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Global accelerator program Techstars is no stranger to the travel industry, having backed startups ranging from enterprise tool TapTrip to outdoor travel search site Secre.
Now, he’s partnered with Build In Tulsa to launch a new program focused on minority entrepreneurs whose mission is “Building the Infrastructure for Black Diversity.”
The Build In Tulsa Techstars Accelerator is serving as a launch pad for two travel startups specifically focused on the future of work: SquadTrip and Workbnb (Skift announced in January.)
The SquadTrip co-founder said he had tried to join Techstars several times before with his previous event technology companies, but was particularly interested in the new Build In Tulsa Techstars Accelerator, which consists of 14 startups that spend three months in the Oklahoma network and showcase their products to investors.
“There were different satellite programs in different cities, but looking at the ecosystem, when we looked at the program’s managing director (Trey Baker), it seemed like an amazing place to bring our company,” said co-founder Darien. Watson
Baker said in a statement. In the first half of 2021, black entrepreneurs accounted for more than 1 percent of the record $147 billion invested in U.S. startups.
Darin Watson, SquadTrip and Tre Baker, Managing Director of Build in Tulsa Techstars. Image: SquadTrip
Now Watson says he wants to build something “big” that will help more people.
SquadTrip aims to help travel operators, including agencies, reduce their stress levels when planning group trips, eliminating the need to track payments using spreadsheets or sending multiple texts and emails. Its “flagship feature” is flexible payment levels.
Corporate focus
Group travel is being assessed as a major growth area in corporate travel, with many agencies opening up new tools and platforms to accommodate clients seeking more destinations and retreats. Watson says SquadTrip is already being used by corporate clients, but it’s the first travel platform targeting millennials.
“Since we started, we’ve opened our eyes to how many travel agents are transitioning to curating travel experiences,” he said. Next week, he will begin explaining the account user feature with Travel Goddess International, so more of his advisors can use SquadTrip.
“She is part of the new social media travel agents. She has 40,000 or 50,000 followers on social media, and people use social media to curate their own journey.” said Watson. “Groupon and Booking.com’s Flash Deals Are Gone.”
The legacy of Black Wall Street
The Tulsa Techstars Accelerator builds on the legacy of Black Wall Street, a racially motivated massacre in the affluent Greenwood district, one of the most black communities in America at the time, in 1921.
After the death of George Floyd, this is a big issue in technology in the US, especially since our program is near Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said Yves Perez, founder of Airbnb.
Workbnb has set up a pilot program to offer apartments in Tulsa to fellow Techstars. “The goal is to expand the program to provide mid-term housing for all Techstars programs in 40 cities around the world next year,” Perez said.
Adds Techstars Build in Tulsa’s Baker: “The housing industry is fragmented, and there are large segments of society that are not being served by existing solutions. I’ve adopted WorkBnB in a building in Tulsa’s TechStars Accelerator because it’s used by traveling workers and the companies that hire them, hotels or vacation rentals. This is a huge market, so even capturing a small percentage of it is a huge win for Workbnb and Techstars.
WorkBnB has also appointed business solutions agency Copper & Wine to help prepare the app for a beta launch.
Around travel, another startup included in the program wants to improve people’s networks. NGHBR, an Indonesian company, is a professional network that facilitates in-person communication based on your real-time location.
The Tulsa Techstars Accelerator is being built in partnership with the George Cassier Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Shusterman Family Philanthropists. The George Cassier Family Foundation supported Tulsa Remote, an initiative that provided $10,000 to attract talent. It was launched in 2018 and has received over 20,000 applications.
Techstars in 2010 Since its inception in 2016, it has invested in more than 2,500 companies with a market capitalization of more than $220 billion.
Meanwhile, another startup, Adventurely, a “travel club and meeting app for digital nomads, solo travelers and adventure seekers,” received $100,000 this week from Google’s Black Founders Fund for Startups.
In cash, $100,000 in cloud credits, mentorship from Google employees, and mental health and business coaching are provided. Digital perpetuity is no longer commonplace as millions of businesses around the world have adopted fully remote or hybrid/part-time remote work policies in addition to no-work policies. .
Eventnoire, a platform for event planners, organizations and marketers who celebrate and embrace black culture, was chosen.
Side notes
The UK Conservative Party appointed a new Prime Minister this week. Liz Truss succeeds Boris Johnson, who left a unique legacy in travel and hospitality. Early in his career, he championed the construction of an airport on the Thames, known as Boris Island Airport, and soon followed the UK’s exit from the European Union, following a controversial and unusual and expensive traffic light system to combat the growing number of covid-19 infections, and ultimately a harsh covid recovery plan.
Truss reshuffled her cabinet on Wednesday, replacing long-serving transport secretary Grant Shapps, who held the role for three years. He was succeeded by Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
Clive Wrighton, chief executive of the UK Business Travel Association, said: “When the Cabinet meets for the first time, we urge ministers to recognize the contribution that business travel can make to helping the key issues of our time.
The association should not worry too much as the new prime minister probably has enough knowledge about all the business trips. Her brother Chris Truss has been working in the sector for 20 years, previously at Capita Travel and Events (now Agiito), HRG and Reed & Mackay – where he has been director of international development since 2017.
New owner TripActions now finds it has friends in high places.
10-second corporate travel case-up
Who and what Skift covered last week: EasyJet, Flight Center Travel Group, Google, Hapi Travel, IHG, ITA Airways, JetBlue, RIA, Sabre, Seatfrog, Sonder, Yatra.
in short
Australia’s CTM wins a $115 million Ukrainian refugee contract
Awarded by the Scottish Government Corporate travel management $115 million contract to manage Ukrainian refugees, the most sought-after public sector job Australian travel agency will develop “travel-related services” for people fleeing the Russian occupation. The “Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management” contract was awarded on August 9. The UK Crown Commercial Services was the sole bidder as part of the procurement framework.
Priceline increases corporate reach through HotelHub partnership
Price line shared with HotelHubConnecting hotel content with travel management companies and their corporate clients. As part of the strategic partnership, the agency platform from Priceline’s parent company, Booking Holdings, will gain access to offerings including properties from Priceline, Booking.com and Agoda. HotelHub is developing a white label booking platform powered by Priceline to target small and medium sized companies.
HotelHub already aggregates content from 2 million properties from global distribution systems and other sources. Travel agent customers also get pay now and pay later from all Booking Holdings brands.
Amex GBT has upgraded to a new TravelPort platform.
American Express International Business Travel He renewed his strategic relationship with the technology company port of departureWith a new multi-year agreement that includes migration to the Travelport+ platform. Travelport relaunched the platform in April last year, improving access to content, offering more retail capabilities and increasing productivity for travel advisors. The couple has been together for over 40 years.
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