Wille Finance is an international, Swiss-based multi-family office, focusing on private equity, real estate, digital media and listed assets. Within Private Equity we carry out both Early Stage (focus Life Science & ICT) and Late Stage investments. Whilst in Real Estate we maintain a long-term, value-add approach to our strategy with a focus on main European cities. Our Digital Media focus is on companies interweaving media, content and technology. The Listed Assets strategy is to maintain a net-long portfolio.

Wille Finance

SICTIC is a non-profit association, which has a strong investor community and organizes the deal flow and matchmaking of startups and investors online and at pitching events. They have offices in Zürich, Lausanne and Ticino. Since 2018, SICTIC has become the largest and most active business angel network in Switzerland and was awarded “Best Performing EBAN Member 2018” from over 150 member organizations in more than 50 countries.

SICTIC

Alpana Ventures is a Swiss VC focusing on digital transformation. Since 2016 we backed 45 founder teams with 3 Funds, supporting them in their journey towards a positive impact. Committed to value creation, we discover deep tech solutions in Switzerland, Europe and the US. We invest to embed them into innovative business models and back them to become global market leaders. Applying ESG criteria, our portfolio companies help create a more sustainable future.

Alpana Ventures

Verve Ventures is a European startup investment platform for qualified and institutional investors. Their fully digital platform enables private investors to build a diversified portfolio with investments starting at CHF/EUR 10'000. Since its launch in 2010, Verve Ventures has invested more than EUR 130 million in over 100 startups. Their community consists of 5’000 registered qualified private investors, family offices, and pension funds. Several institutional investors such as a large Swiss pension fund and numerous corporates also rely on their expertise to invest in promising startups. Verve Ventures is backed by Switzerland's third-largest bank, Zürcher Kantonalbank. They have a dedicated investment team based in Zurich, Lausanne, Berlin, Paris, and Cambridge, that screens thousands of startups each year and selects the top 1% after a rigorous due diligence process. They are reshaping the European venture capital landscape and granting investors superior access to this traditionally intransparent asset class. They source the best deals, and structure rounds, and enable their investors to participate in competitive startup deals.

Verve Ventures

Howzat Partners is a venture capital firm specializing in incubation, seed, start up, growth capital, early stage, and mid venture investments. The firm seeks to invest in digital businesses with a focus on internet, digital media, e-commerce companies. It invests globally. It acts as as sounding board. The firm also makes co-investments. Howzat Partners was founded in 2006 and is based in Luxembourg and London.

HOWZAT Partners

HR Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm, which is part of the HahnAir Group. HR Ventures is based near Frankfurt am Main in Germany. HR Ventures is also an EVCA member, the European private equity & venture capital association. HR Ventures was founded to support exceptional entrepreneurs in achieving their goals together as partners. We define ourselves as an equal partner for all entrepreneurial challenges with in-depth expertise and a large network. The company builds a strong relationship with each founder to create outstanding companies. We are here to

HR Ventures

Polytech Ventures are an early stage VC firm based in Switzerland with a strong international focus. Their strategic location at EPFL in Lausanne grants us access to one of the most dynamic and recognized innovation centers in the world

Polytech Ventures

Have a clear vision of what is needed in their areas of expertise Find a solution for a big problem that other individuals or companies are willing to pay for Have the character & passion to embark in the entrepreneurship journey Operate in a growing market

Reinhart Capital

SVC - Ltd. for Risk Capital for SMEs provides Swiss SMEs and start-up businesses with venture capital of up to CHF 100 million. Innovative companies in various development phases are supplied with venture capital in the form of additional equity capital or as loans with profit participation. The focus is on the consolidation of Switzerland as a center of employment and the creation or preservation of jobs. SVC - Ltd. for Risk Capital for SMEs is active throughout Switzerland.

Nezasa

Nezasa’s travel booking solution empowers travel brands globally to combine all planning and booking related actions into one seamless end-to-end experience. Our tools, enable to plan and book any type of multi-product or multi-stop itinerary. TripBuilder Hyper-personalised packaging Real-time planning and booking of personalised itineraries Powerful, easy to use and very interactive Deep integration possibilities into existing fulfilment landscapes Enterprise-grade, proven with large TO customers TripBooster Hyper-personalised In-Destination Upselling The extension of TripBuilder’s power throughout the entire travel lifecycle The perfect travel companion Seamless purchasing of perfectly fitting additional products Smart upselling recommendation, available in both a push and pull mode

<div>Swiss company Nezasa offers a SaaS platform that streamlines the planning, booking, and management of travel itineraries.&nbsp;</div>

Travel Tech

Nezasa Raises $4.7 Million for Tour Operator Software: Startup Funding Roundup

TUI Group

To develop a digital platform for multi-day tours.

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and book tours, events, and other travel-related recreational activities

<div>
 
 Swiss company Nezasa offers a SaaS platform that streamlines the planning, booking, and management of travel itineraries.&nbsp;
 
 
 Nezasa provides TripBuilder, a service that enables tour operators, travel agencies, OTAs, and DMCs to create and modify digital itineraries even post-booking. It comprises a booking engine, an itinerary builder, and an array of travel options, including hotels, flights, excursions, and rental cars. The platform also simplifies tour creation with fixed group tour modules and flexible pre- and post-program options. In addition, it boasts a vast travel content marketplace with an extensive range of listings, facilitating efficient trip distribution through a travel agency portal. The platform also offers group tour functionality with dynamic pricing, allowing users to simulate costs for various group sizes and departure dates.
 
 
 In 2022, Nezasa expanded its portfolio by acquiring Chilean startup TripYeah and its product, TripOptimizer. The tool employs AI algorithms to save time for travel providers. The company claims that TripOptimizer is a unique flight search tool capable of optimizing itineraries based on destinations, costs, CO2 emissions, and the number of stops within a few seconds.
 
 
 Nezasa generates revenue via subscriptions, offering its Monetize plan at USD 500, Maximize plan at USD 5,000 and custom pricing for smaller and medium-sized companies.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Key customers include TUI Group, Ara Tours Costa Rica, and Awai.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20462">
 July 2023
 </a>
 , Nezasa raised USD 4.7 million in a funding round, with funding expected to be utilized to expand its product offerings and increase its global presence.
 
</div>

Sonder is a short-term rental startup that acquires and refurbishes apartments in popular urban areas and offers them for rent through various channels, including Airbnb, Expedia, and its own website. The company typically enters into three- to five-year leases (including fixed leases and mixed leases) or revenue-sharing agreements with landlords to occupy entire floors of buildings. Sonder’s contracts include provisions that reduce rates during economic downturns, such as a clause that decreased rents by 8% during the pandemic. Unlike other home-sharing firms that have faced difficulties with local lodging regulations, Sonder either holds hotel licenses or operates in buildings that permit short-term rentals.&nbsp;Its apartments offer hotel amenities, such as professional cleaning services, fresh designs, and a concierge service accessible through an app. With the help of its app and digital door locks, guests can check-in to their rooms without any face-to-face interactions. As a result, Sonder's offering was well-suited for maintaining social distance during the pandemic. Sonder aims to extend its reach by expanding to other regions, including Asia. Sonder is also planning to broaden its offerings to include properties such as resorts, villas, and residences. Moreover,&nbsp; Sonder aims to establish a franchise model and sell its software solutions to outside operators. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20463">July 2023 </a>, Sonder launched its first hotel collection, ‘Powered by Sonder’, a collection of boutique hotels, each with its own distinctive design aesthetic, utilizing Sonder's technology and operated by the company.&nbsp;As of January 2023, Sonder served more than one million guests in more than 9,000 live units, across more than 40 cities and 10 countries. It expected to grow its portfolio to 56,000 units by 2024.&nbsp;In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27990">March 2024 </a>, Sonder lost some properties to competing companies such as Kasa Living, Placemakr, AvantStay, and Blueground. The shift in property management occurred after Sonder attempted to renegotiate lease terms or exit from master leases.&nbsp;Key customers and partnerships<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32761">In August 2024</a>, Sonder signed a licensing agreement to sell 9,000+ of its units to Marriott International with plans to integrate an additional 1,500 units into the Marriott system in the future. Previously,In September 2022, Sonder partnered with RateGain Travel technologies to strengthen its presence on the GDS by introducing its own dedicated chain code titled SS. The company also partnered with Hotel Engine, a lodging performance network, to offer its services to its network of over 550,000 business travelers (October 2021).&nbsp;

Sonder

Ukio is a Barcelona-based company that provides short-term rental apartments directed at remote workers and other professionals on the move. Ukio offers rental apartments for stays ranging 1–11 months, with an average stay of four to five months. Guests can book for a set period and have the option to extend their stay through the company's online platform. Ukio signs 7- to 10-year leases for its apartments with individual property owners, real estate developers, and family offices.Ukio’s rentals range from EUR 1,750–5,000 (~USD 1,900–5,400) per month. The monthly payment covers utilities, maintenance, taxes, and all the standard amenities included in a hotel stay. Each apartment includes a concierge and reception area, with some having additional services, such as weekly-cleaning facilities. As of August 2024, Ukio operated in Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Berlin and Paris and planned to expand to other cities such as London, and Dublin.

Ukio

NUMA (formerly known as Cosi) is a German provider of alternative accommodation that offers short-term rental units in over 3,000 locations in cities like Berlin, Munich, Rome, and Vienna. The company signs long-term leases with property owners and remodels the apartments by furnishing and designing the interiors, before renting them out as a hotel alternative. NUMA uses automation and smart pricing to increase occupancy rates and provides a comprehensive digital service for the entire guest experience by reducing booking and check-in/checkout timing to less than 60 seconds. NUMA differentiates itself from similar companies like Sonder by targeting a broader demographic and offering a “tech franchise” solution called “NUMA Go,” where third-party hoteliers can use NUMA's technology for a share of their revenue. NUMA also offers B2B travel solutions through its dedicated corporate booking team and its offering of corporate travel rates.In June 2021, NUMA expanded its services to Spain, Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic by acquiring local short-term rental provider, Friendly Rentals. NUMA planned to further expand its operations in existing and new markets, such as France, the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic region. Additionally, NUMA made plans to enter the Portuguese market with the opening of a 77-unit hotel in Lisbon in Q2 2024.

numa

TravelPerk offers business travel options for customers. TravelPerk is headquartered in Barcelona and has additional offices in London, Berlin, Chicago, and Miami. The platform uses proprietary technology to provide booking, management, and reporting for business trips. It allows travellers to compare and book various modes of transportation, such as trains, cars, flights, hotels and apartments from various providers including KAYAK, Skyscanner, Expedia, Booking.com, and Airbnb. The company aims to provide flexibility to travellers while giving companies control over travel expenses.In November 2021, TravelPerk launched “TravelPerk Events” to bring dispersed teams together for face-to-face meetings. To make in-person meetings more sustainable, TravelPerk also provides customers with the option to estimate their carbon footprint and neutralize their emissions, achieving this through the acquisition of Susterra (September 2021). This also includes GreenPerk, a sustainability tool that directly reduces carbon emissions through initiatives run by its partner, Atmosfair. Other notable acquisitions included that of AmTrav (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates?industryIds=101">June 2024</a>), UK-based rival, Click Travel (July 2021) and US-based rival, NexTravel (January 2021).TravelPerk uses a subscription- and commission-based business model that includes a freemium plan, with paid plans starting at USD 99 per month and commission fees starting at 3% per booking.Key customers and partnershipsTravelPerk struck a partnership with Southwest Airlines in January 2021 to broaden its US-based inventory, becoming one of the first non-US travel management companies to enter a partnership with the airline company. Other partners include Lufthansa Group Airlines, Midnight Trains, Divvy, and Skyscanner.TravelPerk doubled its customer acquisition rate in 2020 and catered to more than 6,000 businesses, including brands like Wise, Farfetch, GetYourGuide, and Monzo, as of September 2024

TravelPerk

Omio is a Berlin-based travel platform that allows users to search, compare and book transportation options across Europe, the US, and Canada. Founded in 2013 as GoEuro, the company rebranded to Omio in 2019 to reflect its expanded global presence. Omio's platform aggregates and displays train, bus, flight, ferry and car rental options from over 1,000 transportation providers across 37 countries. Users can compare routes, prices, and travel times across different modes of transport in a single search.The company's technology integrates directly with transportation providers to offer real-time pricing and availability. Omio generates revenue through commissions on bookings as well as service fees. As of 2022, Omio's platform facilitated enough ticket sales to fill 30 trains and 300 buses daily. The company has seen significant growth, with ticket bookings in 2022 reaching 140% above pre-pandemic levels. Omio has also observed a shift toward mobile bookings, with 80% of tickets now purchased via its mobile app.Key customers and partnershipsOmio has partnerships with hundreds of transportation companies across Europe and North America, including major providers like Renfe, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Flixbus, and Amtrak. In 2022, Omio partnered with Uber to integrate its inventory into the Uber app in the UK, allowing Uber users to book train and coach tickets. In 2023, Omio collaborated with Ecosia to launch a "tree-planting rail travel search tool" that promotes train travel as a more sustainable transport option. Omio has also integrated its booking capabilities into platforms like Kayak and Huawei devices.&nbsp;In August 2024, Omio announced a partnership with Ryanair to sell the airline's tickets as an approved online travel agent.

Omio

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and/or book flights, hotels, buses, trains and travel packages.

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and book alternative lodging in privately owned properties, including apartments and homes

Providers of corporate travel management solutions that help businesses with planning, controlling, tracking, and reporting on business travel activities, as well as distribution solutions and B2B booking engines

Car rental and ride-sharing solutions for long-distance travel

Providers of battery-powered luggage products equipped with technologies such as USB charging, built-in scales, TSA-approved locks, and real-time location tracking via GPS and cellular networks

Providers of technology-enabled solutions to enhance the guest experience, such as contactless and automated check-in services.

Providers of technology-based solutions for accommodation providers, tour/experience operators to optimize revenue and operations.

Some solutions under the B2B travel solutions segment operate under a B2B SaaS model

Some online search/booking and revenue management solutions use AI/ML for product development

Nezasa

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