Intrepid co-founder backs the Pinterest of travel apps

An Aussie start-up is getting ready to launch a new social media platform designed for travel-specific content, thanks to a whopping investment from Intrepid co-founder Darrell Wade’s seed investment program.

That’s right, it’s the Pinterest of travel apps where users can save travel inspiration mood boards, plan trips and create user-generated travel guides.

Currently in seed stage, Travis claims to be the first social media platform to let users share travel-specific content to create real-world itineraries.

The platform was designed for travellers to find inspiration, and follow in the footsteps of locals, by recreating the itinerary of a destination instantly through maps.

Bombarded with Instagram screenshots, saved pins on Pinterest and busy spreadsheets, Nicole Tj and her partner Thomas Lo were overwhelmed, stressed and not sure where to begin while planning a trip overseas in 2018.

“We really saw a gap in the market to how social media users were consuming travel content and scrolling from behind a screen all day for no benefit to experience – it just didn’t make sense,” Tj said.

Travis co-founders Nicole Tj and Thomas Lo

With over 10 years’ experience in digital innovation and design, the couple saw an opportunity within their pain point and began market research with over 200 millennial travellers, leading them to create a one-stop social media platform for travel planning.

“Travellers’ habits and needs are changing more than ever after the unpredictability of the last year, and Travis is designed to reflect how today’s travellers use social media platforms. Our aim is to translate digital inspiration into a tangible experience,” Tj explained.

Travis has received $100,000 in funding by Skalata Ventures, a Melbourne-based seed investment program co-founded by Wade.

Travis was selected by Skalata as one of just 15 companies to invest in as part of their program aimed at helping early-stage companies prepare to scale and grow into significant and sustainable businesses.

Last year, Travis welcomed Sylvain Simao as chief technology officer from award-winning advertising agency Clemenger BBDO, where he built digital experiences and products for clients including Airbnb and MARS.

The platform is raising a seed round in 2021 to fast-track product development and serve pent-up demand for travel.

Travis is now in beta mode and available for free.

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darrell wade facebook intrepid itinerary mood boards Nicole Tj plan trips seed investment seed-stage Skalata Ventures social media platform start-up Thomas Lo Travel App travel content travel inspiration Travis user-generated travel guides