Interview: Judging Consumer Vs. B2B Travel Startups
Skift Take
As Ambrose says, focus on building a business rather than long funding cycles because that is where the value is going to get created.
Last fall we came out with our report, “Venture Investment Trends in the Travel Industry: Lessons & Strategies for Travel Startups,” which looks at what type of travel startups attract venture capital funding, where the smart money is going, and the common mistakes that startups make as they seek funding and strive to build their new businesses.
Below is an extract. Get the full report here to get ahead of this trend.
David Ambrose is managing director of Steadfast Venture Capital, an early stage investment firm based in New York City that focuses on travel and local.
Ambrose previously led Travelzoo’s global mobile and social business. In 2008, Ambrose founded Scoop St., a local commerce company that was acquired by BuyWithMe in 2011. Skift spoke with Ambrose about the investment and startup scene, including the attractiveness of B2B investments; theme-based offerings, including adventure travel; in-destination services, and startups’ mistakes. An edited portion of the interview follows: Skift: How do you view the current climate for travel startups and investment, and how is it changing? David Ambrose: I think what is very clear in travel investing in 2