TNMT Newsletter #195: Europe first

Hi there,

Major news this week from one of Travel and Mobility Tech’s OG investors, and a very familiar name in Europe’s startup scene.

Dr. Klaus Hommels , Founder and Chairman of Lakestar (the VC fund behind GetYourGuide, Omio, HomeToGo, and many more travel startups), announced what he called a “sharpened strategy.” 

Our translation: a full emotional pivot back to Europe.

Lakestar will now focus its next wave of investments on founders strengthening the continent’s independence and resilience in fields like defense, aerospace, and deep tech.

The move marks a major turning point for one of Europe’s most active funds, which until now raised billions across generalist portfolios spanning everything from B2C apps (like Spotify and Revolut) to hospitality tech.

And it’s not happening in isolation. 

• This “resilience turn” mirrors a narrative that has been steadily building across Europe, accelerated by geopolitical tensions testing the continent’s stability and alliances.
• In fact, Venture capital funding in European defense, security, and resilience startups is expected to surpass $8 billion USD in 2025 (up from less than $500 million USD ten years ago).

Interestingly, about two-thirds of that funding comes from European investors themselves – proof that Europe’s resilience tech boom is largely self-motivated.

Last week brought another boost to the trend: 

European industrial space heavyweights Airbus , Thales , and Leonardo announced plans to merge their space divisions into a new €6.5 billion company, designed to compete with the likes of SpaceX.

Now, you might ask: how does all this relate to Travel and Mobility Tech? 

Fair question. 

And don’t worry. We’re not turning into a defense newsletter.

But there is an overlap between Resilience and Travel and Mobility Tech, even if it's limited. 

• Isar Aerospace , one of our earliest European standout stories, is living proof of that link between aviation, space, and mobility innovation.
• And beyond aerospace, this growing resilience mindset is spilling over into other parts of Europe’s tech ecosystem (think critical mobility infrastructure, logistics, and air traffic efficiency).

With that in mind, we’re expanding our European Standout Series today and adding two new hidden champions to the list.

Scroll down to meet them.

Enjoy.

Your Lufthansa Innovation Hub Team

Research 

Meet Europe’s Quiet Mobility Revolutionaries

Over the past few months, our European Standout Series has taken us on quite a ride across the continent’s most exciting innovation frontiers:

1. We started with space rockets, exploring how Isar Aerospace is leading Europe’s charge into orbit.
2. We then turned to Sustainable Aviation Fuel, spearheaded by European pioneers like Velocys and SkyNRG .
3. Next, we ventured into Virtual Reality, which is reshaping pilot training and airport operations through startups like Loft Dynamics and Draxon .
4. Last time, we took a closer look at next-generation flight tracking, where we crowned Flightradar24 the reigning champion and Wingbits as the bold newcomer challenging it.

Today, we’re leaving the aviation world behind and turning our lens toward mobility on the ground.

Because in European mobility, there’s one company that has become not only the fastest-growing startup in transportation, but the fastest-growing startup in all of Europe!

Congrats, FINN .

Two weeks ago, Sifted released its list of Europe’s 250 fastest-growing startups, and topping the ranking was a name we’ve been watching closely: FINN, the Munich-based car subscription company redefining how people access cars.

FINN has been on a rocket ride, posting a +1,000% annual growth rate over the past two years.

Its hypergrowth has been fueled by major capital injections, most recently a $1 billion USD debt financing round announced earlier this year, which has propelled its expansion across Europe and the United States.

At its core, FINN has disrupted the traditional car rental and leasing model.

How?

The company offers flexible, all-inclusive car subscriptions, where users can select a car online, pay a flat monthly rate, and get insurance, maintenance, and delivery all bundled in.

• No upselling at the counter.
• No endless insurance options. 
• No paperwork. 

Just a seamless, fully digital experience that feels more like shopping on an e-commerce platform than dealing with a rental desk. (Note to airlines: this is how intuitive booking should look.)

What also sets FINN apart is its almost unlimited scaling potential.

It’s building a global category leader in one of the largest asset classes in the world: the car market.

To put things into perspective: 

• Achieving just a 5% market share in the U.S. and Europe would translate into a subscription ARR exceeding €30 billion.
• Opportunities of that magnitude are exceptionally rare in today’s startup landscape.

And here’s where it ties back to travel.

• Monthly car subscriptions aren’t just a convenient alternative for commuters. 
• They’re also increasingly relevant for travelers and tourists seeking in-destination mobility options for longer stays, especially in today’s era of hybrid, long-term Blurred Travel.

BEYOND FINN: EUROPE'S WIDER MOBILITY MOMENTUM

In all fairness, FINN isn’t exactly a hidden champion.

Most of us in the startup and tech space have heard of the company; it's hardly flying under the radar.

So let’s look beyond the top ten of Sifted’s 250 fastest-growing startups list.

• It turns out there’s plenty more happening across the Travel and Mobility Tech ecosystem. 
• In fact, 11 companies on that list fall squarely into this category.

As you can see, these 11 companies span a wide range of corners within the travel and mobility spectrum, both in terms of transport modes (cars, e-bikes, public transport) and travel types (nature-focused, luxury, flight-free, or group travel).

Some are more B2C-oriented (AlohaCamp, Landfolk, Journee), while others lean B2B (Lizy, Holibob, CitySwift).

What unites them all is a shared focus on digital simplicity and flexibility; arguably, the key ingredients for any modern value proposition to stick.

Yet, interestingly, none of these fast-growing startups operates directly in the aviation space – a reminder that the skies remain one of the toughest frontiers for disruption.

THE NEXT HIDDEN CONTENDER

So, let’s return to the aviation context, even though we’re staying firmly on the ground.

• One area we’ve repeatedly called out for promising innovation is the airport environment, particularly the application of robotics.
• And one company that has been on our radar for quite some time, even though it’s still early-stage, is ALBA Robot.

ALBA Robot is a manufacturer of autonomous vehicles, including (and here’s the interesting part) autonomous wheelchairs for airports.

Founded in 2019, the Italian startup recently raised $6 million in venture capital and is already showing signs of strong commercial traction (more on that below).

What makes ALBA especially compelling is its dual impact:

• It enhances accessibility and inclusivity for travelers with reduced mobility.
• While simultaneously helping airports mitigate labor shortages, a persistent operational pain point across the sector.

Its B2B model focuses on selling directly to facilities such as airports, offering both its autonomous vehicles and the accompanying fleet management software, which coordinates all vehicles in real time to ensure smooth, efficient passenger journeys.

Like many of the companies mentioned above, ALBA is deeply technology-oriented, going far beyond its core autonomous-driving capability.

For instance, its wheelchairs now feature a ticket-scanning system that reads boarding passes, calculates the route to the gate, and estimates arrival times, acting almost like a robotic concierge for travelers with mobility challenges.

And it’s not just us who are impressed. 

ALBA’s technology is already being piloted at Manchester Airport and, most recently, London Stansted.

In summary: a small company solving a big problem. 

And a powerful reminder that some of Europe’s most meaningful mobility innovation is happening quietly, just a few meters above the tarmac.

Read Full Article

Press Picks 

Our Recommended Must Reads 

LOYALTY REINVENTED – Caravelo explores how airlines can rebuild customer loyalty in the age of AI through what they call: Access, Control, and Convenience.

Read more by Caravelo

AI AIRLINE – United Airlines’ CFO reveals that AI has already eliminated 4% of management jobs, signaling a major shift in how airlines leverage technology for efficiency.

Read more by Simple Flying

SMART AIRPORTS – McKinsey examines how airports can prepare for a digital takeoff through integrated systems, real-time data, and streamlined passenger experiences.

Read more by McKinsey & Company

AI AIRLINE PT. II – A new BCG report outlines what it means to become an “AI-first” airline, from predictive maintenance to hyper-personalized customer journeys.

Read more by Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

EXPERIENTIAL GROWTH – GetYourGuide seems to have reached profitability, driven by growing demand for curated, high-quality travel experiences over traditional sightseeing.

Read more by Skift

AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY – Waymo plans to bring its self-driving taxi service to London in 2026, marking the company’s first expansion beyond the U.S. market.

Read more by Globetrender

SPACE ALLIANCE – Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales are joining forces to create a European space industry champion, strengthening the continent’s technological sovereignty.

Read more by all-about-industries

Deal Tracker

Most Recent Investment Deals

– VC –

Roller - The Australia-based venue management software developer raised $72 million in later-stage funding led by Insight Partners. Funding will support global expansion and innovation.

i6 Group - The UK-based fuel management platform raised $20 million in Series B funding led by Yttrium. Other investors included World Kinect, Shell Ventures, and International Consolidated Airlines Group. The funds will be used for international expansion and for the development of technology and data infrastructure.

Bedycasa et Bedytribu - The France-based online travel community platform raised $4 million in angel funding from Occitanie Angels.

Automotus - The US-based parking management software developer raised $3 million in later-stage funding from Rebellion Ventures, Sorin Capital Funds, and Alliance for SoCal Innovation, amongst others.

HotelPORT® - The US-based hospitality software developer raised $2 million through Hum Capital's Intelligent Marketplace. The funding will accelerate the company's expansion and platform enhancement plans.

May Mobility - The US-based autonomous vehicle technology company raised an undisclosed amount of late-stage funding from Grab Ventures and Itochu. To date, the company has secured $307 million in funding.

– M&A –

DataChat - The US-based AI analytics platform was acquired by hospitality software provider, Mews, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will expand business capabilities and drive market penetration.

OccasionGenius - The US-based event aggregator platform was acquired by Hostelworld Group for $12 million. The acquisition will aid Hostelworld in expanding into social travel networks.

FUN AND SUN - The Russian-based travel booking platform was acquired by Russian online retailer, Rvb, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will support one-stop telematics solutions for fleet management.

dcs plus - The Romania-based travel software developer was acquired for an undisclosed amount by global software company, Abingdon Software Group.