Viselio

Viselio AG, registered in Switzerland, began its journey in 2016 as a digital platform focused on streamlining the complex process of visa procurement. The company was established by co-founders Roland Zeller, Niklas Zeller (CEO), and Boris Stevanovic (CTO). Operating from its headquarters in Bern, Viselio developed a software-driven solution to digitize and automate visa applications for both individual travelers and business clients. The platform served clients including tour operators, travel management companies, and individual consumers by aggregating necessary data and automatically generating the required documentation, significantly reducing application times.

The company's core offering was an online service that simplified applying for tourist and business visas to countries with demanding procedures. By using Viselio's tools, users could complete the necessary steps in minutes, a sharp contrast to the hours typically required. For its B2B clients, Viselio provided a dedicated Visa Panel to manage group applications efficiently and integrated with existing systems using API technology to pre-fill passenger data. Revenue was generated by charging a service fee for each visa processed, with additional income from ancillary services like expedited processing and photo printing. Throughout its operation, the firm secured approximately $3.87 million in funding over two rounds, with a notable Series A round in February 2020 that raised $3.07 million, led by investors like EquityPitcher Ventures and Howzat Partners.

In a strategic pivot driven by the global travel landscape's shift during the COVID-19 pandemic, Viselio expanded its services to include medical testing, opening COVID-19 test centers in Bern and Zurich. This move leveraged its presence in the travel sector to address a new, urgent need. Ultimately, in February 2022, Viselio divested its original visa business, with its proprietary software platform and technology team being acquired by CIBT, a global leader in mobility services. Following the acquisition, Viselio continued to operate its COVID-19 testing facilities.

Keywords: visa application service, travel technology, digital visa platform, RegTech, travel document automation, B2B travel services, visa processing software, corporate travel solutions, online immigration services, travel ancillary revenue, group visa management, API integration travel, Swiss travel startup, visa facilitation, automated travel documents, traveler data management, CIBT acquisition, travel health services, Covid testing centers