Paris Hilton Backs New AI Trip Planner and Jet Engine Startup Raises $116 Million
Photo Credit: Pictured: Plane flying with ZeroAvia prototype hydrogen-electric engines. ZeroAvia
Skift Take
Paris Hilton is backing a new trip planner that combines AI and social media, shortly after another social media-based travel app announced backing by John Legend.
Travel Startup Funding This Week
Each week we round up travel startups that have recently received or announced funding. Please email Travel Tech Reporter Justin Dawes at [email protected] if you have funding news.Seven travel tech startups have raised more than $171 million over the past two weeks.
>>Layla, a new generative AI trip planner app, has announced its launch and a seed fundraise of $3.3 million (€3 million).
Investors include Paris Hilton, Booking.com co-founder Andy Phillips, and Skyscanner co-founder Barry Smith. The funding round was led by Firstminute Capital, which was established by Lastminute.com co-founder Brent Hoberman, as well as the fund M13.
Users can access the trip planner chatbot through the Apple and Android apps, or by messaging the Instagram account @justasklayla.
Berlin-based Layla said that the chatbot can deliver a personalized travel plan following a series of prompts and responses. The itinerary could include relevant videos and information about accommodations, flight prices, cultural insights, and weather. The app also enables users to book flights and lodging through Skyscanner and Booking.com.
