Madrona Venture Labs’ Post

It's a big day for Michael Gulmann and Otto as they announce $6m in funding from Madrona and a dream team of travel leaders, many of whom Steve Singh, Matt McIlwain, Erik Blachford, Barney Harford, and Hugh Crean have been personal mentors and inspirations. Otto's bold ambitions to revolutionize how we plan and book travel require such a team. The travel industry is ripe for disruption. We all know it and experience it every day: the tired booking engines and transactional flows that haven't changed since the early 2000s. Enter Otto. Leveraging advancements in natural language capabilities and modern travel APIs, Otto is like having the most competent and knowledgeable business travel agent at your fingertips. Get on the waitlist here: https://lnkd.in/dWJ5gEjn  Many of us at Madrona Venture Labs have a lifelong passion for the travel industry, and at the top of the list is Jay Bartot, who led Otto's multi-agent AI architecture and product development over the past year. It's been a team effort thanks to Jason Flateboe (design), Flora K. (operations), Sam Dore (talent), and Simon Tam (former CTO of Egencia). Learn more about Otto roles by emailing jobs@ottotheagent.com Thanks for the coverage today: Taylor Soper at GeekWire https://lnkd.in/dU46Pi7V Ivan Mehta at TechCrunch https://lnkd.in/dPmfd2CT Justin Dawes at Skift https://lnkd.in/d3HSvU-e #ottotheagent #travelstartups #aiagents #venturestudio #funding

Sad to see Journera shutting down after raising $36M to enable the connected trip 🤷♂️ The core ambition remains valid, as a smooth end-to-end trip requires multiple pieces (of a puzzle) to nicely fit together with the right level of flexibility in case of changes in planning (voluntary) or weather (involuntary). One way to solve the challenge, taken by Journera, is to work on data - now called AI - to overcome the lack of connectivity and inter-operability based signals and actions. Another way, more radical and long-term, is to standardize and normalize processes and systems to ensure that every step of the journey is connected and inter-operable. Think "modern airline retailing" and NDC extended to rail, hospitality, etc. A third way is to put the customer or traveler in control. Think of a wallet containing identity, payment, loyalty and bookings, connected to all travel suppliers. I'm curious to know what the assets and IP of Journey will become and if they can support alternative approaches. #connectedtrip #seamlesstravel #digitaltransformation https://lnkd.in/eVxtv-WA

At the heart of my beliefs lies the idea that we're here to #create. For me, the real joy isn't in the rewards or outcomes, but in the process itself. We often get caught up in defining success by financial gains, but I believe every act of creation is a step forward for us as a society and as a species. It's about evolving, together. Jeffrey K. and the #legendary team behind Journera and their pioneering work in harnessing data to enable the #connectedtrip has not only paved new paths but also inspired countless entrepreneurs to transform the #travel industry for the better. These endeavors, regardless of their societal measure of success, propel us forward, inspiring a cycle of innovation and creation. In the concept of #mimetic desire, the idea that our aspirations are often mirrored from those around us, serves as a beacon, guiding us to evolve and build upon the foundations laid by those before us. As we reflect on the closing of Journera, let's honor the path it has paved for the #travel industry, recognizing the opportunities it has opened for future entrepreneurs, like us at Legends. This moment is a call to embrace the potential within us to #create , #innovate and solve the deep-seated challenges of our society and industries. Let's continue to support and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit, understanding that what might appear as failure is merely a stepping stone for the next groundbreaking creation. #Legends #entrepreneur #ZeroPartyData #Data #Travel

Exciting developments are on the horizon in the realm of travel! Big Data is revolutionizing the way we explore and experience the world. How, you ask? In our latest feature, we delve into the world of TripSuite, a groundbreaking startup based in Cologne, Germany, spearheaded by the innovative Maximilian Soltner. Abolishing the tiresome process of trawling through endless websites and avenues, Tripsuit harnesses the power of Big Data to offer personalized travel recommendations tailored to your specific interests and preferences. Fed up with generic travel suggestions that don’t resonate with your unique needs? Look no further! Say hello to a new era of travelling, where your perfect trip finds you! Dive into our feature to understand how this digital transformation is enhancing our travel experiences. Right here 👉 https://lnkd.in/erMsHxm9 #BigData #TravelTech #Startup #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #Travel #Personalization TripSuite.. bringing the world to your fingertips.

#Video content, #AI, and #personalization are, for me, top trends that will be driving travel startups in #2025. 

 What are yours? #video #AI #2025 #startups #traveltrends #awards #toptrends #traveltech

As traditional trends like hyper-personalisation, contactless technology, and virtual reality become mainstream, new disruptive trends are emerging, poised to shape the future of #travel 🧳 ✈️ In this article, Gemma Ghelardi highlights five cutting-edge startup trends that are set to redefine the travel landscape 🚂 Discover how these trends are tackling industry fragmentation and fostering resilience in a sector eager for innovation Inspirato, VistaJet, Travala.com, Ariva.World, Tripadvisor, Thatch, Go Gaido, Goodwings, murmuration, Virgin Voyages, Sailogy https://lnkd.in/dmQ4kNUu

Two months ago, upcoming travel company You Can't Steal My Happy faced a huge challenge: Launching their travel services before the end of the year. So they reached out to us here at YouLi and we delivered: From migrating data to integrating their tour series to their website, YouLi proved to be a game-changer for this group travel business. 🌟 You Can't Steal My Happy went from 0 to nearly 30 trips launched in just 2 months. 😱 "Best decision we ever made! Before YouLi we were manually recording all of our traveler information in spreadsheets and always worried that would ruin a trip for our travelers. We finally decided to change to YouLi and my life is so much better!! Our trips are displayed beautifully and embedded easily to our website from the YouLi system. The onboarding was easy and everyone at YouLi is so nice and efficient and wants to make sure we know how to use YouLi and how our travelers will use the software. Seriously 12/10 will only ever use YouLi. Thanks!" -You Can't Steal My Happy YouLi works with businesses of all sizes to help them meet their growing needs. Are you expanding but can't keep up? Contact us today or join one of our weekly demos by clicking on the link below. 👇👇👇 https://hubs.ly/Q02jg8J90 #YouLi #TravelSimplified #TravelBusinessSuccessStory #GroupTravel #TravelManagement #GroupTripPlanning #TourOperators #Startupaus #TravelTech #BookingPlatform

Tired of API Headaches? Build Your Dream Travel Platform with Travlinq's All-in-One Solution! Ditch clunky integrations and endless development cycles. Travlinq empowers travel agencies and tech companies to launch their dream platforms in days, all thanks to our comprehensive Travel API. Showcase a vibrant collage of airplanes, hotel icons, and world maps representing the global reach of Travlinq's API. * One API, Endless Possibilities: Consolidate Flight & Hotel content from GDS giants, budget airlines, and top hotel chains - all accessible through a single, user-friendly API. * Own Your Success: Configure your own supplier credentials and leverage your negotiated fares. Travlinq gives you complete control over your content and pricing. * Launch at Warp Speed: Forget months of development! Our seamless JSON API integrates effortlessly with your platform, letting you focus on building your travel empire. * Global Content at Your Fingertips: Access a world of travel options, including 14+ Low-Cost Carriers and your preferred GDS choices like Amadeus and Sabre. * Travlinq: Your Trusted Travel Tech Partner: Since 2000, we've been fueling travel dreams for thousands of satisfied businesses. Join the revolution and unlock the Travlinq advantage. Ready to Take Off? Visit our website or contact us today to unlock the Travlinq advantage & watch your travel business soar! #TravelTech #APIsolutions #DreamTravelPlatform #TravlinqAdvantage #TravelEmpire #GlobalReach #FlightAndHotel #TechInnovation #TravelAPI #venturecapital #investing #innovation #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #partnerships #research #success #business #consultants #india

Discover the remarkable journey of Viator from a simple startup to a powerhouse in the travel industry. Learn how a personal travel challenge sparked an innovative solution, transforming how we explore and book travel experiences. Dive into our analysis of Viator's business model, its integration with TripAdvisor, and the challenges it faces in a competitive market. #TravelTech #Innovation #BusinessGrowth https://wix.to/Mh81gjD #newblogpost

Curious about the latest trends in travel tech? It’s neither personalization nor VR… Learn more with my latest article for EU-Startups So, what do you think? Are you ready to subscribe to travel services? Would you go on a cruise? Book with crypto? Trust AI to plan your trip? —> Let me know in the comments