That was the 1st Virtual TIC & VIR Travel Start-up Night 2022
Auch die erste virtuelle TIC & VIR Start-up Night 2022 fand wieder im digitalen Format statt. Es hatten erneut fünf Unternehmen die Möglichkeit vor laufender Kamera zu pitchen. Eine bunte Mischung aus Gästen etablierter Unternehmen sowie Start-ups waren der Einladung gefolgt, um auch in dieser besonderen Situation wieder einen spannenden Abend mit interessanten Start-up Pitches zu erleben.
Sponsors of the 2022 Grand Prize Package
First, Michael Buller, CEO of VIR, and Dirk Bremer from the Travel Industry Clubkicked off the evening. They welcomed the guests and thanked the sponsors of the prize package, which will be awarded to the top three startups at the grand finale at the end of the year.
This was followed by a keynote presentation from DynAmaze, the winner of Travel Start-up Night 2021. In his talk, co-founder Pétur Müller discussed how the Cologne-based startup had fared since winning the final on December 7, 2021, and introduced their platform for marketing spontaneous leisure activities for last-minute bookings.
2021 Start-up Night Winner: DynAmaze
Before the pitches began, Jacqueline Beckers from VIR explained the evening’s schedule and introduced the startups presenting their pitches. Then it was time for the selected startups to focus their full attention on the competition for victory—and thus a spot in the finals of Travel Startup Nights 2022 at the end of the year.
3, 2, 1… Pitch
Dominik Quambusch introduces AlpacaCamping
As always, the pitches were presented in alphabetical order, so Dominik Quambusch from AlpacaCampingwent first. The company’s mission is to digitize municipal RV parking areas, thereby supporting local agriculture and community organizations. At the same time, the startup aims to promote regional and sustainable tourism. The goal is to prevent overcrowded campgrounds and illegal camping.
Lara Körber from Bildungsurlauber.de
The next candidate, Lara Körber from the startup Bildungsurlauber.de, is tackling the problem that in Germany, 27 million workers are legally entitled to educational leave and the additional time off that comes with it—on top of their regular vacation time—yet only two percent actually take advantage of it. With the first nationwide information and booking platform that provides worldwide assistance with questions regarding the law, application, and booking of educational leave, the startup aims to send more and more people “off on educational leave”!
Jonas Bayerlein presents elysium
Jonas Bayerleinfrom the startup elysium audio solutions GmbHthenpresented theirsmartphone app, which allows tour guides to stream their own voice live to the tour group during a city tour—without the need for expensive specialized hardwarethat must be manufactured, purchased, rented, transported, and disinfected—making it sustainable and usable worldwide. With its live translation feature, the startup also makes multilingual group tours possible for the first time, without the need for an additional guide or interpreter.
Before the pitches continued, there were two elevator pitches from startups that had also applied. lis10app and Small World Travel used the one minute to briefly present their innovative concepts to the audience.
Simon Dierdorfer of Layover Solutions
The goal of the next presenter, Simon Dierdofer ofLayover Solutions, is to use their digital platform to arrange hotel rooms, meals, and transportation for airlines that need these services for their passengers when flights are canceled. This addresses the current challenges posed by flight cancellations and achieves time savings of up to 90 percent for all stakeholders. The integrated artificial intelligence also increases booking accuracy, thereby preventing costly errors.
Jens Harald Herzberg introduces ONTHEGO
Jens Harald Herzberg, co-founder of ONTHEGO, wrapped up the event with the final pitch.ONTHEGO combines automated travel and booking management with integrated sales and service management: you simply enter a date into the calendar, and ONTHEGO finds the perfect itinerary for you—including all modes of transportation and hotels—and books everything for you—just like a perfect personal assistant!
Nach jedem Pitch ist kurz Zeit für aufkommende Fragen aus dem Publikum. Auch im virtuellen Raum wurde die Gelegenheit genutzt und viel Lob und Anregungen verteilt. Da bei den Travel Start-up Nights immer sowohl etablierte Player der Touristik als auch junge Start-ups vor Ort sind, ist dies eine perfekte Gelegenheit für die pitchenden Start-ups, sich Anregungen zu holen und ihre Geschäftsmodelle zu perfektionieren.
Afterward, participants were able to gather for virtual networking and exchange ideas in small groups.
Who will win the 1st Virtual TIC & VIR Travel Start-up Night 2022?
Bildungsurlauber.de Wins Start-up Night
Obwohl man den Abend mit den eigenen Getränken und Snacks zuhause ausklingen lassen musste, warteten alle nicht minder gespannt darauf, welche Start-ups das Rennen gemacht hatten. Nach Auswertung der Onlineumfragen konnten folgende Start-ups die Gäste des Abends überzeugen und sich so einen Platz im Finale sichern:
The startup took first place Bildungsurlauber.de— congratulations!
Second place went to elysium audio solutions GmbH, which still has a chance to make it to the finals.
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