Top 10 TravelTech Startups in India

Hyderabad Newswire Team

10 months ago

India’s travel industry has seen a tremendous transformation, driven largely by technological innovation. TravelTech startups have played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the sector, making travel easier, more accessible, and more efficient for millions. Here’s a detailed look at the top 10 TravelTech startups in India, highlighting their impact, innovation, founders, and the years they were founded.

1. MakeMyTrip

Founded: 2000
Founders: Deep Kalra
Impact & Innovation: MakeMyTrip is a pioneer in India’s online travel space. It started by focusing on the US-India travel market and later expanded its services to include domestic flights, hotels, holiday packages, and more. Its impact lies in providing a comprehensive platform that simplifies travel planning. MakeMyTrip’s innovative approach includes leveraging data analytics and AI to offer personalized travel recommendations and deals.

Attribute	Detail
Founded Year	2000
Location	Gurugram, Haryana
Funding	$548 million
Stage	Public (NASDAQ: MMYT)
Investors	SAIF Partners, Tiger Global, Ctrip, others

Details of MakeMyTrip in the table

Also read: Top 10 Fintech Startups in India

2. Yatra

Founded: 2006
Founders: Dhruv Shringi, Manish Amin, and Sabina Chopra
Impact & Innovation: Yatra is one of India’s leading online travel companies, offering a wide range of services including flights, hotels, and holiday packages. Its innovation lies in its user-friendly platform that integrates various travel services. Yatra’s mobile app is particularly notable for its ease of use and convenience, making travel booking seamless.

Attribute	Detail
Founded Year	2006
Location	Gurugram, Haryana
Funding	$142 million
Stage	Public (NASDAQ: YTRA)
Investors	Reliance Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, Valiant Capital Partners, others

Details of Yatra in the table

Also read: Top 10 Agritech Startups in India

3. OYO Rooms

Founded: 2013
Founder: Ritesh Agarwal
Impact & Innovation: OYO Rooms revolutionized the budget hotel industry by standardizing affordable lodging options across India and globally. Its impact is profound, offering a network of reliable and quality budget hotels. OYO’s innovative use of technology includes an efficient booking app, real-time inventory management, and dynamic pricing models.

Attribute	Detail
Founded Year	2013
Location	Gurugram, Haryana
Funding	$4.1 billion
Stage	Private (Unicorn)
Investors	SoftBank, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, others

Details of OYO Rooms in the table

4. Ixigo

Founded: 2007
Founders: Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar
Impact & Innovation: Ixigo is a travel search engine that aggregates and compares real-time travel information, enabling users to find the best deals on flights, trains, buses, and hotels. Its innovation lies in its use of AI and machine learning to provide smart travel recommendations and real-time fare alerts, significantly improving the travel planning experience.

Attribute	Detail
Founded Year	2007
Location	Gurugram, Haryana
Funding	$58 million
Stage	Pre-IPO
Investors	Sequoia Capital, Fosun RZ Capital, Elevation Capital, others

Details of Ixigo in the table

5. Cleartrip

Founded: 2006
Founders: Stuart Crighton, Hrush Bhatt, and Matthew Spacie
Impact & Innovation: Cleartrip offers a comprehensive travel booking experience with a focus on simplicity and transparency. Its impact is in providing a clutter-free, user-friendly interface that makes travel booking easy. Cleartrip’s innovation includes Cleartrip Local, which offers unique experiences and activities in various cities, enhancing the travel experience.

Attribute	Detail
Founded Year	2006
Location	Mumbai, Maharashtra
Funding	$75 million
Stage	Acquired by Flipkart (2021)
Investors	Concur Technologies, DAG Ventures, Gund Investment Corporation, others

Details of Cleartrip in the table

6. RedBus

Founded: 2006
Founders: Phanindra Sama, Sudhakar Pasupunuri, and Charan Padmaraju
Impact & Innovation: RedBus transformed the bus travel industry in India by digitizing bus ticket booking. Its impact is significant in providing access to a wide network of bus operators and routes, simplifying the booking process. RedBus’s innovation includes real-time bus tracking and mTicketing, which has improved the safety and convenience of bus travel.

Attribute	Detail
Founded Year	2006
Location	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Funding	$8.1 million
Stage	Acquired by Ibibo Group (2013)
Investors	Seedfund, Inventus Capital Partners, Helion Venture Partners, others

Details of RedBus in the table

7. TravelTriangle

Founded: 2011
Founders: Sankalp Agarwal, Prabhat Gupta, and Sanchit Garg
Impact & Innovation: TravelTriangle is a unique online marketplace that connects travelers with local travel agents, offering customized travel experiences. Its impact is in enabling personalized travel planning with expert local insights. TravelTriangle’s innovation lies in its robust platform that allows easy communication between travelers and agents, ensuring tailored travel solutions.

Attribute	Detail
Founded Year	2011
Location	Gurugram, Haryana
Funding	$48 million
Stage	Series D
Investors	SAIF Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, RB Investments, others

Details of TravelTriangle in the table

Also read: Top 10 HealthTech Startups in India

8. EaseMyTrip

Founded: 2008
Founders: Nishant Pitti and Rikant Pitti
Impact & Innovation: EaseMyTrip offers a range of travel services including flight, hotel, and holiday bookings. Its impact is notable for providing a transparent and commission-free booking process, which ensures lower prices for consumers. EaseMyTrip’s innovation includes a strong focus on customer service and a user-friendly mobile app.

Attribute	Detail
Founded Year	2008
Location	New Delhi
Funding	Self-funded, went public in 2021
Stage	Public (NSE: EASEMYTRIP)
Investors	Publicly traded

Details of EaseMyTrip in the table

9. Thrillophilia

Founded: 2009
Founders: Abhishek Daga and Chitra Gurnani Daga
Impact & Innovation: Thrillophilia is an online platform for booking adventure tours and activities. Its impact is in promoting adventure tourism in India by offering a wide range of curated experiences. Thrillophilia’s innovation includes detailed itineraries and the use of technology to offer real-time booking and comprehensive travel guides.

Attribute	Details
Founded Year	2009
Location	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Funding	$1.5 million
Stage	Series A
Investors	angel investors, Mountain Partners, others

Details of Thrillophilia in the table

10. Confirmtkt

Founded: 2014
Founders: Dinesh Kumar Kotha and Sripad Vaidya
Impact & Innovation: Confirmtkt is a train ticket discovery and booking platform that uses advanced algorithms to predict train ticket availability and offer alternative travel options. Its impact is significant in solving the problem of waitlisted train tickets in India. Confirmtkt’s innovation includes a unique predictive algorithm that increases the chances of ticket confirmation and offers seamless booking options.

Attribute	Details
Founded Year	2014
Location	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Funding	$4 million
Stage	Series A
Investors	Venture Catalysts, AngelList India, others

Details of Confirmtkt in the table

Also read: Top 10 Agritech Startups in India

FAQs on Top 10 TravelTech Startups in India

1. What is MakeMyTrip known for?

Answer: MakeMyTrip is known for being one of the pioneering online travel companies in India, offering comprehensive travel solutions including flights, hotels, holiday packages, bus and rail tickets, and more. It provides a user-friendly platform for travelers to plan and book their trips conveniently.

2. How has Yatra impacted the travel industry in India?

Answer: Yatra has significantly impacted the travel industry by providing a wide range of travel services under one roof, including flight bookings, hotel reservations, and holiday packages. It has made travel planning accessible and convenient through its user-friendly website and mobile app.

3. What sets OYO Rooms apart from other hotel booking platforms?

Answer: OYO Rooms differentiates itself by standardizing budget hotel experiences across India and globally. It ensures quality and reliability in budget accommodations by using technology for inventory management, dynamic pricing, and providing a seamless booking experience through its app.

4. What services does Ixigo offer?

Answer: Ixigo offers a comprehensive travel search and planning platform that includes flight, train, bus, and hotel bookings. It uses AI and machine learning to provide smart travel recommendations, fare alerts, and other features to enhance the travel planning process.

5. Why is Cleartrip popular among travelers?

Answer: Cleartrip is popular for its simple and transparent interface that makes travel booking easy and straightforward. It provides a seamless experience for booking flights, hotels, and activities, with a focus on user experience and clarity.

6. How did RedBus transform bus travel in India?

Answer: RedBus transformed bus travel by digitizing the bus ticket booking process, making it easier for travelers to book bus tickets online. It offers a wide network of bus operators and routes, real-time tracking, and mTicketing, improving the overall safety and convenience of bus travel.

7. What is unique about TravelTriangle’s service model?

Answer: TravelTriangle’s unique service model connects travelers with local travel agents to offer customized travel experiences. This ensures personalized and tailored travel solutions, leveraging local expertise for better travel planning and experiences.

8. How does EaseMyTrip maintain competitive pricing for its services?

Answer: EaseMyTrip maintains competitive pricing by offering a transparent and commission-free booking process. This approach eliminates additional charges and ensures lower prices for customers. The company also emphasizes strong customer service and a user-friendly mobile app.

9. What types of travel experiences does Thrillophilia specialize in?

Answer: Thrillophilia specializes in adventure tours and activities. It offers a wide range of curated travel experiences, including trekking, camping, wildlife safaris, and other adventure activities, promoting adventure tourism across India.

10. What problem does Confirmtkt solve for train travelers in India?

Answer: Confirmtkt solves the problem of waitlisted train tickets in India by using advanced algorithms to predict ticket confirmation chances and offer alternative travel options. It enhances the booking experience for train travelers by increasing the likelihood of ticket confirmation and providing seamless booking options.