Phocuswright, the leading global travel industry research authority and producer of the annual Phocuswright Conference, has released new details about this year’s Startup Program – which promises to be its biggest yet.
The Startup Program, which will take place at The Phocuswright Conference in Fort Lauderdale from November 13-16, aims to connect promising young businesses with mentors and investors in the travel tech space. This year’s conference, themed You, Me & the Machine, will explore the massive possibilities for AI in the travel space.
“The proliferation of generative AI is creating unprecedented opportunity for innovation in the travel industry,” said Gene Ko, director of marketing and communications at Phocuswright. “Over recent years, we’ve seen ever-bigger funding rounds relating to tech startups in travel with a continuing trend of funding moving to later stages. This gives advanced mid- and late-stage startups the advantage of more investment into the technologies they are developing. There’s a huge interest among investors and industry leaders in AI startups that can demonstrate a potential to solve complex industry challenges.
Phocuswright recently redesigned its Travel Startups Interactive Database. Launched in 2005, the database helps match new businesses with potential investors, now holding data on over 4.6k startups. It has since tracked $202.1B in funding, $23.7B in acquisitions or IPOs, and 8.4K funding rounds.
“This year’s Startup Program is set to be our most exciting yet,” continued Ko. “This year’s theme focuses on a marketplace where new businesses must demonstrate real value for existing travel companies. Thus, mid- and later-stage startups that can prove they’re more than just hype stand to benefit the most.”
The Startup Program, one of the event’s fastest growing networking sessions, encourages powerful connections for startups, mentors and investors. This networking program satiates the need for entrepreneurs to connect with and learn from attentive travel executives and investors. Just as importantly, it gives mentors direct access to a pool of the freshest startups and innovations.
Startups taking part in the program will enjoy one-to-one meetings with many of the travel industry’s most influential leaders – Darren Henly of Amadeus, Lisa Katsouraki of Etraveli Group, Kristi Choi of Plug and Play, James Lead of Stripe, Phil Lolis of Thayer Ventures, Loren Kosloske of Uber, and many more that have signed up as mentors. A full list of mentors can be found here.
The Phocuswright Conference aims to nuture the talent of tomorrow. In addition to the Startup Program, Phocuswright’s Young Leaders Summit will recognize more rising stars of travel, bringing together the best and brightest leaders aged 35 and younger. This private program during The Phocuswright Conference is a launching pad for the next generation of travel luminaries to connect, debate and collaborate.
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