Interview with Paul Trayman, Co-founder of LivePhuket

What is your startup and what does it do?

LivePhuket is a real estate company with a heavy focus on technology. We provide an online platform for guests that are looking to book a vacation rental property online, find a long-term rental, or buy residential real estate on the island of Phuket, Thailand.

At whom is your startup aimed?

Anyone looking to buy, sell, or rent within the Phuket market. (We also serve Koh Samui and Pattaya in Thailand for holiday rentals)

How does your startup stand out against its competitors?

We compete with our competitors on both a local and global level. Local real estate companies are still more traditional and do not use the technology available to them like we do. The global players think big, but do not always think local, this is one area LivePhuket truly stands out – a local experienced team and local customer service.

Where did the idea for the startup come from?

We arrived in Phuket to find our own accommodation, and realized what a daunting experience it can be. We felt that there was a clear gap within the Phuket and Thailand real estate market and we aim to fill that void.

Did you have any concerns when starting your business, if so what were they?

Our main concerns were not knowing the local market, as well as being able to find local talent on a small island off the south of Thailand, the latter of which is still a concern to us.

What is your business background, and what got you interested in startups?

LivePhuket was conceived around September 2013, and it took a long time to shape out what it was going to be.

We are three best friends from London, with a diverse background in real estate, tech startups, technology, and development with investment banking and project management within the private section.

A fourth partner (Brennan) joined at a later stage after launch.

However long you think it will take to build the right product add another month or two!

Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to someone thinking about starting a business, what would it be?

Do something you know ALOT about, and ideally have good experience – so you can really beat your competition. Find the right partners who compliment areas/skillsets that you are weaker at.