Hot 25 Startups 2021

The wheels of the industry keep on turning and many new companies are doing their best to either assist in recovery with their services or are well-positioned to capitalize on recovery in their market or region.

Our Hot 25 this year, produced with the support of our partner Salesforce, is a collection of companies that have survived the onset of the global pandemic and that can, as equally important, thrive in 2021.

Amadeus to shut down self-service APIs portal for developers
News / Distribution
Amadeus to shut down self-service APIs portal for developers
By Abby Crotty | February 9, 2026
Access for enterprise customers will remain in place, a decision that's prompted ample discussion among industry stakeholders. Read More
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021
News / Startups
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021
By Mileva Sapic | October 6, 2025
Zamna, Troop, Kyte and Tripkicks, which were selected as PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021, share their milestones for the past year and the technology they are most excited about. Read More
European acquisition revives Space Perspective's space tourism ambitions
News / Online
European acquisition revives Space Perspective's space tourism ambitions
By Brinley Hineman - Travel Weekly | July 25, 2025
Space Perspective appeared to cease operations earlier this year, but now the company seems to be back on track to eventual operation after being acquired. Read More
The state of airport passenger processing and seamless journeys
News / Technology
The state of airport passenger processing and seamless journeys
By Marisa Garcia | November 20, 2024
Digital ID and biometrics are the key drivers to a seamless experience for passengers to move smoothly through the airport. Read More
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021
News / Startups
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021
By Mileva Sapic | October 14, 2024
Beachy, Chekin, Kyte, Vouch and Zartico update PhocusWire on what they've been up to since they were named part of PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021. Read More
Air Doctor raises $20M for Asia expansion
News / Startups
Air Doctor raises $20M for Asia expansion
By Morgan Hines | October 1, 2024
Air Doctor has a network of 20,000 multilingual doctors and healthcare specialists in 84 countries across the world, which travelers can access through its app for virtual and in-person appointments. Read More
Anyplace raises $10.27M for remote work-friendly rentals
News / Startups
Anyplace raises $10.27M for remote work-friendly rentals
By Derek Catron | October 18, 2023
The Launch fund spearheaded the funding round, which brings total funding for Anyplace — a PhocusWire Hot 25 Startup for 2021 — to $18 million.   Read More
troop-meeting-planning-tech-funding
News / Startups
Troop adds $11M in funding for meetings tech push
By Linda Fox | March 30, 2023
The investment was led by Durable Capital Partners and Madrona Venture Group with All Iron Ventures and Conexo Ventures also participating.   Read More
spotnana-troop-partnership
News / Online
Troop, Spotnana partner to integrate meeting space and travel booking
By Elizabeth West - Business Travel News | August 15, 2022
Troop aims to automate the meeting selection process but has not yet offered its own travel booking extension of that sourcing exercise. Read More
WestJet to trial Zamna technology to accelerate passenger check-in
News / Technology
WestJet to trial Zamna technology to accelerate passenger check-in
By Mitra Sorrells | June 23, 2022
Zamna says this is the first example in North America of an airline using this type solution to verify international traveler data before airport arrival. Read More
uniguest-acquires-volara
News / Online
Uniguest acquires Volara to launch voice tech division
By Mitra Sorrells | November 4, 2021
Volara founder and CEO Dave Berger will become executive vice president of Uniguest’s new voice division, which will maintain the brand name of Volara. Read More
Vouch expands to Europe as it raises $1.1M seed round
News / Startups
Vouch expands to Europe as it raises $1.1M seed round
By Mitra Sorrells | October 6, 2021
 Singapore-based Vouch, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Startup of 2021, provides artificial intelligence and chatbot-based solutions for hotels to streamline operations and enhance the guest experience.... Read More
Troop attracts travel industry luminaries with $8M investment
News / Startups
Troop attracts travel industry luminaries with $8M investment
By Linda Fox | September 30, 2021
Meeting management startup Troop plans to use the funding to speed up product development and integrations. Read More
Buser revs up with a $138M investment, plans new services
News / Startups
Buser revs up with a $138M investment, plans new services
By Linda Fox | June 24, 2021
Following the investment from Lightrock, Buser plans to add urban passenger services as well as a bus ticket marketplace to its platform. Read More
Space Perspective lands $7M in seed funding
News / Startups
Space Perspective lands $7M in seed funding
By Linda Fox | December 4, 2020
Space Perspective will use the funding to further its ambition of launching a test flight next year. Read More
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