YGO, an AI platform for the travel industry, has raised €8 million in Series A funding led by Ventech. The round also included Sake Bosch, Caesar Capital and business angels.
The company will use the funding to expand its sales and marketing operations, improve its AI platform and attract more customers outside the DACH region, which includes Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It will target both large businesses and mid-sized travel companies.
YGO helps travel companies connect their existing booking systems with AI assistants and agents. Its technology allows customers to search for travel options, receive personalised recommendations and book trips through AI-powered services.
The platform organises hotel and travel product information so AI systems can understand available options and help customers complete bookings. It also supports automated customer service and connects with existing travel technology, allowing companies to adopt AI without replacing their current systems.
“Travel is one of the last major industries still built on infrastructure that was never designed for an AI-first world. We built YGO to change that: to give the travel industry the infrastructure to make its inventory accessible, bookable and ready for AI – whether through their own platforms or through external AI agents,” said Julian Kögel, Co-Founder and CEO of YGO. “This funding allows us to build on the strong business we already have with some of Europe’s leading travel players and become the AI infrastructure layer connecting the industry to the next generation of travel.”
YGO already works with travel platforms and companies, including Condor, Bentour and GetAway Group. The company says its technology has helped one airline client reduce manual operations by 90% and increase conversion rates by 20%. Another customer recorded a 2.4-fold increase in average order value without adding staff.
“Online travel booking is undergoing its biggest structural shift in decades but most of the industry’s infrastructure was never built for it. YGO’s customers are already re-owning their customer relationships with AI and putting real KPI uplifts on the board to prove it. That’s why we believe YGO’s neutral infrastructure will become critical to how travel operates in an AI-first world. ” said Nicolas Barthalon, Partner at Ventech.
YGO has also reported more than €15 million in bookings processed through its platform and grew its recurring annual revenue into seven figures within six months.
The company was founded by Julian Kögel, Willi Ibbeken and Sebastian Kreutzberger. Travel technology entrepreneur Ralf Usbeck, who previously founded TravelTainment and Peakwork, has also joined the team.
YGO aims to help travel businesses make their products available through both traditional booking channels and emerging AI assistants while maintaining control over their customer relationships.
