Völz Secures $5M to Transform Travel-Tech and Empower African Globetrotters

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Algerian travel-tech startup Völz has raised $5 million in a fresh funding round, a major milestone that highlights the company’s rapid growth and the strengthening of Algeria’s tech ecosystem. 

The investment arrives as Völz deepens its presence in the travel industry, tackling persistent hurdles in Algeria’s market, including stringent currency controls and scarce online payment options.

Travel and Tour World reports that key players spearheaded the round: Tell Group and Groupe Industriel Babahoum Algérie (GIBA), with significant participation from the Algerian Startup Fund (ASF). This deal represents ASF’s inaugural successful exit, underscoring the maturing appeal of Algerian startups to both domestic and global investors.

Launched in 2022 by co-founders Mohamed Abdelhadi Mezi and Hacene Seghier, Völz is a travel-tech platform built to overcome entrenched barriers in Algeria’s international travel sector. Its core innovation allows users to book flights abroad while paying entirely in Algerian dinars, bypassing the longstanding requirement for hard currency.

Völz’s standout feature enables seamless international flight bookings in local currency, directly addressing Algeria’s tight foreign exchange controls that have historically restricted outbound travel. This solution eliminates a key obstacle for everyday Algerians eager to explore globally.

The platform further promotes inclusivity with cash-on-delivery options and offline-compatible payments, catering to users without bank accounts or those wary of digital transactions. By serving underserved demographics, Völz broadens access beyond traditional agencies and global online giants.

The new capital will power operational automation, minimising booking errors and elevating user satisfaction for smoother travel planning. Völz also intends to bolster its engineering team to speed up feature rollouts and platform enhancements.

The funding will not only improve efficiency but also help expand the service to make international travel easier for everyone, providing a user-friendly interface that works for people with different levels of tech skills.

A pivotal partnership with Turkish Airlines grants Völz preferential corporate rates and integration into the airline’s business ecosystem, unlocking perks for enterprise clients. This tie-up promises competitive fares, boosting customer acquisition.

Targeting the B2B segment, the collaboration diversifies revenue by serving companies that need cost-effective employee travel solutions, thereby enhancing margins as operations grow.

The investment will fuel diversification into corporate and business travel, creating new income channels while solidifying Völz’s role in modernising Algeria’s sector.

Emphasis on automation and precision underscores Völz’s dedication to reliable, efficient service powered by advanced technology, establishing it as an innovative force in regional travel tech.

This achievement not only propels Völz forward but signals rising confidence in Algeria’s tech scene. ASF’s involvement reinforces governmental backing for bold ventures, with Völz leading the charge in travel innovation.

Moving forward, Völz is set to capture greater market share, advance digital transformation in Algerian aviation, and align with growing demand for accessible global connectivity, contributing to national economic progress.

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While Völz addresses similar payment and currency challenges in Algeria, Nigeria has seen a notable surge in travel-tech developments over recent years. Platforms like Wakanow (a leading online travel agency offering flight bookings, hotels, and financing options) and Hotels.ng have pioneered digital solutions for domestic and international travel. 

Nigeria hosts hundreds of travel and hospitality tech startups, with established players raising funds and expanding across the region. Recent policy shifts, such as mandates for airlines to accept naira payments for international tickets and the easing of restrictions on naira cards for global transactions, have alleviated longstanding forex barriers that once limited outbound bookings. 

This growth aligns with broader trends in Africa, where funding for travel tech is changing. Still, it helps new companies address fragmented markets, with Nigeria among the top four countries (along with Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa) that attract significant investment in travel and booking services.

Innovations like Völz’s model, enabling local-currency bookings and inclusive payments, could profoundly enhance tourism if replicated or expanded continent-wide. In Nigeria, security issues, poor infrastructure, and complicated visa processes make it hard for international visitors to come (with only about 1.2 million arrivals recently, compared to more in countries like Kenya or South Africa), so making international flights easier would help more people travel abroad and also bring in more visitors as a result.

Fintech-integrated travel tech promotes financial inclusion, seamless transactions, and mobile payments, making tourism more accessible and boosting sectors like hospitality and cultural experiences.

Across Africa, these tools could boost travel between countries, promote eco-friendly tourism, and encourage visits from people living abroad, which would help create jobs (since tourism already supports many high-paying jobs) By making travel easier, travel tech helps connect people more, which could increase Africa’s part in global tourism and support steady growth even with issues like inflation or regional problems.

Dive deeper into Africa’s booming tech and tourism scenes. Explore more inspiring startup stories, investment trends, and travel innovations on our site today!

 

FAQs

 1. What is Völz, and how does it work?

Völz is an Algerian travel-tech platform founded in 2022 that allows users to book international flights using Algerian dinars, with options like cash-on-delivery for broader accessibility.

2. Who invested in Völz’s $5 million funding round?

The round was led by Tell Group and Groupe Industriel Babahoum Algérie (GIBA), with key involvement from the Algerian Startup Fund (ASF).

3. What challenges does Völz solve for Algerian tourists?

It addresses strict foreign currency controls and limited online payment methods, enabling seamless bookings without needing hard currency.

4. What are Völz’s key partnerships and future plans?  

A significant partnership with Turkish Airlines provides competitive rates and B2B opportunities. Funds will automate operations, expand the team, and target corporate travel.

5. How does this impact Algeria’s tech ecosystem?

The funding, including ASF’s first exit, signals growing investor confidence in Algerian startups and advances digital transformation in the travel sector.