Skift Take

While everyone ponders Uber's next move, the car rental industry is experiencing a Renaissance that's worth talking about, but not in the traditional sense. Legacy car rentals also facing competition from startups creating an on-demand experience for travelers that's faster and easier than waiting in the airport car rental queue.

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Each week we roundup the latest crop of travel startups that have received or announced funding that week. The total amount raised this week was $6.1 million.

Here are two companies that announced they raised funding this week, listed in order by the highest amount raised. See previous roundups here.

>>Silvercar raised a $5.8 million Venture round from undisclosed investors bringing the Austin, Texas-based startup’s total funding to $37.3 million.

Silvercar lets travelers book a car rental on their smartphone that they’ll pick up upon arriving at an airport. So far the company, founded in 2012, is live in 11 U.S. airports, recently adding Chicago O’Hare, Fort Lauderdale and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airports. Cars come equipped with free GPS, Wi-Fi, satellite radio and toll fair tracking and travelers don’t have to interact with anyone during car pick-up. They go to the airport’s designated Silvercar area and use the startup’s mobile app to unlock the car and then return it to the same area upon departure.

>>Pana raised a $1.3 million Seed round from new investors Techstars, 500 Startups, FG Angels, flight.vc and Galvanize Ventures.

The Denver, Colorado-based startup’s on-demand mobile app is a travel concierge for booking flights, hotels, cars and dining and saves travelers’ preferences and personalizes suggestions. Essentially acting as a mobile, on-demand travel agent, travelers can send messages to their concierge via the app to request booking services and ask questions.

But there’s a catch–the cost is $25 per month for 24/7 access to live concierge services and includes perks such as exclusive restaurant reservations and access to airport lounges. Pana was founded earlier this year and is available in the iPhone App Store with Android launching soon.

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The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

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Tags: funding, vcroundup

Photo credit: Silvercar lets travelers book airport car rentals on their mobile devices. Silvercar

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