AI-first travel agent 30 Sundays raises $770,000 in a pre-Seed funding round
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Funding Round: 30 Sundays, an AI-driven travel agency, secured $770,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by InfoEdge Ventures, with participation from other investors including First Cheque, Eximius, and Misfits Capital.
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AI Integration: Founded in 2022, the startup uses generative AI to automate mundane tasks such as information gathering and itinerary management, enabling its human team to focus on enhancing customer service, which has resulted in up to a 5x improvement in efficiency.
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Expansion Plans: The newly acquired funds will be used to expand into new destinations, including markets in Europe and long-haul trips, while also strengthening their AI and data capabilities to maintain high-quality customer experiences.
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Market Potential: With India’s outbound tourism market projected to grow from $18.8 billion in 2024 to $55.4 billion by 2034, driven by increasing disposable incomes and better connectivity, 30 Sundays aims to capitalize on this demand through personalized travel experiences.
- Investor Confidence: Investors like Sahil Makkar from First Cheque emphasize the potential of generative AI in transforming the travel industry by marrying personalization with scalability, asserting that 30 Sundays is redefining tailored travel experiences.
30 Sundays, an AI-first travel agent, recently raised $770,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by InfoEdge Ventures.
The round also saw participation from other early-stage investors such as First Cheque, Eximius, and Misfits Capital, along with several angel investors.
Boosting efficiency with AI
Founded in 2022, 30 Sundays focuses on scaling a traditionally people-heavy business with generative AI and technology. The startup aims to provide the highest level of customer experience by allowing its team to concentrate on customers while AI manages many of their mundane, repetitive tasks.
“A lot of mundane, repetitive tasks such as information gathering from customers, updating itineraries, and auditing supplier quotes are taken care of by AI. This leaves our team to do what they love most–provide the best service to our customers,” says Anuj, Co-founder of 30 Sundays.
30 Sundays integrates AI into its operations, sales, and marketing, which it claims has led to up to a 5x improvement in efficiency.
The startup said that AI allows them to handle more customers without compromising on service quality–a common issue in traditional travel agencies that rely heavily on large teams.
It uses AI to analyze phone calls and reviews, helping them gather insights and customize their services to meet customer needs and preferences.
Focused on scaling and strengthening AI
With the new funding, 30 Sundays plans to open more destinations, including the European market and long-haul trips. The startup will also focus on strengthening its AI and data capabilities to scale faster with excellent customer experience.
“Personalization and scale are difficult to achieve together–until generative AI came onto the scene,” said Kshitij Chaudhary, co-founder, 30 Sundays.
“When we plan our own vacations, it can take several days. Can you imagine a traditional travel company dedicating so much time to personalize a trip for their customers? What sets us apart is that we can plan detailed, personalized holidays in minutes instead of days using generative AI,” Chaudhary added.
Investors comment
“We’re optimistic about generative AI’s role in the travel industry amid rising demand and a shortage of quality agencies. GenAI is unlocking new possibilities in travel by bridging the gap between personalization and scalability. With 30 Sundays, Kshitij and Anuj are redefining what it means to offer tailored experiences at scale, making customized travel efficient. We are thrilled to back them on this journey.” added Sahil Makkar from First Cheque.
India’s outbound tourism market is expected to reach $18.8 billion in 2024 and soar to $55.4 billion by 2034, growing at an annual rate of over 11%, according to a report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
The report said the growth is driven by factors like increased disposable incomes, improved aviation connectivity, and a growing desire for global experiences.
Here’s a summarized list of the relevant details found in the provided text:
Startup
- Name: 30 Sundays
- Founded: 2022
- Description: An AI-first travel agent that focuses on improving the efficiency of travel planning by using generative AI.
Founders
- Anuj (Co-founder)
- Kshitij Chaudhary (Co-founder)
Funding Details
- Amount Raised: $770,000
- Funding Series: Pre-seed
- Lead Investor: InfoEdge Ventures
- Other Investors:
- First Cheque
- Eximius
- Misfits Capital
- Several angel investors
Investor Comments
- Sahil Makkar (First Cheque): Commented on the role of generative AI in redefining travel experiences and the excitement about backing the startup.
Summary
30 Sundays aims to transform the travel industry by leveraging AI to streamline processes, enabling personalized customer experiences while reducing the time and effort traditionally involved in travel planning. The funding will be used to expand its destination offerings and enhance its AI and data capabilities.