Tech companies promising to automate old industries are still getting big investment deals in 2025.
Klook, which is modernizing the historically low-tech sector of ticketed experiences, just landed its second large fundraise in the past 18 months. And RoomPriceGenie, despite having several notable competitors, raised $75 million to help hotels automate pricing — an area that’s seen a lot of demand as hotels have been looking to modernize and generate more revenue since the pandemic.
While startups developing flying taxis and renewable jet fuel are not producing much revenue yet, they’re raking in large amounts of money with the promise of big business in the future.
Six travel startups raised nearly $580 million over the past two weeks.
Archer Aviation: $301.8 Million
Archer Aviation, which is developing a flying taxi for commercial flights and defense clients, has raised $301.8 million.
Investors included funds and accounts managed by BlackRock.
The company has now raised over $2 billion, including its most recent deal of $430 million in December.
The company said the latest fundraise brings its total liquidity to around $1 billion.
California-based Archer is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft called Midnight. It is designed to hold a pilot with four passengers and luggage for urban trips of 20-50 miles at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. It is powered by six independent battery packs, each supporting a pair of electric engines, the company said.
Archer said it now has manufacturing contracts worth over $6 billion. That includes a recent purchasing agreement for up to 100 aircrafts from Soracle — owned by Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation — which plans to operate a flying taxi service in various cities in Japan.
The company recently unveiled plans for an air taxi network in Los Angeles ahead of some major sporting events: the World Cup in 2026, the Super Bowl in 2027, and the Summer Olympics in 2028.
The network includes vertiports (eVTOL airports) at Los Angeles International Airport, University of Southern California, Orange County, Santa Monica, Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach, and the Van Nuys neighborhood. The company is also planning to establish a vertiport near the SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles football teams Rams and Chargers. The plan is to begin LA network operations in 2026.
This is in addition to plans for a network at California airports where Southwest Airlines operates, along with five vertiports in the Bay Area.
The funding will go toward the continued development of the company’s aircraft.
Klook: $100 Million
Klook, an online travel agency for tours and attractions, has raised $100 million
The company said that the fundraise brings its valuation to over $1 billion for the first time.
Vitruvian Partners led the round.
The company last raised $210 million in equity and debt in 2023.
Hong Kong-based Klook says it offers hundreds of thousands of ticketed experiences, such as walking tours, in 2,700 destinations globally. The company has also been expanding to offer hotels, trains, and car rentals.
The new funding will go toward AI initiatives, such as for enhancing merchant operations, through an expanded partnership with Google Cloud.
RoomPriceGenie: $75 Million
RoomPriceGenie, which provides AI-powered pricing tech for hotels, has raised $75 million.
The funding comes from Five Elms Capital.
Switzerland-based RoomPriceGenie provides a revenue management system for independent hotels and groups. The tech is meant to automate updating room rates based on changing market conditions.
Competitors include Duetto, which was acquired by a private equity firm last year.
The company says it has more than 3,000 hotel clients in 65 countries.
The company also said it appointed Chas Scarantino as CEO. The co-founder and previous CEO, Ari Andricopoulos, is now the chief strategy officer.
The funding will go toward expanding internally.
Twelve: $83 Million
Twelve, a renewable jet fuel production startup, has raised $83 million.
Investors included DCVC, Amazon (The Climate Pledge Fund), Mitsui & Co., Development Bank of Japan, Japan Hydrogen Fund, Greycroft (Coca-Cola Sustainability Fund), 2551 Capital, SMBC, TPG, Pulse Fund, and others.
The company most recently raised a series C round of $200 million in September. The new funding is a mix between an extension of the series C round plus financing to build a production facility.
California-based Twelve says its tech generates jet fuel by converting a mix of carbon dioxide from either tanks or the atmosphere, along with water and renewable energy.
Airline customers so far include Alaska Airlines and International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways.
Superlogic: $13.7 Million
Superlogic, which helps users apply loyalty points to ticketed experiences, has raised $13.7 million in its series A funding.
Superlogic, a trailblazer in experiential rewards technology, today announced a first closing of $13.7 million in its Series A funding round. Led by
Powerledger led the round, with support from including Sangha Capital, 10SQ, Nima Capital, Actai Unicorn Fund, Hyla Liquid Venture Fund, Liquid 2 Ventures, Amex Ventures, Galaxy Interactive, Mirabaud Lifestyle Impact and Innovation, Recharge Capital, Dispersion Capital, Sanctor Capital, and more.
Miami-based Superlogic provides an AI-powered platform that loyalty programs can use to connect users with experiences tailored to their interests.
Spark e-Fuels: $2.4 Million
Spark e-Fuels, which is developing tech to make renewable jet fuel, has raised $2.4 million (€2.3 million) in pre-seed funding.
Nucleus Capital led the round, with support from Zero Carbon Capital, IBB Ventures, Chemovator, Voyagers.io, 1.5° Ventures, and a group of angel investors.
Spark is focused on building its first e-fuel pilot plant and expanding its team to accelerate technology development and commercialization.
The Berlin-based startup is developing tech that converts renewable resources like carbon dioxide, into jet fuel.
The funding will go toward building its first pilot production plant and hiring.
