Traveltech firm Atta bags $3m to scale in Japan, Southeast Asia

AI-backed traveltech startup Atta has raised US$3 million in a series A round to acquire more users in Japan and Southeast Asia.

The Atta team / Photo credit: Atta

New investors that participated in the round include Mitsubishi UFJ Capital VII, Mynavi Corporation, Nagoya TV Ventures, Sansei VI, Suneight OK, Suneight PS1 Investment, and 31Ventures Global Innovation Fund, a corporate venture capital fund by Mitsui Fudosan and Global Brain.

Founded in 2018, the startup gathers historical data and uses AI to help travelers save on their travel bookings. Formerly known as WithTravel, the Tokyo-based company established its wholly owned subsididary in Singapore last year, then launched its app after four months.

The startup now plans to further accelerate the growth of its users and improve the search capabilities of its platform. To do so, Atta said it will recruit engineers, strengthen its digital marketing efforts, boost PR engagements, and establish local partnerships in Japan and Southeast Asia.

The company said its platform offers flights in 4,4000 airports and more than 2.3 million hotels, ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), private lodgings, villas, and inns globally. Its app has a price alert function that notifies users in real time when room rates and airline ticket prices drop. It claims it has helped its users save a total of about US$1.3 million in travel costs since it launched.

Atta was previously part of Facebook’s startup support program FbStart and, most recently, was awarded the Mediacorp prize during Slingshot at SFF x SWITCH 2019.