SmartRyde

SmartRyde operates a B2B marketplace for pre-booked airport ground transportation, connecting local taxi and limousine operators with online travel agencies (OTAs), airlines, and corporate clients. Founded in March 2017 by CEO Sota Kimura, the Tokyo-based company aims to digitize the traditionally fragmented airport transfer industry.

The platform functions as a global distribution system (GDS) for ground transport, allowing travel partners to seamlessly integrate and offer airport transfers as an ancillary service through an API. This model enables partners like Booking.com, Expedia, and Trip.com to cross-sell and generate new revenue streams. The service covers over 700 airports in more than 150 countries, working with a network of over 650 trusted transport suppliers. For travelers, SmartRyde provides a fixed-price, pre-booked service with 24/7 customer support, ensuring reliability and eliminating the uncertainty of securing transport upon arrival.

The company's business model is centered on its technology that connects supply from local transport companies with demand from major travel platforms. It provides suppliers with a booking management system to help digitize their operations and manage inventory more efficiently. SmartRyde has secured significant funding to fuel its expansion and product development, including a $1.6 million Series A round in October 2021 and a $3.4 million Series A+ round in April 2023. The company is focused on expanding its presence in Japan and Southeast Asia, with plans to enter the Latin American market.

Keywords: airport transfers, ground transportation, B2B marketplace, travel technology, global distribution system, GDS, online travel agencies, API integration, pre-booked taxis, mobility solutions, ancillary revenue, travel logistics, transport digitization, corporate travel, limousine service, shuttle service, ride-hailing, travel-tech startup, In-destination services, transport network