstrap seeking angel investing. It is really important to us to stay true to the vision and not get caught up with too many investors having control over our company. At some point, we’ll bring on a few key investors that can bring the right experience and advising to our team.

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Our ‘secret sauce’ is: “Niche content, niche travel and one-click booking all through our site. Nobody else is solving the customer loyalty problem in the online travel space. By specializing in smaller target demographics, giving them content that matters and making the entire process quick and easy, we can give users an experience they aren’t getting anywhere else. ”

The smartest move we’ve made so far: “Getting 100 different opinions.”



The biggest mistake we’ve made so far: “Not fully understanding the whole process around obtaining funding. It has been a learning experience that led us to the decision to launch as a bootstrapped company. 
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Would you rather have Gates, Jobs, Zuckerberg or Bezos in your corner: “I think we would take Zuckerberg. For the same reason we would take Elway over Unitas: he’s more of our era, plus he’s in our target demographic.

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Our world domination strategy starts on: “November 7, 2011, when BabyShowerForGuys.com launches. Its success will pave the way for more of our innovations in the online travel industry including niche sites for women, couples, families and divorcees.”

Rivals should fear us because: “Our attitude is unmistakable and we just won’t give in. It’s time for something different in the online travel space, and we intend to shake it up. Plus Jay and Eric, my co-founders, are both yellow belts in karate, which should keep Expedia from trying to get in our face.

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We are truly unique because: “We come from three very different backgrounds: sales, graphic design and software engineering, all bringing skills that are critical to building this business. Not to mention that founding a legitimate, competitive company inspired by a bunch of guys partying and golfing is pretty unique.”

The biggest hurdle we’ve overcome is: “Deciding to turn down a regular paycheck in order to make this thing a reality.”

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other entrepreneurs just starting out: “Your business plan and strategy are never finished, or done evolving. You must constantly better your best. Keep refining that idea, acquire expert feedback, keep building upon it, turn it. tweak it, pivot. Eventually you’ll see you have something that will be great.”

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