Ode to the Scrappy Startup: The Startup Hotel

I doubt there's a founder — and, by extension, their early employees — who hasn't stayed in a "Startup Hotel," the lowest-priced, often unsafe holes-in-the-walls that we stay in to pinch pennies in those beginning months of a startup company. They were great because they were a tangible adventure in the early stages — and it was also a living example to investors and others that you were making sacrifices to make your company work.
I got fleas at a hotel in Jacksonville, Florida, (and still have scars from all the scratching).
I barricaded myself in a room in Philadelphia when the deadbolt didn't work and the slide lock was missing a screw.
I went through a couple layers of security to get into my hotel in New Orleans.
Once, when I inquired about the advertised free Wi-Fi, I was told: "Steal it from the Chili's."

But those aren't even my favorite stories. Below are some of my favorite startup hotels.

Victory Hotel
I didn't see the fire damage when I got in late (and, in defense of the hotel, I was on the opposite end). But when I did see it, a wave of euphoria swept over me. I had told my staff we should have a contest to see who can safely stay in the cheapest hotel. I started tweeting photos (see above) until my staff said: "You win!" (They weren't as into the contest as I was.)
Philadelphia Welcome

This is hands down my favorite low-cost hotel because it was such a perfect spot. Lowest price hotel I could find ($59 a night in a major city!) and it was just outside of downtown with immediate access to the expressway. Also: free parking! But, of course, it had plenty of Startup Hotel warts. Some of the sign lights were out (right) and I wasn't sure if I was welcome...

I got in late and parked in the garage around back. I followed best practices and cleared everything out of the car. The automobile next to me

wasn't as diligent. The next morning when I went to leave, I saw that someone had broken into the car and went through it. I felt lucky I didn't get hit, too. When I told a friend of mine — a longtime, hardscrabble Philadelphian — he laughed and said that was "The Philadelphia Welcome."
I kept staying there, and the hotel kept making improvements. But it was too good to last, as confirmed by a notice of closure. They said it would all be cleared up (one staff member blamed Hurricane Sandy). But I thought it was the perfect ending. I still spent the night (without a single problem) and said farewell.

Continental Breakfast

When I first started traveling often, continental breakfasts were like cherries on top of sundaes. Free and food at the start of your day. I always considered a place with a waffle maker to be a top-shelf Startup Hotel (though I only used one once because I managed to screw up the waffles).
But I've learned a lot of valuable lessons: Never try the hard-boiled eggs if they're in a significant amount of standing water. Always try to gauge how cold the refrigerator is before you take anything out of it. Sometimes it's worth paying for food.

Technology is sending the Startup Hotel the way of the dinosaur, though. Last-minute buying on apps like Hotel Tonight or instant-bidding via Priceline and other sites can get me almost the same price at a nice(ish) downtown place as one of my favorite rat holes.
I haven't stayed in a true Startup Hotel in awhile, thanks to new services that make it easier (and the company is a little more successful than Day 1). But I love them because they are that physical reminder that you have to live lean and make sacrifices — and that so much about starting a new company is an adventure.
The best thing about starting a company is bonding through the challenges. If you have similar Startup Hotel photos, post them in your LinkedIn feed and let me know in the comments. I'll create a SlideShare and include them. I'd also love to hear some more great Startup Hotel stories.
Photos: Chris Seper

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