Sean O'Neill, Skift
The old idea of payments in monthly installments is seeing new life in the U.S. online travel sector. Uplift is one of the leading tech vendors powering loans to travelers for buying from airlines such as Spirit and search sites like Kayak. Expect a lot of marketing around this in 2019.
16 hours ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Outdoorsy, an outdoor recreational vehicle marketplace, has raised $50 million in Series C funding. Plus, more travel startup funding news this week from esports brand ReKTGlobal, social trip-tracking company Polarsteps, and South Africa-based public transport data and technology startup WhereIsMyTransport.
6 days ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
This week travel startups announced funding for event management tech (RainFocus and B Network), luggage with power ports (Horizn Studios), short-term rental booking in Vietnam (Luxstay), and travel rewards tools for financial companies (Upgrade Pack).
2 weeks ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Nezasa, a provider of booking tools for travel agents, and Halan, an Egyptian ride-hailing service for tuk-tuks and motorcycles, have recently received funding.
3 weeks ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Germany's travel startup scene used to be barely breathing. But with the fundings of HomeToGo, GoEuro, and Tourlane this year, the country's day in the sun has arrived thanks to a few factors, including more funding, bolder thinking, and better mentorship.
4 weeks ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
This week's travel startup funding announcements included bets on the popular themes of vacation rentals, co-living, corporate and business travel, and expense management.
1 month ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
This week, travel startups announced more than $114 million in funding, including WhyHotel, Oyo, Noken, and Wow Venue.
1 month ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
To quote a smart venture capitalist, "Just because investment money is pouring in doesn’t mean all bets are good bets!” WhyHotel itself may be a well-run business, but the sudden rush of venture money into a full array of hospitality businesses does raise eyebrows overall.
1 month ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
This week investors bet more than $104 million on companies that help people plan trips (Tourlane, SnapTravel, Fineway, and AsiaYo), recruit hotel workers (Hosco), create adventure travel content (Roam), and book medical tourism (Hospals).
2 months ago
Sean O'Neill and Dennis Schaal, Skift
The acquisition of once-high-flying Tripping.com as a distressed asset was a losing deal for investors. It's not clear what the payoff will be for HomeToGo acquiring a Silicon Valley rival at vacation rental price-comparison. HomeToGo faces daunting expectations now, having raised $150 million.
2 months ago
Natalie Wong, Bloomberg
The travel industry startup ecosystem could use some fresh ideas, so we salute new investors placing bets like Steph Curry, the basketball star playing for the Golden State Warriors. Curry's investment in SnapTravel, a messaging-based hotel booking tool, holds promise but the outcome remains uncertain for the company, which has raised $22.4 million to date.
2 months ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Bidroom, one of Skift's Top Startups to Watch in 2018, aims to challenge traditional online travel agencies with an Amazon Prime-like subscription model. Plus, fundings galore for Festicket, GlobalTix, Zizoo, Hotel Effectiveness, Loisirs Enchères, Bookaway, LokaLocal, and Vacation With an Artist.
2 months ago