In 2006, we brought the best of online travel tech and know how from Sweden to South Africa and changed how people buy travel and since then we are rewriting the story of travel tech and fintech for the continent
THIS IS OUR STORY
TravelLab is a technology and fintech group disrupting the travel eco system in Africa
The TravelLab Group is Africa’s leading travel and fintech technology group.
Our journey began in Sweden over 20 years ago as a pioneer in a nascent OTA industry;
with one goal – making travel easier
Today, TravelLab serves the African market from its hub in Cape Town with a diversified portfolio of brands; featuring market leaders in various travel, fintech and technology verticals, geographic markets, distribution models, customer segments, and travel products.
With over two decades of travel and technology experience, we are committed to disrupting travel and adjacent financial market market through innovative technology that captures people’s hearts.
AFRICA - The Last Frontier in Online Travel
Africa – one of the few bright spots on the gloomy global economic horizon.
George Soros, Chairman of Soros Fund Management
why we love africa
The African Internet economy is one of the largest overlooked opportunities of the past decade.
The mobile Internet is transforming life across the continent with the support of growing local connectivity and mobility and a dynamic, young urban population.
The Internet economy is improving productivity and efficiencies across large swaths of the economy.
Africa has the world’s youngest, fastest-growing, and increasingly urbanized workforce. These demographics, coupled with improved longevity and education levels, have led to a rise in the consumption of online services.
Additionally, heavily concentrated populations in Africa’s cities are supporting developer communities that attract new talent pools.
A robust collaboration between the private and public sectors, between startups/scaleups and established blue chip companies are becoming the new normal which drives innovation and lowers entry costs.
Africa is home to 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population.
0%
Of the top 20 fastest-growing countries in the world, 19 are in Africa.
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60% of the population will be under 24 by 2025
30%
Rapid urbanization, with 85 cities home to over one million inhabitants by 2025.
70
45%— of all Africans will be living in a city.
25%
Founded
Travelstart is born in Sweden (self-funded).
PROFITABILITY & EXPANSION
Company shows first profits and expands in Scandinavia
AWARDS + AFRICAN EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY
Scandinavian market leader.
Won several industry awards and launched in South Africa
NORTHERN EUROPEAN EXPANSION
Hit 80 million Euro in travel sales
MOVE HEAD OFFICE AND DIVEST EUROPEAN BUSINESS
Move Headquarters to Cape Town, South Africa.
Divesting of European Business to eTraveli.
FURTHER AFRICAN EXPANSION
Launch in Tanzania, Kenya, Nigerian as partnerships.
LAUNCH OF INSURETECH
Launch of Hepstar -fintech business in insurance focusing on the travel sector
FIRST EXTERNAL INVESTMENT OF $40M
Multiple travel sales records. Launch of mobile app. Further Middle East expansion.
VOTED AFRICA’S LEADING OTA
A trailblazer for three decades, Amadeus Capital Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in people who create transformational technologies and sustainable businesses. Amadeus backs early stage and growth companies in Europe and Latin America, from its locations in Cambridge, London and Oxford, Lausanne, San Francisco and São Paulo.
OUR TEAM
Stephan Ekbergh
TravelLab CEO
Lori Joffe
Chief of Staff & Deputy Group CEO
Philip Akesson
Head of Corporate Development
Paulina Klotzbucher
Group Head of Fintech and CEO of Glyde Pay
Handre Oosthuizen
Group CFO
Andy Hedley
Managing Director
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