Travel startup Tripoto raises funding from IDG & Outbox Ventures

Delhi-based Tripoto Travel Pvt Ltd, which owns and operates Tripoto.com, a platform that enables users to crowd source travel itineraries and share their experiences, has raised an undisclosed amount in its pre Series A round of funding from IDG Ventures India and existing investor Outbox Ventures, as per a company statement.

As part of the deal, Karan Mohla, vice president, IDG Ventures India, will join the board of the company.

The funds will be used for growing traction on mobile and expanding globally.

"The segment of travel content and community is ripe for disruption as it hasn't seen true innovation in a few years," said Mohla.

Prior to this round, the startup had raised $400,000 from Outbox Ventures, Palaash Ventures and a consortium of angel investors in November 2014.

Tripoto was founded in September 2013 by Anirudh Gupta along with Michael Pargal Lyngdoh. An IIT Delhi and Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad alumnus, Gupta earlier co-founded another startup called Notion Ink. Prior to that, he was an entrepreneur-in-residence at Rocket Internet in Dubai. His partner Lyngdoh holds a master's degree in Economics from Delhi School of Economics and an MBA from ISB. Prior to co-founding Tripoto, he co-founded HST Operations (now HST Solar).

Tripoto allows travellers to post their travel itineraries and stories along with pictures, maps and reviews. The information can be shared either publically or privately with friends. The publically shared travel itineraries are accessible for the whole travel community to use and benefit from.

In India, Tripoto competes with Helion-backed Mygola which was running a similar model, but later pivoted to a mobile-only travel tech startup focusing on local to-dos. Bangalore-based companies TripThirsty and Thrillophilia are offering a marketplace model where buyers and sellers of travel activities and tours can interact.

Globally, companies such as Maptia, Tripline and Vayable are working towards similar objectives. While Maptia gathers travel stories, Tripline enables users to create shareable, animated maps that one can post right into their social feeds. Vayable is a marketplace where one can book unique travel experiences from locals.

(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)