In the ever-evolving landscape of travel and tourism, the past four years have been a crucible of change, imposing unprecedented challenges on the industry. As global tourism numbers slowly rebound, the quest to adapt to the "new normal" persists as a constant challenge. Amid the aftermath of the pandemic, a new consciousness has emerged among travelers—one that places sustainability at the forefront of their considerations. It's not just a response to a surge in laws and regulations; it's a paradigm shift where environmental and cultural concerns are becoming decisive factors for tourists. A 2022 Statista survey echoed this sentiment, revealing that over 80% of tourists deem sustainability in tourism as crucial.
Enter "BeCause," a Danish startup trailblazing in sustainability data management for the global hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. In a significant stride, BeCause has secured $1.9 million (€1.75M) in seed funding in a round co-led by Denmark’s Ugly Duckling Ventures and Estonia’s Superangel.io. This infusion of capital is not merely financial backing; it's an endorsement of BeCause's mission to revolutionize sustainability practices in the industry. The funding, co-partnered by individual investors including serial exit entrepreneur Sean Brown (UK), Sean Evans (UK), and Patrick Patrong (DK), is poised to meet the burgeoning demand for BeCause's solutions and accelerate the company's trajectory of growth.
The investment dynamics include a $708,000 (€650K) open tail-end, coupled with the secured $1.9 million aimed at strategic investors. Frederik Steensgaard, BeCause's co-founder and CEO, underscored their openness to further partnerships, expressing the intent to bring on board an investor with a background in high-growth startups in the impact space. This strategic alliance seeks expertise in B2B SaaS models, travel, and big data API to bolster their mission.
With an angel investment of $450,000 earlier this year, BeCause has now amassed a total of $2.6 million (€2.4M). This fresh infusion of funds is poised to propel BeCause's rapid expansion as it caters to the escalating demands of major enterprise organizations and global travel brands. The roster includes industry giants like Booking.com, easyJet, Google, Radisson Hotels, and TUI.
Headquartered in Copenhagen since its inception in 2018, BeCause operates as an enterprise software company, seamlessly streamlining sustainability data flow across the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. Collaborating with 20,000 hotels and forming key partnerships with entities like Radisson, GreenKey, and Booking.com, BeCause stands as a catalyst for positive change. Their innovative AI-powered platform empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions, fostering a holistic approach that benefits people, the planet, and profits.