Europe Is an Excellent Testbed for the Future of Travel, Say Investors and Entrepreneurs
Photo Credit: CEO of Trainline Clare Gilmartin (far L), Founding Partner at PROfounders Capital Sean Seton-Rogers (L), Co-Founder & COO of GetYourGuide Tao Tao (R), and Skift's Rafat Ali (far R) at Skift Forum Europe in London on April 4, 2017. Skift / Russell Harper
Skift Take
Defying conventional wisdom in the U.S., leading venture capitalist and the founders of two venture-backed companies -- Trainline and GetYourGuide -- believe that Europe is an excellent testbed for creating travel companies that can scale globally. They make their case well.
While Silicon Valley talks up its own brand, Europe has several characteristics that do a better job of forcing companies to hone their products, platforms, and business models. By facing the tough crucible of the demanding European travel market, entrepreneurs must build companies that can be scaled up globally with speed.
Unlike gatherings in Davos and elsewhere where panelists often lay into Europe's perceived lack of entrepreneurial culture, panelists today in London at the inaugural Skift Forum Europe found that Europe is an ideal place to build the travel company of tomorrow.
Founding partner at PROfounders Capital, Sean Seton-Rogers, says "Europe is an incredible testbed for innovation in travel."
Seton-Rogers explains that there are a few reasons why. There is so much demand -- seven out of 10 of the most visite
