5 Travel Startups Built to Improve Existing Ecosystems

The capabilities of digital tools today are more advanced than most customers and customers could fathom just a few years ago. These are just a few iterations of how that technology can be used on both sides of a transaction.

>> Kaptivating offers hospitality software that finds hotels potential customers via their social media and search activity. It also allows hotels to create direct relationships with customers and currently has four customers.

SkiftTake: As creepy as it seems, companies are diving into potential customers’ personal digital lives for clues on who to target and when.

>> TravelCircus is a German travel company that sells packages with local activities and four-star and five-star hotels that have a recommendation of more than 80 percent on TripAdvisor. was launched in February 2014 and quickly grew its revenue to 4 million euros.

SkiftTake: TravelCircus has enjoyed quick success by focusing exclusively on the German market and providing experiences that fit their particular needs.

>> Pistats is a personal analytics platform for people who commonly use ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. It visualizes all of a users’ spending and the location of its rides on a map.

SkiftTake: This is an interesting concept as consumers become evermore obsessed and able to track their own habits.

>> Roomkita is a hotel metasearch site that compares hotel prices from major brands including Booking.com and Hotels.com. The Istanbul-based startup launched in late May.

SkiftTake: Hotel metasearch sites are a dime-a-dozen today and it takes a specialization either in a certain kind of hotel or customer to drive enough bookings towards success.

>> Hyrecar is a platform where Uber and Lyft drivers can rent a car that’s approved for the car-sharing services. The startup raised a $50,000 seed round in 2015

SkiftTake: The ride-sharing platforms have become a popular way to supplement low incomes; however, the cost of renting a car will likely offset many of the financial benefits of becoming a driver.

For all of our SkiftSeedlings coverage, check out our archives here.