This is a regular roundup of some of the latest mobile application startup launches in travel covering everything from trip inspiration and planning to virtual assistants.
Hoof
What is it?
Hoof aims to help users log their travels, share experiences and manage who sees their check-ins and posts. It helps them keep in touch with friends and family as well as allowing them to connect with anyone they meet along the way.
Who’s behind it?
Elliott Grant - founder and CEO. Grant formerly worked at luxury travel operator Black Tomato.
Oliver McGinn, Co-founder and COO.
Is there a problem you’re trying to solve?
Grant says:
Travel has always played a big part in my life and losing track of where I had been had always been frustrating. There wasn’t any kind of medium for storing check-ins as you travel around which led me to believe there was a ‘missing travel app’.
"I wanted to create an app which features elements never combined in one application before and most importantly, an app which aims to bring together a community of like-minded fellow globe trotters."
What else?
Last year it raised £125,000 from investors. Hoof is now looking to raise a further £200,000 seed funding at the end of this year.
Lookaround
What is it?
Lookaround is a mobile travel guide that uses 360° video content to inspire travellers to explore and experience more in the city they are visiting.
Travellers can use Lookaround to preview tours & activities via 360° videos and then book one.
It also enables users to watch 360° vlog videos on topics such as eating out, shopping, clubbing andsightseeing providing visitors with a complete view on what to do in destination.
Who’s behind it?
Lookaround is founded by three friends:
Nikolay Mihaylov - founder and CEO. Managing product and investor relations.
Ivan Ivanov - founder and CTO. Managing technology and programmatic marketing.
Marc Wyss - founder and COO. Managing B2B and expansion.
Is there a problem you’re trying to solve?
Mihaylov says:
"Most of the content travelers see online is very unattractive, repetitive and not honest, thus users spend an enormous amount of time researching until they find something interesting to do.
"Therefore, we wanted to build something that provides a new way to explore things to do when traveling - a new platform that will inspire you to try a new experience or visit an exciting place.
"And we concluded that there is no better way of doing this than with the power of 360° video storytelling where everything is visible to the user and is provided from a totally new perspective.
"This is really revolutionary for the travel industry as it totally changes the way travelers explore and get inspired what to do.
"With 360° video the user is in the middle of the action and can get a taste of the destination as if the user is there making this the most immersive way to attract someone to explore & book things to do. Ultimately, these 360° videos can become the new point of sale for hotels, restaurants, tours & activities."
What else?
Lookaround is funded with €200,000 by the the ex-founder of Telerik and serial angel investor in the US and EU, Vassil Terziev.
The company is also part of the The Family accelerator in Berlin and is currently raising a €600,000 seed round of which €50,000 is raised already.
Skyhour
What is it?
Skyhour is a gifting platform for air travel, available as a mobile app as well as via desktop.
Who’s behind it?
Skyhour has two founders:
Fernando Camara - Co-founder and CEO.
David Nogueira - Co-founder and CTO.
Is there a problem you’re trying to solve?
"Skyhour’s platform, which offers flights across 350 different airlines for both domestic and international travel, addresses the challenges consumers traditionally face when gifting air travel; not having enough miles, needing personal information of the traveler, or airline vouchers that are limited and have aggressive terms and conditions."
Anything else?
The startup has received funding from JetBlue Technology Ventures to officially launch Skyhour and bring the platform to market.