STARTUP STAGE: Travly connects brands through targeted engagement

What is your 30-second pitch to investors?

Travly is the world's fastest-growing travel media company, specializing in social-first discovery and travel experiences. With owned and operated social handles across Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, Travly reaches over 25 million travelers, garnering more than one billion monthly views. By connecting brands through targeted engagement, and more than 1000 creators, Travly stands at the forefront of travel media innovation. Travly has an OTA platform available as a mobile app and website, allowing travelers to book accommodations through authentic videos, “dupes” - cost-conscious alternatives and a revenue-sharing program that enables content creators to earn money from bookings. Another key feature is the platform's user-generated content, where travelers can upload their own travel videos, fostering an authentic and diverse content ecosystem.

Give us your SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the company.

Travly has significant growth opportunities, particularly through its video-focused booking system. As video content continues to dominate digital media, the platform is well-positioned to attract more users as visual and interactive content becomes the consumer standard. Collaborating with travel influencers presents another opportunity to boost visibility and credibility, tapping into new customer bases and enhancing Travly’s market presence. Furthermore, by expanding into new markets and catering to younger, tech-savvy travelers, Travly has the potential to capture a broader and more diverse audience.

Despite Travly’s strengths, less tech-savvy audiences might not be as comfortable with video-based browsing or creating travel content. Also, Travly operates in a highly competitive environment, where other companies may adopt video-driven strategies. Shifting social media algorithms present an additional challenge, as they could impact Travly’s ability to reach and engage its audience organically.

What are the travel pain points you are trying to alleviate from both the customer and the industry perspective?

In today’s digital world, travelers often book trips, hotel stays and excursions based on what they see online, and some may not meet their expectations, due to poor or dishonest marketing. Travly addresses what can be called “travel catfishing” by allowing real travelers to share their first-hand accounts of locations with prospective travelers, achieving heightened transparency in the process. Travly also offers brands the opportunity for custom content creation, made by real travelers and enhanced distribution across its owned channels. This approach drives engagement and delivers tangible results, underscoring Travly's position as the preferred partner for brands navigating social media. There’s also a general disconnect between trip discovery through social and the outdated process of booking travel accommodations.

Travly makes it easier for inspired travelers to book the incredible adventures they’ve just discovered on social media instantly. And finally, our unique revenue-sharing program allows any creator to upload their own travel videos for possible listing as landing page videos for partner hotels. By democratizing travel content creation, we hope to encourage a new generation of travelers. 

So you've got the product, now how will you get lots of customers?

We know that today’s traveler lives online. Travly’s model ensures that we can meet today’s travelers where they are most present to provide authentic and captivating content. Travly reaches over 25 million travelers and garners more than 1 billion monthly views, and by connecting brands with a discerning audience through targeted and authentic engagement, Travly will continue growing its user and customer base. Within weeks of launching the OTA app platform, Travly has already confirmed over 2,000 registrations and over 500 video submissions. 

Tell us what process you've gone through to establish a genuine need for your company and the size of the addressable market.

After exiting Gamelancer, a public gaming media company that Zak co-founded in 2020, Zak embarked on a European trip that inspired his next venture. Observing his reliance on social media for travel recommendations, he co-founded Travly with colleague Mayur Patil, aiming to transform how people discover travel experiences.

How and when will you make money?

Travly actively generates revenue through an affiliate partnership with Booking.com, earning commissions on bookings made through its platform. This model seamlessly integrates monetization while enhancing the user experience, allowing travelers to easily book accommodations directly from Travly's curated video content.

What are the backgrounds and previous achievements of the founding team?

Zak Longo, co-founder and CEO, is an entrepreneur and travel content creator who began his career in entertainment as a filmmaker. He transitioned to a full-time travel content creator in 2015, amassing over 1 million followers. Zak has collaborated with prestigious hotels, including Four Seasons, W Hotels, Auberge Resorts and Waldorf Astoria. In 2020, he co-founded Gamelancer Inc., a gaming media company, which reached more than 50 million followers and went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2023.

Mayur Patil, co-founder, is a leader in the tech and digital industries. He launched his career as a software engineer at Expedia Group before making a significant impact at Gamelancer Inc. in 2020 where he led a team to increase its audience. Subsequently, Mayur joined Bustle Digital Group (BDG), where he executed social media strategies for prominent brands such as Elite Daily, W Magazine, Nylon, Bustle, Romper, Inverse, The Zoe Report and Mic. His leadership propelled BDG's TikTok presence from zero to over 16 million followers within a year.

How have you addressed diversity and inclusion within your business?

Travly creators come from a wide range of different backgrounds and bring an array of experiences to the kind of content to Travly. In addition, Travly’s unique, built-in revenue-sharing feature incentivizes travelers to create and share unique content and earn from each booking, helping to democratize and expand the travel influencer community to amplify new and emerging voices.

What's been the most difficult part of founding the business so far?

The most challenging aspect of founding the business has been transitioning customers away from established booking platforms they've trusted for years. These platforms have familiar user interfaces and booking processes, making the adoption of a new system possibly challenging, even when it offers enhanced features.

Generally, travel startups face a fairly tough time making an impact - so why are you going to be one of lucky ones?

Travly is poised for success due to its innovative technology and an exceptionally talented team. Despite being lean, each team member brings unique strengths that fuel our progress. As a new app, Travly has already seen strong initial traction. Additionally, our robust social media presence serves as a powerful marketing engine, giving us a distinct edge in attracting today’s travelers and setting us apart from the competition.

A year from now, what state do you think your startup will be in?

Travly aims to be world’s most popular socially driven booking platform, offering hotels, flights and city attractions and activities.

What is your end-game? (Going public, acquisition, growing and staying private, etc

Travly’s end-game is flexible: we aim to either attract acquisition interest from a major industry player or take Travly public and grow into a market leader.