Founded by former institutional trader Natasha Martsekis in 2014, Bright Blue Villas operates 325 villas across 20 destinations in Greece. The company uses an 'institutional approach' emphasizing trust and accountability. Martsekis believes AI can enhance pre-booking and pre-arrival phases but won't replace the human touch.
Layla.ai founder Saad Saeed shares his entrepreneurial journey. Founded in 2023, Layla.ai aims to simplify travel planning using AI and creator content. The company has processed over $1 billion in planned trip value and has around 30,000 paying subscribers. It recently secured a seven-figure investment round from investors including United Airlines Ventures and Baidu Capital. Saeed believes three shifts—data availability, social media inspiration, and AI technology—make travel planning finally solvable.