Nezasa acquires Chile-based flight optimisation tech specialist start-up TripYeah

Deal will see the European trip building platform provider establish a base in Latin America and launch new entry level product TripOptimiser

Trip building platform developer Nezasa has established a base in Latin America and enhanced its flight routing optimisation service by completing the buy-out of start-up TripYeah, it's first acquisition.

The deal, announced today for an undisclosed sum, brings the total funding raised by Nezasa to $14 million after TripYeah’s recent $1.1 million round is included.

Switzerland-based Nezasa will integrate the TripYeah technology into its suite of solutions and call it TripOptimiser which will stand alone but work in tandem with existing Software-as-a-Service platform TripBuilder.

Nezasa said TripOptimiser will be an entry level product for corporate and leisure travel agents, airlines and OTAs to help them react more quickly to customer needs.

As part of the deal, Chile-based TripYeah founders Elías Musalem, Fernando Ordoñez and Miguel Rodriguez will join Nezasa and all other staff will join the Nezasa business.

TripYeah was launched a year ago to provide flight routing optimization technology based on algorithms and artificial intelligence.

Its technology optimises complex flight routes in seconds by verifying options based on availability, time, costs, number of stops and CO2 emissions. 

Nezasa said it drives higher conversion rates for travel agents and cheaper, more efficient and sustainable travel itineraries for travellers.

Manuel Hilty, chief executive of Nezasa, said: “Our vision for Nezasa from the outset has been to continue enhancing and developing our product and service in order to best help our customers. 

“TripYeah’s value proposition and technology naturally fit into Nezasa’s proposition and will help us accelerate this development and create more value faster. TripYeah has approached the complex problem of route optimisation in a smart and efficient way. 

“TripOptimizer not only delivers superior routing to complex itineraries, it also is a B2B application with the simplicity of a B2C experience.

“We are excited to bring TripYeah on board as part of our journey and to be able to offer our clients an innovative online booking solution designed to suit the needs of their customers. 

“The acquisition is also a great cultural fit for Nezasa because both teams aimed to bring a fresh, disruptive approach to the travel business landscape. 

“We are also delighted to welcome Elías, Fernando, Miguel and TripYeah staff to our business. They will help us scale up both our tech innovation and growth. 

“And last but not least, having an operational base in Chile will allow us to be much closer to the Latin American market and accelerate our global expansion.” 

Together, the two companies serve customers around the world, such as European tour operating giants Tui Group and FTI, as well as GoWay and Grupo Gea in the Americas.

Musalem, chief executive of TripYeah, said: “Our mission has always been to find solutions that make travel agents more productive and make the best use of their resources. In this way, this agreement with Nezasa is entirely consistent with achieving our goals.

“In addition, both businesses are complementary, so we will work together collaboratively to meet customers’ requirements more quickly than ever.

“For TripYeah, becoming part of this high-performance team is a huge opportunity which we are undoubtedly delighted and enthusiastic about. We are eager to be an integral part of this challenging journey that is just beginning.”