Former executives at Yahoo! and InterContinental Hotels back Singapore startup
See how they're building their travel search empire.
Launched in 2005, Wego is a travel search site which partners with local and global airlines, hotels and online travel agents to get every traveller's need under one umbrella using highly advanced technology. It aims to save travellers' time so they can ‘pay less and travel more’.
It was launched by co-founders Ross Veitch (CEO) a former executive at Yahoo! and Craig Hewett (CCO) a former executive of the InterContinental Hotels Group.
“Some companies only offer flights or hotels, we provide both and provide suggestions that suit the users locale and destination,” shared Wego’s spokesperson.
Since its inception, Wego has launched over 50 local sites in more than 30 languages, providing a more tailored and personal user experience. In addition, Wego's data science team (Wego Scientists) have developed the ability to display travel deals a user is more likely interested in, using its unique algorithms that track past and current search behaviour, providing a more tailored and relevant search experience.
Wego claims that its engagement with its global social media community has reached in excess of 1 million at the end of 2013 and has continued to build with thousands of new followers each week.
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COMPANY PROFILE:
Name of the company: Wego
Founders: Ross Veitch and Craig Hewett
Website: www.wego.com
Major Investors: Tiger Management, Victoria Capital and the Crescent Point Group
Total funding at hand: In June, Wego secured US$17 million in growth capital through the completion of a Series C Preferred Share Offering. The investment was led by Crescent Point with contributions from Victoria Capital and existing shareholder, Tiger Global, bringing Wego's total capital raised to US$36 million.
Start of operation: The company was established in 2005 in Singapore