Byway raises £1.1m in pre-seed funding from Innovate UK and angels to expand flight-free travel platform
Innovate UK and Founders Factory backed the traveltech startup to accelerate its sustainable holiday platform.
Byway is a travel technology startup and certified B Corporation that champions flight-free holidays through personalised multi-stop itineraries. The company uses its proprietary dynamic packaging engine to curate overland travel experiences across Europe.
Byway has secured £1.1m in pre-seed funding from Innovate UK alongside Founders Factory and various angel investors. The capital injection will be directed towards scaling the company, expanding technical, customer experience and marketing teams, and advancing its dynamic packaging technology for flight-free holidays.
Launched during the pandemic in mid-2020, the traveltech startup has experienced rapid demand for environmentally friendly and slow-paced itineraries. The business combines automated trip building with curated overland routes across destinations including the UK, France and Italy.
The latest backing follows an initial period of strong consumer interest and positive reviews for its tailored holiday packages. Byway intends to use the funds to build out its operational capacity as the wider travel sector emerges from lockdown restrictions.
From the founder
"Our tech-driven approach to slow travel is not just about providing holiday experiences grounded in travelling through, rather than flying over, but about accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable travel. The past year saw the world forced to slow right down. Emerging from lockdown, many people are now choosing slower, more sustainable holidays that take them away from the crowds and help them enjoy the journey as much as the destination.We’re taking the time, and the work, out of planning and booking off the beaten path trips by train, boat and bike – and the reception we’ve had has been glowing. Our personalised, experience-based approach and on-demand WhatsApp support means holidaymakers get to spend a whole lot of time enjoying their trip and none at all managing multiple tickets, complicated timetables, and changing travel restrictions."
Cat Jones
CEO and Founder at Byway
Use of funds
- 01Grow the team
- 02Continue product development
- 03Expand into international markets
