Placio
Placio is an India-founded student accommodation platform operating as a broker-free marketplace connecting students with verified housing near universities globally. The company aggregates 2M+ beds across 250+ cities and partners with 800+ universities, generating revenue through booking commissions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNoida, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Placio does
Placio is a student accommodation marketplace founded in 2016 and headquartered in Noida, India, operating as a broker-free platform that connects students with verified housing near universities globally. The platform aggregates listings across 10+ countries including the UK, US, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, and France, serving international, domestic, and exchange students who face verification, paperwork, and price-transparency challenges when securing student housing.
The product surface is built around a digital marketplace listing 2M+ beds across 250+ cities and integrating partnerships with 800+ universities worldwide. Core platform features include 100% verified property listings, an instant 3-step booking flow (discovery, paperwork assistance, booking finalization), 24x7 customer assistance, and a lowest price guarantee. Distribution spans a web platform plus native iOS and Android mobile applications, with sub-brands Amber Plus (a premium membership tier) and Amber Scholar (a scholarship program awarding up to $50,000). Strategic partnerships with major property operators including GoBritanya, LST, Scape, Yugo, Nido, and UniLodge form the supply backbone of the marketplace.
Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based commissions on bookings facilitated between students and partner property providers, structured as a marketplace fee model. The company employs a direct-to-consumer go-to-market approach, leveraging university partnerships, content marketing, referral programs, and a campus ambassador network for customer acquisition. Disclosed funding totals approximately $3.55M across three rounds between 2018 and 2019, and the company executed a diversification acquisition of Paco Meals in July 2018, indicating intent to broaden beyond accommodation brokerage. Pricing varies materially by geography, with UK properties ranging from £85 to £515 per week, US listings from $599 to $1,795 per month, Australia from AU$219 to AU$459 per week, and European listings spanning €167 to €1,121 per month.
Placio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Placio
- Legal name
- Amber
- Website
- https://placio.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Placio is an India-founded student accommodation platform operating as a broker-free marketplace connecting students with verified housing near universities globally. The company aggregates 2M+ beds across 250+ cities and partners with 800+ universities, generating revenue through booking commissions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Placio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Accommodation Marketplace
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Student Housing Marketplaces & Booking Platforms (Aggregators) (EDAIALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Student Housing Marketplaces & Booking Platforms (THAMAGAJ), International Student Housing Placement & Management (BPAJAJAL), Housing Placement Agencies & Local Letting/Relocation Services for Students (EDAIALAH)
Keywords
Where Placio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Noida
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Markets served
Placio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Accommodation Booking Commission: Amber earns commission from property partners when students book accommodations through the platform. The platform connects students with verified student housing properties globally and takes a transaction fee for facilitating bookings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Variable pricing based on property type, location, and booking duration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Placio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Placio operates a student housing and broker-free platform that enables students to discover, compare, and book verified accommodation near universities globally. The platform aggregates 2M+ beds across 250+ cities and partners with 800+ universities, offering instant booking, 24x7 assistance, a lowest price guarantee, and end-to-end paperwork support for international and domestic students.
Product overview
Amber is a student accommodation booking platform that connects students with verified housing options near universities globally. The platform operates as a marketplace offering 2M+ beds across 800+ universities in 250+ global cities. Key offerings include instant booking capabilities, 24x7 assistance, a lowest price guarantee, and verified property listings. Additional services include the Amber Plus subscription tier, the Amberscholar scholarship program, group booking options, and a referral program where users can earn rewards for successful bookings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Amber Plus: Premium membership program with additional benefits for student accommodation bookings.
- Amber Scholar
Products and services
- Student Accommodation Booking Platform
Companies that use Placio
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Placio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Placio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- 800+ Universities (including Torrens University, BIMM, Niagara College, University of Westminster, Schiller International University, University of West Scotland, INTO University Partnerships, University of Law, James Cook University, Birmingham University, London College, and more)coreStrategic partnerships with over 800 universities globally to direct students to Amber's accommodation platform. Universities promote Amber to their students as a trusted accommodation partner, creating a steady stream of qualified student users.
- Property Providers (GoBritanya, LST, Scape, Yugo, Nido, UniLodge, and others)corePartnerships with student accommodation property providers to list their properties on the Amber platform. Properties include purpose-built student accommodation, private rooms, shared apartments, and studios across multiple countries.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Placio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HousingAnywhere: Large cross-border rental marketplace covering students, young professionals, and expats across Europe. Comparable on international student segment but operates in a broader rental category.
- Spotahome: Mid- to long-term rental platform with verified listings across Europe. Overlaps with Amber on international students booking medium-stay accommodation, though it serves a wider tenant base.
- The Global Student Accommodation (GSA): Aggregator operating alongside leading PBSA brands (iQ, Scape, Yugo, Nido). Comparable on supply breadth and global reach for student accommodation search.
Direct peers
- Student.com: Global student accommodation marketplace aggregating inventory near universities across the UK, US, Australia, and Europe. Directly competes with Amber in the same international student housing search and booking flow.
- UniAcco: International student housing and admissions platform offering booking of student accommodation in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. Closely comparable on cross-border student housing supply and university-channel GTM.
- University Living: Student housing marketplace focused on booking verified accommodation near universities globally. Overlaps directly with Amber on supply aggregation, university partnerships, and price-comparison booking.
- Casita: Student accommodation marketplace operating across the UK and Ireland with verified listings, similar booking flow, and university partnerships. A direct competitor in core European markets.
- UHomes: Online student housing marketplace aggregating apartments near US and UK universities. Comparable on verified listings, global city coverage, and direct-to-student booking.
Others
- Yugo: Global student housing operator with owned and managed inventory across the UK, Europe, and US. Both a key supplier to Amber and a strategic alternative for universities seeking single-operator solutions.
- iQ Student Accommodation: Major purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) operator with owned inventory across the UK and Australia. Listed as a property partner of Amber but also a potential disintermediation risk via direct bookings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Placio social profiles
Digital presencePlacio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Placio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Placio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Placio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Placio
What does Placio do?
Placio operates a student housing and broker-free platform that enables students to discover, compare, and book verified accommodation near universities globally. The platform aggregates 2M+ beds across 250+ cities and partners with 800+ universities, offering instant booking, 24x7 assistance, a lowest price guarantee, and end-to-end paperwork support for international and domestic students.
Is Placio a public or private company?
Placio is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Placio founded?
Placio was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Placio based?
Placio is headquartered in Noida, India, in the Asia region.
How does Placio make money?
One revenue line is on record: accommodation Booking Commission.
Who are Placio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HousingAnywhere, Spotahome and The Global Student Accommodation (GSA). Direct peers are Student.com, UniAcco, University Living, Casita and UHomes. Others are Yugo and iQ Student Accommodation.
Does Placio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Placio.
What industry is Placio in?
Placio's product category is Student Accommodation Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIALAE, Private Student Housing Marketplaces & Booking Platforms (Aggregators), with a secondary code of THAMAGAJ, Student Housing Marketplaces & Booking Platforms. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 7340.