Introduction to the Global Startup Pitch
The travel tech industry is abuzz with innovation, and the 2025 Global Startup Pitch is at the forefront of it all. This year, 19 travel tech startups have been selected to compete in the finals, which will be held in-person on the Startup Stage at Phocuswright Europe in Barcelona on June 10, 2025. The competition, now in its fourth year, is a joint production of WiT and Phocuswright, and is supported by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT).
The Selection Process
A panel of external judges carefully selected the finalists from a pool of nearly 200 entries, representing the best travel startups from around the world. The competition aims to surface the brightest stars in early-stage travel tech, with a focus on innovative ideas and solutions that address next-generation challenges. The startups were chosen from four different regions: Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, North America, and Emerging Markets.
Competition Categories
The startups will compete in two categories: seed stage and scaling startups. The seed stage category includes companies that are under three years old and have raised no more than $5 million, while the scaling startups category includes companies that are three to eight years old and have raised no more than $10 million. The winners of each region will be chosen during Phocuswright Europe, and will go on to compete in the finals at WiT Singapore in October.
Prizes and Recognition
The winners of the competition will receive recognition and prizes, including a complimentary ASEAN Explorer Pass sponsored by AirAsia MOVE, which covers nine countries in Southeast Asia. Additionally, one winner will be chosen at random for a complimentary consulting strategy session with Travel Again Advisory. The audience at WiT Singapore will also vote for their favorite Seedup and Scaleup, and the People’s Choice winners will be showcased at The Phocuswright Conference in San Diego, CA.
Regions and Finalists
The finalists represent a diverse range of regions and countries, including:
Asia Pacific (APAC)
Europe
North America
Emerging Markets
Wildcards
The Wildcards category was created to surface ideas that are particularly global, future-oriented, and address next-generation challenges.
Conclusion
The Global Startup Pitch competition is an exciting opportunity for travel tech startups to showcase their innovative ideas and solutions. With the support of Amex GBT and the expertise of WiT and Phocuswright, the competition is poised to cultivate innovation and surface new voices in the global community of travel startups. As the travel tech industry continues to evolve, the Global Startup Pitch is an event not to be missed, and we look forward to seeing the winners and finalists showcase their ideas and solutions in the coming months.
