Exclusive: Tour guiding app Guiddoo close to raising money from SAIF, Helion

Travel technology firm Guiddoo World Travels Pvt Ltd, which operates tour guiding app Guiddoo, is in the final stages of raising VC funding from SAIF Partners and Helion Venture Partners among other investors, sources privy to the development told Techcircle.in.

For more details of the funding click here.

In June, Guiddoo had raised an undisclosed amount in seed funding from Pawan Borle, senior vice-president at Fly Dubai; Abrar Ahmad, partner at TravelCapitalist Ventures; Nirmal Singh, part of Team Ducab; Vishal Shah, founder AcFin Consulting; Sanjay Shah and Ushik Gala, who are serial angel investors.

When contacted, Guiddoo spokesperson refused to comment on the development. Email questionnaires sent to spokespersons of SAIF and Helion were not answered till the time of writing this report.

Founded in 2013 by Nidhi Varma and Vineet Budki, Guiddoo's mobile apps provide step-by-step audio and video guides for monuments, along with information on lesser known facts and details of historical and architectural significance. It can provide video-based information on attractions such as the Taj Mahal, Statue of Liberty, The Colosseum, Eiffel Tower, Angkor Wat, as well as modern architectural properties like the Burj Khalifa.

The app also allows users to take pictures of point of interests and share it in their social channels. It also provides information related to weather, ticket prices, monument timings and our recommendations on restaurants, hotels and shopping places nearby. After downloading the app, users do not require an internet connection to access information.

A commerce graduate from the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics, Nidhi has over a decade of experience in the travel domain. Budki has been involved with Videocon d2h Online and Paytronic Networks. Budki is an MBA from IE Business School and Cornell University.

Guiddoo has a partnership with online travel agency MakeMyTrip to provide curated travel content for the tourism boards of China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. It is currently in talks with government tourism boards and travel companies to provide concierge services.

Guiddoo's competitors in the travel guide market include names such as Ulmon, PocketGuide, TripAdvisor and Triposo.

Guiddoo is one of the six Indian startups in the running for the WSJDLive Global Startup Showcase 2015, to be held at Laguna Beach, California, between October 18-21.