New list spotlights pandemic-era innovations, with 17 startups born in the last three years

PhocusWire, the media and news division powered by Phocuswright, has unveiled its list of the “Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2024” at The Phocuswright Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

This year’s selection stands out for the resilience and innovation demonstrated by startups, with 8 of the 25 winning companies having been founded in the challenging year of 2020. Another five were established in 2021, and four in 2022, signaling a surge in creative solutions during the pandemic.

Mike Coletta, Manager of Research and Innovation at Phocuswright, emphasised the dynamic nature of the travel industry, stating, “Times of crisis expose opportunities to take risks, to fix what is broken and to test new concepts.” The resulting innovations, born during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, are now manifesting in the form of the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2024.

To explore each company’s unique offerings and their plans for 2024, click on the respective links provided below:

• Acai
• Autoura
• Blockskye
• Boddy
• BookingData
• BTP Automation
• Deal Engine
• Dharma
• Direx
• Eilago
• Grazzy
• Greether
• Jerne
• Kabuk
• Katanox
• Kindred
• Legends
• Point.me
• SquadTrip
• The Host Co.
• Travlr ID
• Turneo
• Unravel
• Venus Aerospace
• Weeva

The selection process, spanning a year-round effort to identify early-stage startups globally, resulted in over 150 potential winners, ultimately narrowed down based on innovation strength, growth potential, sector diversity, and founder demographics.

Phocuswright’s Hot 25 Travel Startups list, now in its sixth year, has spotlighted a total of 150 companies since its inception. The cumulative funding raised by the first five years’ entrants amounts to an impressive $2.2 billion. 

For a retrospective look at past selections, explore the Hot 25 Travel Startups of 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019. 

Analysing the demographics of this year’s class, 74% operate primarily on a B2B basis, collectively raising 56% of all funding. The companies span various verticals, with 20% serving the air sector, 18% in hotel & hostel, 11% in short-term rentals, 10% in corporate travel, 6% spanning multiple verticals, and another 6% in tours and activities.

Geographically, 53% of the companies are based in North America, 33% in Europe, 8% in Asia Pacific, and the rest in the Middle East, South America, and Africa. Notably, twelve companies have been acquired, three closed, and one merged since their selection, highlighting the dynamic nature of the startup landscape.

To be considered for the Hot 25 Travel Startups of 2025, companies are encouraged to visit Phocuswright’s Innovation Platform. For more details on the featured companies, Phocuswright research clients can access The Travel Startups Interactive Database using the “PhocusWire Hot 25 Startups” filter.

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the travel industry, the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2024 offer a glimpse into the future, showcasing the resilience and transformative power of innovation during challenging times.