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Find a co-founder for your travel and tourism startup

Travel tech startups make it easier to plan, book and enjoy a trip, or equip tourism professionals such as hoteliers, tourist offices, rental companies, guides and activity providers, in a very competitive and highly seasonal market.

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In short

To find a co-founder in travel and tourism, specify the link in the chain you are targeting (booking, accommodation, activities, transport, tools for professionals) and your customers, publish your project for free on EasyCofounder naming the missing profile, then test your offer for a season or on a pilot destination before committing for good.

An effective founding team usually combines a technical profile able to connect the product to booking and payment systems, someone who knows tourism on the ground and its players, and a sales or marketing profile able to reach travellers or professionals without an outsized budget.

On EasyCofounder, describe your concept, your destination or target customers and the role you are looking for, then talk to hospitality, travel, software and marketing talent looking for a project to join from the start.

UK and Irish travel startups operate in a market dominated by large booking platforms, which pushes many founders towards niches such as experiences, group or business travel, sustainable trips, or software for independent hotels, operators and attractions rather than head-on competition for travellers.

A strong team usually combines an engineer who can work with channel managers, property management systems and payment providers, a co-founder from hospitality or tour operations who knows suppliers and margins, and a marketer comfortable with search, partnerships and content rather than large paid campaigns.

Building a Travel and tourism startup: what matters

  • Rules depend on the activity

    Selling package holidays, renting out holiday homes or running activities fall under different rules, for example registration of travel operators with Atout France in France. Check what applies in your markets with a lawyer.

  • Plan for seasonality

    Revenue in tourism varies sharply across the year, and a co-founder who knows these cycles helps forecast cash flow and pick the right moment to launch.

  • Professionals as first customers

    Independent hotels, campsites, tourist offices and activity providers are often easier to win over than travellers at the start, as long as you save them time or bring them bookings.

  • Consumer protection in travel

    Selling packages can bring obligations under the Package Travel Regulations in the UK, ATOL protection for flight-inclusive packages overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority, and equivalent EU-based rules in Ireland, so take professional advice before deciding what you sell.

  • Typical revenue models

    Commission on bookings, a margin on packaged products, subscriptions for software used by hotels and operators, or a mix of booking fees and premium listings, the model determines your working capital needs and your exposure to cancellations.

  • Industry networks

    World Travel Market in London, VisitBritain, Fáilte Ireland and regional tourism bodies are useful for understanding destinations and meeting operators, hoteliers and travel professionals open to piloting a new product.

Find your co-founder in 4 steps

  1. 1

    Create your free profile

    Describe your skills, your availability and what you bring to a founding team.

  2. 2

    Publish your project

    Say which role you are looking for (CTO, CEO, CMO…), the commitment expected and the equity on offer, in Travel and tourism.

  3. 3

    Let the matching work

    Filter talent by skill and location, or get suggestions of compatible profiles from the AI matching.

  4. 4

    Talk, then meet

    Chat through the built-in messaging, test your collaboration on a first project and put your agreement in writing in a shareholders’ agreement.

Frequently asked questions

B2C or B2B: which model for a travel startup?

Reaching travellers directly requires a large acquisition budget against the big platforms, whereas a tool for professionals can find customers faster. The choice shapes the co-founder you should look for.

Do I need a tourism professional in the team?

It is a major advantage, because they know how the players work, when they make decisions and the constraints on the ground, which avoids building a product that looks good on paper but does not fit reality.

What technical profile does a travel tech startup need?

A developer comfortable with integrations to booking, availability and payment systems, and with mobile apps if your product supports travellers during their stay.

Where can I find a co-founder for a tourism startup?

Publish your project for free on EasyCofounder describing your concept and the profile you need, then filter talent by skill and location, especially in the regions where you will test your offer.

Do I need a licence to sell travel in the UK?

It depends on what you sell and how, for example whether flights are included in a package or you act as an agent, so check the position with the Civil Aviation Authority guidance and a travel lawyer before launching.

How can a travel startup cope with cancellations and refunds?

Plan payment flows, supplier terms and customer refunds from the start, with a co-founder who understands cash flow, because holding customer money creates obligations and refund peaks can strain a young company.

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