This year we are co-hosting the second edition of the FutureTravel Summit which will take place on November 4th in Barcelona!
The in-person event will bring together over 350 attendees from different parts of the world, including travel innovators & startups, investors and industry leaders. It’s an unparalleled chance to hear from the very people that are shaping and impacting the travel industry and its future. The event will be a premium space for travel professionals to meet face-to-face, share insights, discuss business strategies and identify global trends that are moving the industry forward.
We’ve put together an agenda to inspire connections and discussions, and to provide space to share valuable insights into this vibrant sector. You can find the agenda here as well as different hotel deals. We will have inspiring keynote speakers and fascinating panel discussions, plenty of networking opportunities, and, of course:
An exciting Pitch Competition with 10 of the world’s most promising early-stage travel startups!
After receiving over 200 applications from early-stage startups, we carefully looked at each candidate startup, analyzed pitch decks and have now handpicked the 10 finalists who will join us in Barcelona this November – and we can’t wait to reveal them!
Coming from all four corners of the world, the finalists will take to the stage to pitch their venture with a fantastic prize package worth €56k up for grabs as well as valuable feedback from our carefully curated jury panel.
The Prize Package
The winning startup team of the FutureTravel Pitch Competition will receive a prize package with a value of around €56k in credits, which includes a spot in the Scaleway Growth Program valued at €36k, $10k in Freshworks credits for their product suite, and €9,9k in credits for an explainer video maker premium account of Simpleshow.
The winner will also be proudly mentioned in the FutureTravel Newsletter, as well as prominently featured by EU-Startups and other publications.
The Jury
The selected teams will get valuable feedback from a jury of well-known venture capital investors: Christoph Schuh (Lakestar), Michele Luperini (Plug & Play), Maximilian Wilhelm (Speedinvest) and Meryem Aydin Conde (Amadeus). In addition, we’ll have many more VC firms, business angels and startup accelerators among our attendees.
Drumroll Please!
Now, the bit you’ve all been waiting for. Introducing our 10 fabulous finalists:
Luggit – Since 2020 Luggit has been pioneering a new approach to luggage storage with its pick-up and delivery service. Travelers use the website or mobile app to request a ‘keeper’ to pick up their luggage and then deliver it at the place and time of choosing – never worry about lugging luggage around again. Founded in Portugal, the startup now has a presence in Lisbon, Porto, Vienna, Prague and Barcelona.
X-Plora – Taking the travel industry into web 3.0, this Portuguese startup enables experience operators to create visitor-focused experiences with immersive content. The platform enables companies to create augmented and /or virtual tours, and gamified experiences, and uses blockchain to create X-Plora NFTs which can be used to enhance customer loyalty. It was founded in 2019.
beder – Spanish startup beder finds itself at the intersection between TripAdvisor and TikTok. Founded in 2020, the startup is a social and video-content-only travel app that allows users to find where to travel, what to do and where to go from videos uploaded by other users. Given the takeover of video content amongst younger generations, this is a community-based approach to travel discovery and marketing that we’ve got our eyes on.
Hotelverse – Founded in 2021, Hotelverse is shaking up how hotel rooms are booked and the processes behind pre-stay services using digital twin technology. It allows guests to get oversight over the hotel before arriving, so they can explore its facilities, choose their room and curate the perfect stay. The Spanish startup also enables the hotels to attach a specific price to each room.
Hotel Manager – Based in the UK, Hotel Manager is building the modern tech stack for hotels to enable better experiences for staff and guests alike. Founded in 2020, the software offers modules like chat functions, automated check-in and commerce options that can be installed in a mix-and-match style, helping hotels to personalize experiences and supercharge revenues.
Weny – Founded in 2021, Finnish startup Weny is on a mission to digitally enhance the guest experience and operations of organizations across the travel and hospitality sector – from hotels to restaurants and venues. The platform, called Concierge, doesn’t require any app download or login so it’s super simple and accessible to all guests.
Automicle – Born just this year in the Netherlands, Automicle provides apps and platforms with a single API that can be used to deliver any ground transportation method directly into the app/platform. It means that bus routes, tram, metro, shared cars, shared scooters, bikes, (the list goes on), can be added in minutes, meaning users stay engaged and well connected as they travel.
NeoKe – Built in Germany, NeoKe is on a mission to solve the problem of manual ID verification processes at airports, hotels, and car rentals by transitioning to digital IDs. It’s a digital world and NeoKe wants to bring this into travel, bringing the sector up to standard and removing friction for travelers. Founded in 2022, the startup connects booking platforms and travel services directly to the digital ID of a traveler for easier trip planning and booking.
Explo – Founded in 2021, Explo is bringing the passion for travel to a younger generation, betting on the power of the creator economy and video content consumption. The German startup enables travelers and locals to create short videos which can work as inspiration for hyper-local experiences. Creators can monetize their content through relevancy mapping and selling digital tours.
Stippl – Described as the all-in-one adventure planner, Stippl aims to bridge the gap between creators and travelers through a commonly beneficial way of travel planning. Founded in the Netherlands at the start of this year, Stippl gives content creators tools to monetize their trip, inspirations for travelers and connects the two in one place.
This year’s competition is fierce! Make sure you don’t miss the chance to see these exciting startups battle it out for the winning position, by picking up your ticket today! Remember to also check out the full agenda and find great hotel deals for when you’re in Barcelona!
And by the way: If you are excited about what’s next for the future of travel and are not a subscriber of our free weekly FutureTravel newsletter yet, make sure to sign up now!