Startups that design a product with a target customer in mind often have more success than those that attempt to build a broad travel product with little thought to what their users need and want.
This week's early-stage travel startups are tailored to fit individual travelers' needs, whether they are families trotting across the globe or vacation rental owners looking to streamline their bookings.
Kid & Coe is a vacation rental website tailored specifically for families. All properties are kid-friendly homes and listings are accompanied with a curated guide to the neighborhood they're located in.
SkiftTake: There is no shortage of rental websites and neighborhood guides online today, but the focus on frequently traveling families make it stand out among the competition for researcher and booker in the family.
Backpackr is a mobile app that backpackers can use to find travel companions, ask questions of fellow travelers, and keep track of their destinations using digital stamps.
SkiftTake: Most backpackers today rely on their already existing social networks from Facebook to Instagram for travel advice and making connections. The app has an opportunity to grow if backpackers find meaningful connections and/or advice that they wouldn't find on other sites.
Twisper is a local discovery app that serves up recommendations and allows users to save the locations of places they like and want to remember. Users can also create and share travel guides.
SkiftTake: Twisper is an app that's just as useful in users' own neighborhood as it is in a new city. Local discovery apps are hot acquisition items with companies of all sizes looking to add insights for their users.
Lodify is a website that helps vacation rental owners create a personalized website, accept online payments, manage listing ads across various channels, and manage booking inquires.
SkiftTake: Managing a single rental has become more complicated since there became more places to list a property, more inquiries, and more ways to accept payment. Lodgify offers a solution for anyone with one to many listings.
Yamsafer is a hotel booking websites that helps users find and book hotels in the Middle East and Turkey. The website also provides a unique service that enables users to book a hotel without a credit card.