TECH START-UPS
3. INFLIGHT VR
The one that immerses passengers in a virtual experience Inflight VR believes that virtual reality (VR) is about to go mainstream with recent developments in hardware, such
as Apple’s smart glass anticipated for release this year, expected to boost usage. The company, which has bases in Barcelona and Munich, wants to work with airlines to bring VR experiences to passengers and is already partnering with Iberia, Singapore Airlines, SunExpress and coach operator Flixbus. It recently raised €2.5 million in funding bringing its total to €4 million. HYPE V REALITY Despite the hype about two years ago, VR has not yet lived up to expectations. However, we shouldn’t give up on it just yet as mobile devices can increasingly support the technology. Current wisdom suggests we’re likely to end up with a blend of mixed reality – a blend of AR and VR. Airlines are still trialling the technology with British Airways announcing a VR headset trial last year through SkyLights, one of the companies that was part of parent company IAG’s Hangar 51 start-up accelerator.
inflight-vr.com
4. PILOTA
The one that helps you navigate a flight disruption
Although flight disruptions are an almost accepted part of frequent business travel, less palatable is how they are dealt with from a traveller
perspective. In addition, the high financial cost – an estimated US$60 billion to the airline industry every year, not to mention the losses in productivity – have made travel companies, established and newbies, sit up and take notice.
Enter Pilota which uses machine-learning to predict disruption and automatically rebooks travellers on a back-up flight in the event of delays and cancellations.
py
-up flight in the and cancellatio S-bas
The US-based company is currently closing its seed round of funding and hopes to emerge from its pilot phase early this year. Then begins the journey of growth and scaling with the corporate travel market on the start-up’s target list. HYPE V REALITY
closing its see hopes to eme early this ye journey of the corpo the star HYPE V While co ad bu so a t
Saniya Shah, co-founder, Pilota 98 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
While Pilota is a young company, it is aiming to address a real problem in business travel. If it can solve disruption for even a small proportion of travellers, its service will be of real value.
flypilota.com
Inflight VR offers onboard virtual reality experiences
IF PILOTA CAN SOLVE DISRUPTION
FOR EVEN A SMALL PROPORTION OF TRAVELLERS, ITS SERVICE WILL BE OF REAL VALUE
5. TIMESHIFTER
The one that helps you combat jetlag This is an easy-to-use app that enables travellers to enter some details about themselves and a forthcoming trip in order to produce a plan to deal
with jetlag. While some of it might seem like common sense – drink caffeine, seek daylight – the app sends timely reminders of what actions to take and when. It’s based on NASA-approved circadian science – how humans respond to daily cycles, mentally, physically and behaviourally. US-based Timeshifter has raised £1.5 million in pre- seed funding and is in the process of raising a further £2 million in a seed round. The start-up has just announed a partnership with United Airlines and its plans for 2020 include launching further partnerships and signing on individual and corporate customers. HYPE V REALITY Timeshifter has a lot going for it because jetlag is a very unpleasant side effect of long-haul travel. Most travellers would be willing to download the app and give the personalised plan a go, but it’s uncertain whether travellers or their employers will be prepared to pay-per-trip or upgrade to the subscription model.
timeshifter.com
buyingbusinesstravel.com
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