AmeriStudent

What AmeriStudent does

AmeriStudent, doing business as StudentRoomStay (SRS), is a two-sided student accommodation marketplace that connects international students with vetted U.S. host families, alongside incremental coverage in Australia and New Zealand. Founded in 2014 by Adam Lee on the Central Coast of California, the original AmeriStudent business focused on homestay placements for international students under 18. Between 2020 and 2021, the company executed three acquisitions: American Homestay Network, MyStay International, and Australian Homestay Network, consolidating the founding assets, Australian IP, and brand under the StudentRoomStay umbrella. The platform surfaces verified host listings, allows direct messaging between students and hosts, and processes payments through Stripe on a take-rate basis.

The product portfolio includes the SRS Marketplace (web and mobile), CSIET-certified placements for minors, StayPrep 3D orientation, and tiered concierge packages (SRS Concierge for high school and college students, and SRS Pro+). Revenue is generated through a combination of transaction commissions on bookings, subscription-style premium packages that bundle guardianship, school transportation, meals, and ongoing support, and ancillary managed services. The company also leverages partnerships with Think-X for career development and Crisis Cover for geolocation and emergency support, broadening the value proposition beyond accommodation. The company is privately held, with a 2020 seed round at a post-money valuation exceeding $10 million USD and no named institutional venture capital or private equity investors in the source material.

Name

AmeriStudent

Legal name

StudentRoomStay

Website

https://ameristudent.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AmeriStudent, operating as StudentRoomStay (SRS), is a two-sided marketplace connecting international students with vetted U.S. host families, generating revenue through booking commissions and premium concierge packages, with CSIET-certified placements for minors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Accommodation / Homestay Marketplace

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Housing Marketplaces & Booking Platforms (THAMAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Student Housing Marketplaces & Booking Platforms (Aggregators) (EDAIALAE), Homestays for Students & Interns (Host Families) (THAMAGAH), Homestay Placement & Host Family Management (EDAIALAC)

Keywords

• Student homestay marketplace
• International student housing
• Homestay accommodation platform
• Study abroad lodging
• Host family matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Pismo Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Platform Commission/Booking Fees: SRS acts as intermediary收取佣金 between students and hosts. Students pay SRS, and SRS pays hosts weekly through Stripe. Platform takes a commission on bookings.
2. Homestay Package Services: Comprehensive packages for students under 18 including guardianship, school transportation, daily meals, monthly check-ins, and premium support
3. Host Stipends: Hosts receive payments from SRS for hosting services. Short-term hosting earns $30-$85+/day; long-term hosting earns approximately $900/month or more depending on region

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AmeriStudent operates the StudentRoomStay (SRS) marketplace, a two-sided online platform that connects international and domestic students with background-checked U.S. host families for verified homestay accommodations. Students browse listings, message hosts directly, and book stays through the web or mobile app, while host families list rooms, complete verification, and receive weekly payouts via Stripe. The platform also offers CSIET-certified placements for students under 18, premium concierge packages (guardianship, meals, transportation), and the StayPrep 3D orientation experience.

Product overview

AmeriStudent operates StudentRoomStay (SRS), a comprehensive global student accommodation platform. The core offering consists of the SRS Marketplace for booking verified homestays, combined with programs for both high school (SRS Concierge) and college students. The platform connects students with vetted U.S. host families across major destinations, offering CSIET-certified placements for minors and flexible arrangements for adults. The product portfolio includes StayPrep orientation features, payment processing via Stripe, and partnerships for ancillary services like career development (Think-X) and emergency evacuation (Crisis Cover). AmeriStudent's original business (founded 2014) has been merged with Australian Homestay Network and MyStay International to form the unified SRS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SRS Marketplace: The online platform for students to browse verified homes, message hosts directly, and secure their stay with full transparency.
• SRS Concierge
• SRS Pro+
• StayPrep

Products and services

• StudentRoomStay (SRS) Marketplace A global student accommodation platform that connects international and domestic students with verified host families, private rooms, and shared apartments across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. Available via web and mobile app.
• SRS Marketplace (Booking Platform) An online marketplace where students browse verified host homes, compare options, search by destination and dates, and book directly with families. Features popular study destinations including New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Seattle, Houston, and Orlando.
• SRS Host Program A program enabling U.S. host families to list their spare rooms, complete background checks and verification, set pricing and house rules, and receive stay requests from international students. Hosts receive weekly payments through Stripe.
• CSIET-Certified Placements CSIET-certified homestay placements for students under 18, meeting strict standards for safety, host vetting, and program oversight under the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel.
• SRS Concierge (High School) Premium homestay package for high school students including guardianship, school transportation, daily meals, monthly check-ins, SRS premium support, and all SRS Pro+ features.
• SRS Concierge (College) Premium homestay services for college students including vetted families, SRS international app access, SRS support, pre-arrival information, host information, and check-in protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5000+ students housed with trusted hosts worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Think-XcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Partnership with Think-X provides all StudentRoomStay students with free career development reports and personalized automated coaching programs. Think-X's patented diagnostic and coaching platform helps students develop better thinking patterns for improved mental wellness and academic performance. Ted Malley, Think-X CEO, noted the partnership will help students gain confidence through neuroscience of positive thinking.
• Crisis CovercoreTechnology or IntegrationCrisis Cover partnership provides StudentRoomStay clients with automatic access to Student Parachute membership, offering geolocation tracking and student protection assistance services. Enhances safety offerings for international students using the platform.
• American Homestay NetworkcoreOthersAmeriStudent acquired American Homestay Network as part of expansion strategy. Combined entity aims to become one of the largest homestay providers globally.
• MyStay InternationalcoreOthersTechnology and IP acquired from Australian company MyStay International, co-founded by David Bycroft. Combined talents and technologies from both companies form foundation of StudentRoomStay platform.
• Australian Homestay NetworkcoreOthersAmeriStudent acquired Australian Homestay Network as part of international expansion strategy to build global leader in student accommodation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Homestay.com: Global online marketplace booking homestay accommodations for students, language learners, and travelers. Directly comparable business model: vetted hosts, online booking, and a take-rate on placements to SRS's offering.
• Educatius: International student exchange organization placing high school students with vetted host families, including CSIET-aligned programs in the U.S. Overlaps with SRS on certified under-18 placements and agency partnerships.
• Cultural Homestay International (CHI): Non-profit placing international high school and adult students with screened host families across the U.S. Competes directly with SRS in the CSIET-certified homestay placement space.
• Academic Year in America (AYA): CSIET-accredited high school exchange program placing international students with American host families. Direct competitor in the regulated under-18 homestay segment.
• Host Families International: Homestay placement agency specializing in international student and au pair hosting. Operates with similar vetting and matching processes, competing for both host and student supply.
• ICX (International Cultural Xchange): CSIET-listed exchange organization placing international high school students with American host families. Direct competitor in the certified under-18 homestay placement market.

Emerging players

• Amberstudent: Global student accommodation marketplace focused primarily on purpose-built student housing and PBSA. Adjacent to SRS's marketplace model but oriented to urban rental inventory rather than homestays.
• Student.com: International student housing marketplace helping students book purpose-built and private rentals near universities. Comparable marketplace GTM but overlapping only partially with SRS's homestay-first positioning.
• University Living: Global student accommodation aggregator covering PBSA, homestays, and shared housing. Competes with SRS for inbound international students searching online for verified housing options.

Broad incumbents

• Airbnb: Global short-term rental marketplace with massive host supply and brand recognition. Represents the primary alternative for 18+ students and the principal competitive threat to SRS's adult segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ameristudent

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AmeriStudent