Illustrating the appeal of the Russian online travel market — which is estimated at $3.8 billion last year — an industry conference and startup contest will take place on April 28 in Moscow.
The event, christened Travel Up!, is organized by Qiwi Universe, the startup acceleration program of Russian payment giant Qiwi, in partnership with two business angel clubs — Venture Club and the Skolkovo Business Angel Club. It will be hosted by API Moscow, the startup incubator launched in 2013 by the city authorities.
Intended for both startups and established players, panel discussions and case presentations will cover a variety of topics from consumer preferences, to product search automation, to the industry’s development prospects.
“The online travel market is now drawing special attention from individual investors. Attracted by huge demand and fast growth, many Russian business angels are willing to become part of a global success story,” said Venture Club founder Alexander Borodich.
“No doubt relevant products and services can emerge by combining our knowledge and technologies with original touristic projects. As a result, we hope to enlarge significantly our range of services,” commented Maxim Avdeev, head of Qiwi’s innovation department.
Among recent industry moves were a $5 million capital injection in OTA Oktogo in January 2015 and the launch of a travel offer by e-commerce leader Ulmart in June of last year.
To attend the Travel Up! conference, please click here.
