Have you ever been on a trip and wanted one app to book your museum entrance tickets, get you train tickets, score you concert seats, and maybe throw in a cooking class for good measure? Klook wants to be there for you.
There’s no question that travel search is changing with generative AI, but the jury is out on who the big winners will be. Mindtrip is jumping onboard as travel companies attempt to seize the opportunity.
Thayer, the best-known VC firm that invests in travel startups, is essentially merging with a newer fund called Derive. The deal is being pitched as a way to "drive innovation in travel tech," which is VC-speak for "we want to make money off the next big thing in travel apps."
Skift has covered hundreds of travel startup funding rounds over the past few years, and we’ve spoken with numerous founders and investors about the state of venture capital. They all tell a similar story: There’s money to be had, but the bar is much higher now.
Steve Singh is continuing to build and fund an ecosystem that he hopes will bring about a more high-tech experience for the next generation of business travel. Otto will have to work out the rough edges of other AI trip planners to date.
Airlines have been making larger investments in hydrogen-electric startups as they look for ways to become more sustainable. But it’s unclear if such engines can be used on a wide scale.