Paris Hilton Supports Layla, an AI Travel Planner, and Jet Engine Startup ZeroAvia Raises $116 Million

Paris Hilton invests in Layla, a new generative AI travel planner, securing $3.3 million in seed funding. Layla aims to bridge the gap between social media, trip planning, and booking, providing personalized itineraries. ZeroAvia, a hydrogen-powered jet engine company, simultaneously raises $116 million in series C funding led by the UK Infrastructure Bank, focusing on advancing research and development for larger aircraft engines with hydrogen-electric technology.

In the same period, five other travel-related startups secure funding totaling approximately $171 million. These startups cover various sectors, including credit cards for Indian tourists (Scapia), consumer hotel booking (@hotel), ski lessons platform (Maison Sport), sustainability data management (BeCause), and group travel for millennials (WeRoad).

Scapia raises $23 million in a series A round, providing an app and credit card specifically for Indian tourists. @hotel, a consumer hotel booking website, raises $4 million, focusing on using Instagram to promote its goods. Maison Sport, a platform pairing skiers with instructors, secures $3.9 million to expand into snowboarding and skiing lessons. BeCause, an AI-powered platform, raises $1.9 million in seed funding to assist travel agencies in managing sustainability data. WeRoad, a European tour company, raises $19.6 million in series B funding, led by H14.

The funding rounds represent a diverse range of travel-related startups covering various niches within the industry, including technology-driven travel planning, sustainable travel, consumer services, and niche travel experiences.