212 invests in growth-stage tech companies across Turkey, CEE, and MENA. Currently, our fund manages €75 million of committed capital, and 25 investments. Our strategy is to invest in B2B tech solutions that have demonstrated traction, a clear product-market fit, and are ready to scale internationally. ‘Test local, go global’ is 212’s guiding principle. In addition to investing in startups, we put significant effort into mentoring, supporting, and advising our portfolio companies. 212 was founded by a seasoned group of veterans with the common vision of cultivating an eco-system in Turkey and its region. Each of our team members brings to the table a proven track record of success in multi-cultural disciplines in both global corporations and start-ups and an unwavering focus on strategy, operation, and execution.

Aslanoba Capital is an early stage investor in tech startups in Turkey and the US. The company invests in startups pursuing disruptive ideas in areas such as marketplaces, e-commerce, mobile, classifieds, content, and SaaS with a consideration of investment between $0.25 million and $2 million. Aslanoba was founded in 2013 and is based in Istanbul, Turkey.

Aslanoba Capital

Founders Factory builds and funds startups together with exceptional entrepreneurs and the world's leading companies. We invest across four key themes - fintech, health, climate, and deeptech. Founded in 2015 by Brent Hoberman, Henry Lane Fox and George Northcott, Founders Factory combines capital and bespoke support from a team of over 70 specialists with a broad network of corporates and established entrepreneurs. Founders Factory has backed over 300 technology companies globally. Corporate partners include Aviva, L’Oreal, Guardian Media Group, easyJet, Reckitt, Marks and Spencer, CSC Group, J&J, Deutsche Telekom, Fastweb, Pico Global, Mediobanca and Standard Bank.

Founders Factory

Ascension is an early-stage VC built by exited entrepreneurs to back the next generation of tech and impact founders. Run by an experienced and diverse team of successful entrepreneurs, we have been relentlessly dedicated to finding the UK’s best Seed-stage startups since 2014. Ascension benefits from the active industry connections essential for the sourcing and development of deal-flow and due diligence. The team has co-invested with the UK’s leading angels and VCs, key to securing follow-on funding as the portfolio businesses move to their next stage of growth. We believe in building an inclusive, community driven brand that can benefit the wider UK tech ecosystem and strive to work with conviction, integrity, humour, and humility.

Ascension

Wix Capital is a fund that invests in early-stage companies that offer significant industry opportunities to shape the future of the web. Wix Capital's specific areas of focus include software and technology companies that sit at the intersection of online design and development, commerce and business management, and AI and automation solutions. Wix Capital aims to participate in seed and early-stage investment rounds worldwide. Wix Capital is the Internal Venture Arm of Wix.

Wix Capital

Founded in the UK to support early stage startups.

DHM Premier Investments

HotelRunner

HotelRunner helps accommodations transition their sales and operations from off to online, maximizing their online visibility through a very user-friendly self-service platform and with a freemium business model. HotelRunner provides a complete online sales and distribution management platform for all types of accommodations - including a direct web booking engine, a 2-way channel manager integrated with 150+ online/offline travel agencies, metasearch, wholesalers, and GDS, as well as a sophisticated multilingual website content management system, front-desk and call center management, guest relationship management, reporting, payment collection, and promotion tools. HotelRunner with its HotelRunner Connect division provides supply acquisition and contracting, automated onboarding and account opening, engagement, performance benchmarking and reporting, and commission collection services for travel agencies, travel technology providers, and payment systems. HotelRunner is present in 193 countries with 60,000+ accommodations registered to the platform, also partnering with 150+ online/offline travel agencies, metasearch, wholesalers, and GDS as well as payment systems. HotelRunner is a Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner, Expedia Elite Connectivity Partner, Airbnb Software Partner, Agoda Innovative Supplier, Oracle Gold, Hotelbeds, and Google Hotel Ads strategic partner.

HotelRunner provides end-to-end sales, operations, and distribution management for the travel industry. It offers a range of features, including a booking engine, content management system, website builder, metasearch solutions, channel and inventory management (integrated with Google Hotel Ads), business intelligence insights (launched in November 2022), and a property management system (launched in June 2021). Other features include online payment solutions, a dashboard for group hotel management, and guest relationship management solutions, which allow targeted email messages to be sent to guests. Furthermore, HotelRunners’ custom apps feature enables integration with third-party apps through HotelRunner's API.&nbsp;

Travel Tech

HotelRunner Acquires Bookingate, Expanding its B2B Powerhouse for the Travel Industry

HotelRunner provides end-to-end sales, operations, and distribution management for the travel industry. It offers a range of features, including a booking engine, content management system, website builder, metasearch solutions, channel and inventory management (integrated with Google Hotel Ads), business intelligence insights (launched in November 2022), and a property management system (launched in June 2021). Other features include online payment solutions, a dashboard for group hotel management, and guest relationship management solutions, which allow targeted email messages to be sent to guests. Furthermore, HotelRunners’ custom apps feature enables integration with third-party apps through HotelRunner's API.&nbsp;In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/34266">October 2024</a>, HotelRunner acquired B2B travel marketplace Bookingate to increase distribution offering. Previously in September 2020, HotelRunner acquired rate analysis, shopping, and comparison platform, RateFor, to add rate-optimization solutions to its product suite.HotelRunner uses a subscription-based business model, which includes a freemium plan with paid plans starting at ~USD 10. Integrations such as custom apps (USD 149) and software for property management (USD 149 per integration), group hotel management (USD 69), revenue management (USD 49–USD 149), and guest relationship management (USD 19) are also available.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsAs of February 2023, the company worked with more than 60,000 accommodation providers and more than 150 travel agencies. HotelRunner is also a trusted technology partner for Expedia Group, Booking.com, Airbnb, Oracle, and Agoda.Recent direct contracts negotiated by HotelRunner to add services of other travel platforms include that with Mercan Tourism (January 2023), HPro Travel (September 2022), PeakPoint (June 2022), HIS Travel (August 2021), Global Travel Services (March 2021), Hoo (January 2021), and Hotelbeds (January 2021).Other partnerships included that with Wix (June 2022) to redevelop and launch the Wix Hotels platform and with automated pricing software RoomPriceGenie (January 2021) to add its services as an integration on the HotelRunner Store.&nbsp;

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

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

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

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 UK-based technology firm HotelRunner has purchased B2B travel marketplace Bookingate. The exact sum involved in the transaction has not been disclosed. 
 The acquisition is part of an effort by HotelRunner to boost its existing platform, with the aim of improving travel management processes. It also hopes to enhance hotel contract and dynamic packaging processes. Another goal is to aid offline agencies in making the transition to the digital sphere. The deal will additionally facilitate support for travel agencies, tour operators, and destination management organizations in distributive and sales-related tasks. 
 Bookingate offers a range of services to travel providers through its platform, including access to their hotel inventory. The company's booking engine offers standalone as well as bundled travel packages and also includes payment processing capabilities. It also provides a dashboard with options to track revenue and operational trends.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 This acquisition aligns with HotelRunner's strategic objective to enhance its product offerings through targeted acquisitions. In <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/22003"> September 2023, </a> HotelRunner acquired Paypad to provide comprehensive hotel payment solutions. This followed its <a href="https: 
//www.phocuswire.com/HotelRunner-acquires-RateFor"> September 2020 </a> acquisition of RateFor, a hotel analytics platform, to broaden its range of services for properties and online travel agencies.

HotelRunner

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