Lab-Grown Leather Startup Faircraft Acquires Kering-Backed VitroLabs
A French startup with ambitions to crack the market for lab-grown leather has acquired Kering-backed rival VitroLabs for an undisclosed sum. Faircraft, which was founded just four years ago, is aiming to launch a full-scale production plant for lab-grown skin within two years. If successful, it would be the first
Startup Stage: SuiteOp wants to help STRs and hotels automate operations
SuiteOp Guest operations platform SuiteOp was founded in 2022, assisting short-term rental operators and hotels by automating manual processes. The platform offers a suite of features such as automated check-ins and check-outs, guest screening and verification and 24/7 unit monitoring and security. What is your 30-second pitch to investors? SuiteOp
Startup Stage: Hotel Data AI wants to improve hotels’ efficiency, online visibility
Hotel Data AI Founded in 2024, Hotel Data AI (HotelData.ai) is an AI-powered platform that helps hotels improve online presence by optimizing content. The company aims to assist hotels with digital content strategy, effectively increasing online visibility and conversion rates, while also enhancing the guest experience. What is your 30-second
Latin America-based corporate travel startup Onfly raises $40M
Brazil-based Onfly, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2022 that provides corporate travel expense management technology, has raised $40 million. Onfly will use the funding for artificial intelligence integration, marketing and sales efforts and international growth. The company plans to onboard 2,500 clients in Mexico by 2027. Tidemark led the Series
Corporate guest travel startup Juno raises $2M
Juno, a new booking and expense tool for corporate guest travel, has raised $2 million in seed funding. The round was co-led by Bungalow Capital and Steve Singh, venture capitalist, founder of Concur and current managing director at Madrona Venture Group. Devon Tivona and Sam Felsenthal, Juno’s co-founders and co-CEOs,
Travel startup funding and M&A activity in Q1 2025
While 2024 suggested a positive shift in funding for travel startups compared to the prior year, things cooled off in the first quarter of 2025. “[This year] is off to a slower start than any other year so far, with under $1 billion raised as we close in on the
STARTUP STAGE: Boom wants to revolutionize property management with AI
Boom Boom said its system behaves like a virtual workforce, handling day-to-day operations autonomously and allowing managers to focus on growth and strategy. Boom launched in 2023 in South Florida and has worked with companies including Unique Stays, WeHomes and Housepitality. What is your 30-second pitch to investors? Boom is
STARTUP STAGE: Arcube helps fliers convert loyalty points to ancillaries
Arcube Arcube provides a post-flight solution for fliers to convert their loyalty points to personalized ancillaries to be used on future flights. Founded in 2022, the company aims to help airlines to improve revenue and foster customer loyalty. What is your 30-second pitch to investors? Arcube has introduced one
Startup Stage: Walkway helps activity providers grow through its AI-powered platform
Walkway Walkway is a B2B SaaS company that provides pricing intelligence and competitive benchmarking for experience operators. The company aims to help operators grow their businesses by aggregating real-time pricing, demand signals and competitive data across global booking platforms. What is your 30-second pitch to investors? Tour and activity operators
Whether to seek venture capital or private equity for your STR startup
What startup founder doesn’t dream of rapid and sustainable growth? In the short-term rental (STR) sector especially, the race to scale at lightning speed often leads founders to view outside funding as a kind of rocket fuel — an easy means to headline-grabbing growth and a constant pipeline of new
