It started with a simple problem: take the trash out, bring it back in. But that tiny pain point? It turned into a full-blown logistics revolution for short-term rental hosts nationwide.

Taylor Jones dives deep with Alex Shapiro, co-founder of Can Monkey, the tech-powered trash service that's now serving over 5,000+ properties across 28 states and 475 cities. What began as a favor for a friend became one of the most unexpected wins in the short-term rental game.

Inside this episode:

How a random lunch and one smelly STR mishap sparked a business idea
Why homeowner rejection opened the door to a thriving STR market
The secret sauce behind Can Monkey’s explosive growth
What it really takes to manage a trash route across hundreds of cities
The unexpected power of timestamped trash photos (yep, they can save you from fines)
What makes a great “can runner” (spoiler: it’s not driving a BMW)
The surprising blend of tech, trust, and trash - and why it matters for STR ops
Can Monkey’s next chapter: 10,000 properties and software that could shake up the space

If you’re in the STR world or just love stories of scrappy entrepreneurship, this episode delivers a goldmine of insights, operations hacks, and growth strategies you’ll wish you heard sooner.

Hit play now, you’ll never look at trash day the same way again.

Learn more at canmonkey.com
Contact Alex: alexander@canmonkey.com or connect with him on LinkedIn

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com

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