Founder & CEO, YATCO – The Trusted Global Marketplace of Yachting
For much of his career, Steven Myers has been preoccupied with one problem: how to make the yacht market more transparent for the professionals who work in it every day.
Long before “proptech” or “marketplace SaaS” became common language, Myers was working inside traditional brokerage houses, seeing first-hand how fragmented information could slow deals, confuse clients and waste time for serious brokers. Roles with Viking Yacht Company and the Ferretti Group gave him a view across both American and European markets, from production boats to high-end motor yachts.
Those years shaped a simple conviction: the industry needed a digital backbone that professionals could trust. Not another public listings site, but a central system where qualified brokers could share accurate data and work from the same source of truth.
Building the “MLS of Yachting”
In 2000, Myers founded what would become YATCO, positioning it as the official multiple-listing service for yachting: a place where central listings are handled exclusively by vetted professionals, supported by software built for the way brokers actually work.
Over more than two decades, the platform has grown into a global marketplace listing tens of billions of dollars’ worth of yachts for sale and charter, used by thousands of brokers worldwide and powering hundreds of brokerage websites and portals.
YATCO’s evolution mirrors the broader digitisation of the industry: from basic listing pages to a full software-as-a-service stack that handles inventory, client relationships, websites and analytics. Myers has consistently framed YATCO not just as a classifieds site, but as infrastructure — a system that helps professionals compete in an increasingly online marketplace.
Industry press often describes YATCO as “the official MLS of yachting” and “a central nervous system for the brokerage market,” language that reflects both the scale the platform has reached and the quiet influence it now holds over how information moves through the sector.
A Career Across Finance and Brokerage
Before and alongside YATCO, Myers built experience in both finance and brokerage. He co-founded First Bank of the Palm Beaches, adding banking and governance to his skill set, and previously held senior sales roles with Viking and Ferretti, giving him deep familiarity with shipyards, dealer networks and the realities of selling complex, high-value assets.
That mix of backgrounds – brokerage floor, yard relationships, and financial oversight – informs YATCO’s positioning as a serious business platform rather than a marketing experiment. It has also allowed Myers to speak fluently to very different audiences: independent brokers, large dealer groups, family offices, media partners and, increasingly, technology investors.
Press & interviews
As YATCO’s profile has grown, Myers has become a recurring voice in discussions about the business of superyachting. In interviews with outlets such as SuperyachtNews, he has argued for cleaner, better-controlled data and warned against the confusion caused when the same yacht appears inaccurately on multiple public sites.
Source: https://www.superyachtnews.com/business/yatco-taking-control-of-the-online-yacht-marketplace
Bloomberg Businessweek invited him to discuss the surge in superyacht transactions during 2021 and what that meant for the broader “billionaire economy,” casting him as one of the people best placed to interpret what the numbers actually say about demand.
Source: https://www.yatco.com/bloomberg-businessweek-interviews-steven-myers-yatco/
Quotes from Steven over the years:
“We are excited by this new partnership with the YBA. Türkiye is a rapidly growing market … we’re proud to partner with the YBA and increase international yacht sales and charters from our partner to the region.” — Steven J. Myers.
“Technology should support — not replace — the human element.” — Myers on the role of tech in yachting.
“We are excited to welcome the team at BoatDeck and YachtandBoat onboard with us at YATCO… This acquisition will allow YATCO to dramatically expand our international member base, double the size of our inventory offerings … and rapidly accelerate our growth in online consumer markets and lead generation.” — Myers, Marine & Maritime, November 2021.
“YATCO is very proud to be part of the Cluster Yachting Monaco and Yacht Club de Monaco’s efforts in seeking to elevate yachting in Monaco and around the globe… The efforts toward sustainability and the future of yachting are commendable and YATCO will continue to do all we can to support these causes.” — Myers, at Cluster Yachting Monaco event, October 2023.
Five Career Milestones
Founding YATCO (2000) – Launching one of the first professional-only online MLS platforms in yachting.
Building YATCO into a global marketplace – Growing the platform to support thousands of brokers and billions of dollars in yacht transactions annually.
Leadership in industry dialogue – Serving as a public voice on data integrity and online brokerage in interviews with Bloomberg Businessweek and specialist media.
Strategic merger with ACREW & Triton News (2024) – Expanding YATCO’s reach into crew development and engagement, linking the marketplace with the people who operate the vessels.
Ongoing board and association roles – Contributing to organisations such as the International Superyacht Society and the US Superyacht Association, reinforcing his role in the governance and long-term development of the sector.
“As the founder and CEO of YATCO, he has dedicated his career to elevating the worldwide yachting industry with cutting-edge technology, integrity, accuracy, and a commitment to eco-friendly solutions.” Superyacht Society
“YATCO has become an essential tool for yacht brokers, and I am full of admiration for the founder, Steve Myers.” David Seal host of the Broker Masterclass.
"Knowledge comes in many forms, but the knowledge that Steven Myers has acquired … is continuously being channelled towards advancing the industry through technology.” Superyacht Times