Ugandan-based startup, Tripesa has secured undisclosed pre-seed funding to find the right product-market fit.
Tripesa was once known as RoundBob, an online travel marketplace that had to shut down as a result of COVID-19, which paralyzed the travel and tourism sector.
However, Tripesa, which is developing infrastructure and logistics to support businesses in the African tourism and experiences market conducts online commerce at a lesser cost, rose from the ashes.
Along with Thomas Karugaba and Raymond Byaruhanga, David Gonahasa co-founded Tripesa. According to David, a firm can use Tripesa to go online, sell products online, receive payments, and handle administrative tasks.
According to him, businesses can use the platform as a service solution to create no-code websites, itineraries, and client proposals, access a multi-currency payment platform so they can accept digital payments online like cards and mobile money, and finally manage fundamental business functions like bookings and marketing.
A company adopting Tripesa will be able to manage the majority of its business operations in one location with continued development.
Although Eric Osiakwan is an angel investor, the firm has largely been self-funded. However, in June, Future Africa, Consonance Investment Managers, and LTNT Investments provided an unknown sum of pre-seed money. According to Gonahasa, the money would be used to help Tripesa find its product-market fit.
He added that Tripesa is presently working in Kenya and Uganda to achieve product-market fit. Due to the high volume of cross-border travel between Kenya and Uganda, as well as the need to exchange information and funds, these two countries were chosen as test markets for cross-border functionality. After determining product-market fit, Tripesa plans to expand throughout Africa.
Over 260 mostly small businesses in Uganda and Kenya have joined up for Tripesa as of today, and the platform is still growing every day, with a focus on the website construction tool. According to Gonahasa, larger companies have shown interest in CRM and business automation features.
Subscriptions, which cost $20 per user per month or $80 per user per year, are how Tripesa generates revenue.
In addition to a website, administration dashboard, domain name, four free email addresses, and build support, according to Gonahasa. This costs a fraction of what it would create an effective website. Payment processing, installment payments, payouts management, marketing assistance, lead creation, and other activities all result in additional income.
Techbuild’s Take
For many years now, digitalization has had a significant impact on the tourism sector. Technology has aided in cost-cutting, boosting operational effectiveness, and enhancing services and customer satisfaction. A better booking, guest service, and messaging service have improved both customers and businesses.
The tourist and hospitality sectors have benefited from technological labor substitutions for costly human labor. In addition to lowering labor expenses, this helps to minimize customer service problems.
The use of technology in the hospitality and tourist sectors has sped up business processes and made travel considerably more pleasant and effective. Technology benefits not only big chain hotels but also bed and breakfasts and other smaller businesses.
As a result, the industry is growing in popularity and receiving investments to assist them to develop their platforms and offering customers greater services through firms that are registered with them.
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