登錄
選單
登錄
海擇短評 Haize Comment：
提供可持續旅遊產品的旅行社，是歐洲盛行的創業主題之一，近期總部位於倫敦的旅遊預訂平台Byway，公告在Heartcore Capital領投的A輪融資中籌集了約640萬美元。公司的創始人Cat Jones畢業時的學位，就是倫敦大學亞非學院(SOAS)的可持續發展碩士，任職孵化器Founders Factory的董事總經理後，創立了Byway，公司曾在2021年從Innovate UK和天使投資人募集110萬英鎊，本期融資的目的則在加速開發AI技術系統並擴大產品的覆蓋範圍。
Byway的商業模式可以理解為偏向主題遊的細分市場OTA，公司迎合了對減碳旅行日益增長的需求(或說是迎合了政治正確)，提供"免航班"旅遊套餐，也就是基於減碳，不提供涵蓋飛機航班的旅遊套餐產品，將套餐內的交通工具用"人均"較為低碳的渡輪、火車、巴士和自行車等替代，而這類旅行社在歐洲其實不少。
與同業比較不同的是，Byway提供了一個名為"Journey AI"的技術，協助用戶規劃無需飛機航班的多站旅行。這項技術結合了交通時刻表、交通線路、票價資訊以及客戶提供的偏好，以此構建旅行套餐，並提供過去成功的旅行數據，給需求相似的客戶建議。例如，系統可以推薦一周的西班牙鄉村之旅或三周的歐洲到土耳其往返旅程，並經過布達佩斯和維也納等地。
海擇資本測試後覺得，它的優點是根據旅程的愉悅度而非速度來設計行程，能安排乘坐山地鐵路或渡輪欣賞沿途風景，使旅程本身成為假期的一部分。至於在旅行中斷時能提供的抗干擾能力，亦即在"行中"自動重新規劃行程的部分，尚無法測試。缺點也很明顯，它的系統不是對話式的生成式AI，要微調需求時還是得發email給公司人工處理。
不談節能減碳，在新冠疫情後，我們觀察到越來越多人開始理解，慢旅行是一種心態；就像我們做每件事的結果固然重要，但過程也是值得享受的體驗，旅行如果不是只求迅速到達目的地，將乘坐交通工具的旅程當成體驗的一部分，也許沿著風景優美的路線行進，能發現意外的收穫。
至於公司的盈利潛力，理論上，Byway作為旅行社，應該能以批發價從交通和住宿供應商處獲得折扣或佣金，而複雜的自由行常常有著因中斷或更改行程而產生的隱藏成本。Byway號稱任何出發前的旅行中斷，都能更改日期、更改路線或全額退款，不問任何問題(full refund and no questions asked)，這表示跟供應商應有較好的分銷協議。Cat如果能繼續善用自己的人設取得較低的獲客成本，並讓Journey AI更偏向能即時微調的生成式AI，還是有機會能突破這類旅行社能盈利但無法做大的門檻。
-------
Travel agencies offering sustainable travel products are a popular startup theme in Europe. Recently, London-based travel booking platform Byway announced it raised approximately $6.4 million in a Series A funding round led by Heartcore Capital. The company's founder, Cat Jones, who holds a master's degree in Sustainable Development from SOAS University of London, launched Byway after serving as the managing director at the incubator Founders Factory. Byway had previously raised £1.1 million in 2021 from Innovate UK and angel investors. The latest funding aims to accelerate the development of AI technology systems and expand product coverage.
Byway's business model caters to the growing demand for carbon-reducing travel (aligning with politically correct trends) by offering "flight-free" travel packages. These packages substitute flights with lower-carbon alternatives like ferries, trains, buses, and bicycles. Such travel agencies are quite common in Europe.
Distinct from its competitors, Byway has developed "Journey AI," a technology that assists users in planning multi-stop trips without flights. This technology integrates transport timetables, routes, fare information, and customer preferences to create travel packages and provides suggestions based on successful past trips. For example, the system might recommend a week-long rural Spain tour or a three-week round trip from Europe to Turkey, passing through cities like Budapest and Vienna.
Haize Capital found that Byway's strength lies in designing itineraries based on the enjoyment of the journey rather than speed, arranging travel by mountain railways or ferries to appreciate the scenery, making the journey itself a part of the vacation. However, its ability to re-plan trips automatically during travel disruptions has not been tested. A notable limitation is that Byway's system is not a conversational generative AI, and any need for customization requires emailing the company for manual processing.
Beyond energy conservation, post-pandemic observations show an increasing appreciation for slow travel as a mindset. Like any process, the journey in travel is as important as the destination, and viewing the travel component as part of the experience, particularly along scenic routes, can lead to unexpected discoveries.
Regarding the company’s profit potential, theoretically, as a travel agency, Byway should be able to secure discounts or commissions from transport and accommodation providers. Complex independent trips often incur hidden costs due to interruptions or changes. Byway offers the option to change dates, routes, or a full refund with no questions asked before departure, indicating favorable distribution agreements with suppliers. If Cat can continue leveraging her persona for lower customer acquisition costs and develop Journey AI towards more real-time adjustments, there is potential to overcome profitability challenges typical for such travel agencies.
標籤 Label： Travel Sustainable Byway Flight-free