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.
0
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

ACQUISITIONS

Accommodation verticals (SafariNow & Nightsbridge)

ACQUISITION

Club Travel Group

COVID

Focus on automatisation and AI tech development.

PARTNERSHIP

Mastercard

HIGHEST EBITDA recorded to date in 2022

Launch GlydePay Payments company

PRODUCT LAUNCHES

Launch TS+ and ClubHub

The future is wide open…

Our Companies

Partners

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.

Amadeus Capital Partners

OUR TEAM

Stephan Ekbergh
Stephan Ekbergh

TravelLab CEO

LORI JOFFE
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
Paulina Klotzbucher

Group Head of Fintech and CEO of Glyde Pay

Handre Oosthuizen
Handre Oosthuizen

Group CFO

Andy Hedley

Managing Director

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