Skift Forum Europe Preview: Amadeus Is Revving Up Its Startup Involvement
Photo Credit: Suzanna Chiu, head of startups for travel technology company Amadeus, talks to a crowd about one of the company's corporate venture capital investments in Civic, a specialist in identity management using blockchain. Amadeus
Skift Take
Travel startups face long odds, but the lucky ones have a champion in Suzanna Chiu, who has spearheaded an array of programs at travel technology giant Amadeus that have been helping startups thrive. The industry needs more folks like her.
Five years ago, only a handful of travel companies supported mentorship and investment programs for startups. Today we count more than 20 incubators and accelerators backed by major travel companies. Think of easyJet's effort in London and Marriott's twin initiatives in the U.S. and Europe.
Arguably the most ambitious commitment to startups has come from travel technology giant Amadeus IT Group. Through its corporate venture arm, Amadeus Ventures, the company has introduced an array of programs that go beyond mere investment to help startups thrive.
In March, the person spearheading Amadeus' nearly four-year-old efforts, Katherine Grass, left the company.
That's shifted the spotlight to Suzanna Chiu, Head of Startups, who has brought the external innovation program from its infancy into what some might say is an integral part of the company's business.
The Amadeus effort has a few parts. The funding program, for instance, focuses on finding startups working on technologies
