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.
Tipi
What is it?
Tipi is an app which launched in January to streamline hostel check-in and increase guest engagement. The app aims to help travellers by removing long check-in queues when they arrive after long-haul flights. It will also act as a guest interaction tool for hostels and travellers to communicate.
Who’s behind it?
Jack Bowcott, co-founder and CEO - responsible for partnerships and UX/UI design. Bowcott has more than 10 years experience in the youth travel industry.
Arash Karimzedah, co-founder and CTO - responsible for development and managing the technical team.
Tipi has four full-time staff and is currently hiring.
Is there a problem you are trying to solve?
Jack Bowcott, CEO, says:
"Hostel check-in. Tipi eliminates long queues after long flights and creates better communication between hostels and their guests.
"Travellers can skip the queue and check-in on their mobile before they get on the plane. Tipi is social - travellers can get a sneak peak of other guests staying at the same time and see what’s on at the hostel.
"Tipi also improves communication channels between hostel and guest… Hostels can message their guests, directly on their smart device, from booking, during and after their stay via Tipi’s Guest Management System."
What else?
Tipi is self-funded by the co-founders and also received a seed round in 2015. The startup says it's currently raising capital to meet the demands of hostels wishing to use the system in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
It recently won Best Travel Technology Product at the Global Youth Travel Awards.
MyStay
What is it?
MyStay is a mobile app for hotels for more effective communication with guests. It aims to work like a virtual reception, helping guests during the stay as well as before and after.
Features include fast check-in, the ability to order hotel services or transport by one click, offline navigation to the hotel, digital door key, destination information and online chat with reception. It also enables guests to make a complaint immediately if something isn't working which means immediate feedback.
The startup is planning to give properties across Slovakia, Belgium, Netherlands and the Czech republic a basic version of the app for free in the first quarter of 2017.
Is there a problem you're trying to solve?
- Hotels don't have the possibility to protect their references before they are made
- Hotels don't have an efficient tool to inform guests about their services
- Guests don't have a tool to communicate with the hotel when they are outside and need help
- Guests and hotel receptions both have a problem with the check-in process which takes too long time
Who's behind it?Radek Novotny is co-founder and CEO and Pavlína Zychova is co-founder. There are a further eight people covering COO, CPO, CTO, development, marketing and sales roles.
What else?
MyStay was chosen from more than 300 companies to be part of Startupbootcamp, a three-month accelerator program between April and July this year.
The startup also has investment from a number of strategic partners in the "low hundreds of thousands" of Euro and says the partnerships are not just about money, they are potential future customers.
Tripwire
What is it?
Tripwire is a social travel app which aims to connect travellers with destinations by opening up a feed of local information, helping them to meet fellow travellers and enabling them to make bookings.
Is there a problem you're trying to solve?
The problem that Tripwire is trying to solve is three-fold:
Connection: There are some real issues plugging into your local surroundings upon arrival. Landing in a new continent, new country and new city alone is daunting and it can feel like there is no one / no community to reach out to - as soon as a backpacker arrives in a new destination, they are automatically connected to all others in that location (who join their ‘tribe’).
This local tribe of backpackers can be utilised to instigate meet ups, ask questions and share tips. It also enables each user to always feel part of a community, wherever they are in the world.
Re-connection: Reconnecting with friends that were met during travels. There are always occasions where you meet someone, quickly become good friends and then never seem them again even though, retrospectively, you find out you have crossed paths.
This leads to 'almost' occasions where you just miss people arriving and departing cities or are even in the same place without realising - Utilising the interactive mapping and pin dropping technologies, Tripwire alerts users as to where and when they will be crossing paths along the travel trail.
Information fragmentation: Current information sources for backpacker specific information are fragmented, outdated and irrelevant - Tripwire puts the power into current backpackers hands to dictate what’s hot and what’s not at each destination.
Users are given access to a live stream of backpacker conversation at each destination (questions, tips and reviews) - making sure that each user gets the most up-to-date and relevant information based on their location.
The platform is purely focussed on delivering a real-time social experience for backpackers that plugs users into their immediate backpacker community at each destination they pass along their travel trails.
Who's behind it?
Hal Tyler, CEO - has a background in business development as well as experience working in sales and recruitment for a number of startups.
Stewart Chan, COO - has a background in finance and operations and worked in an accountancy role prior to Tripwire.
Sam Hiscocks, CMO - has worked in brand and agency marketing roles.
The startup recently recruited Ziad Khouri as CTO. Khouri has more than 20 years experience in technology development.
What else?
The startup was initially backed by two London-based angel investors who each invested £100,000. It was then chosen to be part of the E-Man Incubator process. E-Man has also invested resources and helped to develop the beta version. Tripwire is looking for further investment for the next phase.