Seventeen travel tech startups have been selected for the finals of the 2026 Global Startup Pitch, a competition that seeks to identify the brightest stars in early-stage travel tech. The competition, now in its fifth year, is jointly produced by WiT, Phocuswright, and PhocusWire.
A panel of external judges chose these startups from a global pool of applicants, selecting the best early-stage travel companies across four regions of the world.
Finalists to Compete in Barcelona
Finalists will compete in-person at Phocuswright Europe on June 16, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. The Global Startup Pitch competition is supported by American Express Global Business Travel, a Phocuswright Strategic Partner of Innovation.
As in previous years, a Wildcards category was created to surface ideas that are particularly global, future-oriented, hard to solve, and address next-generation challenges.
Competition Categories
Companies compete in two categories: Seedup, for startups under three years old that have raised no more than $5 million, and Scaleup, for startups three to eight years old that have raised no more than $10 million.
Related: AI summaries help travelers choose faster
Seedups will compete against other Seedups, and Scaleups will compete against other Scaleups within each region. Winners from each region will travel to Singapore for showcase presentations at WiT Singapore.
The audience at WiT Singapore will vote on their favorite Seedup and Scaleup, and the People’s Choice winners will be showcased at The Phocuswright Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The 17 finalists reflect where travel innovation is most needed and, increasingly, where it’s arriving, with a focus on practical, globally minded solutions that can operate in complex conditions.
Quotes from Founders
“The caliber of applicants this year reflects how much the global startup ecosystem has matured,” said Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder of WiT. “Our judges have done remarkable work identifying companies that aren’t just solving today’s problems but anticipating tomorrow’s.”
Pete Comeau, managing director of Phocuswright, said, “Five years in, this competition continues to surprise us, with a record number of applicants this year and strong entries from markets that weren’t represented at all when we started.”
Related: Celebrity Cruises Unveils Global Itineraries for 2028‑29
The Global Startup Pitch competition is part of an ongoing commitment by Phocuswright, WiT, and PhocusWire to cultivate innovation through a platform of events and programs, including WiT Bootcamps and Phocuswright’s Startup Program.
The finalists are: Abra Hospitality, BizTrip.AI, Crewfare, Kquika, Lobby, EchoWi, Hands In, 1-CP, SPUN, SocialSeal, BookAfrica, DecisionRM Solutions, BaggageTAXI, Vibe Adventures, Hotel Direct, Roame, and Campy.
Winners from the APAC region will receive a return flight from anywhere in Asia to Singapore, courtesy of AirAsia MOVE, to attend and showcase at WiT Singapore.
Phocuswright Europe 2026 Join us in Barcelona from June 15 to 17 to see the future of travel tech unfold at the Global Startup Pitch. Seventeen innovative startups will take the stage to pitch their ideas.
