Volocopter Raises $55 Million for Flying Taxis: Travel Startup Funding This Week

This week, travel startups announced more than $93 million in funding. >>Volocopter, one of the pioneers of electric air taxis, has raised $55.1 million (€50 million) of funding in a Series C round. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, a Chinese automaker that owns the Volvo brand, led the round. Related to the funding, the startup has formed a joint venture with Geely, which now has a minority stake in it, to bring flying cars to China. In Europe, the VoloCity air taxi aspires to launch commercially by 2023. Rival companies are aiming to build similar products, including Uber, Boeing, Airbus, NEC, and a Toyota-backed project. Volocopter, which is based in Bruchsal, Germany, has raised about $89.7 million (€88.1 million) to date. For context on why "it's ludicrous to expect the market to grow beyond a niche offering for the wealthy anytime in the next few decades," read our explainer on flying taxis. >>Atlas Obscura, a travel experiences and media company, has raised $20 million in Series B funding. Airbnb led the round. Other investors include the television conglomerate A+E Networks and New Atlantic Ventures. Airbnb will begin offering its customers Atlas Obscura trips and events through its platform, which gained fame for its short-term rentals. Up until now, Atlas Obscura was listing some of its own curated experiences and some of the tours offered on the online tra