We are delighted to announce our first SEIS Exit from the Jenson Funding Partners SEIS & EIS Fund 1.
Skyscanner acquires social content platform Twizoo to harness technology for hotels arm
The travel search company Skyscanner has bought London based user-generated content business Twizoo.
The six-strong Twizoo team, founded by Madeline Parra and John Talbott, have been incorporated into Skyscanner’s existing team of over 900 and are now based from the travel search site’s London office at Tottenham Court Road.
As part of Skyscanner’s aim to make travel search simple, Skyscanner will make use of Twizoo’s social content integrations to bolster hotel reviews and recommendations.
Bryan Dove, Chief Technology Officer, said of the acquisition: “Skyscanner aims to serve all traveller needs, from inspiration through to planning and booking. Twizoo’s technology surfaces customer opinions from social media, providing real value to traveller decision making. We’re delighted to have the highly talented Twizoo team join us.”
Madeline Parra, CEO and cofounder of Twizoo said: “Skyscanner is built by travellers, for travellers. Their emphasis on authenticity and transparency reflect Twizoo’s own values. Travel is inherently social and we’re excited to work with the Skyscanner team to integrate our technology into their world-class travel search products, giving travellers invaluable insight through user generated content shared on social media.”
The news comes as Skyscanner continues to expand in London, having recently moved to a larger 24,000 square foot office at 1 Bedford Avenue, Tottenham Court Road. Skyscanner’s London based team has trebled in the past 12 months and now accounts for over 120 employees. The company is currently recruiting for dozens of roles across nine global offices, including 18 in London.
Sarah Barber, CEO, Jenson Funding Partners commented “We are delighted that Twizoo has been acquired by Skyscanner and that Twizoo’s technology will be integrating within the Skyscanner platform. This is the first exit for our SEIS Fund and we are pleased to be able to deliver a very good return to our investors. This acquisition by Skyscanner demonstrates that SEIS can be used to provide exciting new innovative companies with the opportunity to launch and grow their businesses.”
Madeline Parra, CEO and cofounder of Twizoo said: “As our first investor, the Jenson SEIS & EIS Fund gave us the opportunity to prove our proposition to the market and helped to get us on our journey which has now culminated into this acquisition by Skyscanner.”
