Africa-focused travel tech startup raises multi-million rand investment

Africa-focused travel tech platform, Viatu has raised a reported multi-million rand investment deal from a number of undisclosed investors.

Viatu has raised  a multi-million rand investment

The funding received will be utilised for the launch of the new travel platform, focusing on Namibia as its first destination for travellers. In addition, the funds will be used towards the building of a functional and reliable MVP, including the tailoring of trips, the ability or customise trips according to users’ preferences, and instant booking.

Alfredo Seidemann, Founder and CEO of Viatu comments on the investment.

“I’m very excited about where we are. To see so many people support our mission, it’s been incredible to know that others too believe in the positive power of travel. We’re grateful to our investors and ready to get out there and change the way we travel”.

Viatu AG

With headquarters located in Switzerland, the Africa-focused travel startup aims to be an industry disruptor with its easy-to-use digital platform.

The team of Viatu  is comprised of former executives in travel, ex-Google employees, and Booking.com engineers, with a wealth of knowledge and experience to create a tech-enabled travel operator.

With the aim of promoting sustainable travel, Viatu  allows users to book trips into adventurous and off-the-beaten-track locations for conscious travellers.

Aligning with a number of partners, Viatu ensures that users are able to book instantly without the need for a middle man agent. Both the accommodation and transportation undergo a vetting process to ensure that it abides by a sustainable guideline.

“Travel is not just an item you sell-off a shelf and sell off. It’s personal and it’s powerful and I think we don’t realize that enough. The wildlife and adventure market is a $200 billion industry waiting to be disrupted!,” comments Seidemann

Combining innovative technology and travel expertise, Viatu functions as a smarter and ‘greener’ option for those seeking travel in Africa.

The business model and service offering are based on regenerative travel, where tourism has a positive impact on the local environment and its people.

Seidemann explains that despite the challenges faced in the travel industry due to the constraints of Covid-19, Viatu is taking the stance of ‘hitting the reset button’ on tourism.

“In a post-COVID world, reinventing travel really is the only option!” Alfredo Seidemann, Founder and CEO of Viatu explained.

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Featured image: Viatu, (Supplied)