I’ve recently invested in Holibob, a B2B aggregator for global tours and experiences. The company currently partners with multiple international travel and lifestyle brands, providing them with access to 75,000+ tours, activities, attractions & experiences, across 2000+ cities in 150+ countries.
With Holibob I saw a genuine opportunity to own a space, bringing together a disjointed market with technology. Tours is one of the fastest growing segments in travel, but it’s very fragmented and there is no central GDS ( Global Distribution Service). Holibob will change that, and I have no doubt they can go far with the right backing. Additionally, as part of the deal I have also found a way to add value to my own customers. I will be offering their tours and excursions to the millions of customers I have on my base, and have agreed preferential rates.
Craig and Angus, Holibob’s founders, applied for investment on my website back in May, and we entered into a number of conversations from pitch stage to refining a deal. I’ve been nothing but impressed by them. They are both very detail-oriented, know their stuff and they have put great people around themselves. The other investors and their associates bring a wealth of knowledge and contacts to the table, which really helps.
By bringing Holibob into my group, I want to give them a chance to grow from here. There’s no reason why they can’t pioneer the next generation of business to business and consumer tech in this sector. The travel industry may have been hit hard by the Covid19 pandemic, but now needs to adapt and develop solutions for the long term.
For companies seeking investment, I am still accepting applications via my website. The process is very simple and those who make the shortlist are invited to a pitch session over zoom.
