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Localie operates a digital platform connecting travelers with verified local guides and hosts, facilitating authentic, personalized experiences. Its core product enables users to discover and book locals who offer unique insights, trip planning, and companionship. The platform offers arranged tours, practical advice, and helps travelers immerse themselves in local culture beyond typical tourist offerings.
Localie began as a passion project in 2018, co-founded by Nick Nedelchuk and Sergey Chebykin. Their insight stemmed from a desire to foster genuine connections between visitors and residents, transforming conventional tourism. This endeavor transitioned into a fully operational company in August 2019, establishing its base of operations in the Netherlands.
The platform primarily serves individual travelers seeking more authentic and engaging experiences than traditional guided tours. Localie also cultivates communities for expatriates and global citizens, organizing events and networking opportunities. The company envisions a future where travel is defined by meaningful human connections and profound cultural exchange.
Localie has raised $180K across 1 funding round.
Localie has raised $180K in total across 1 funding round.
Localie is a B2C two-sided marketplace in the travel and tourism sector that connects travelers with verified local guides for personalized experiences, such as customized city tours, trip planning, and business support like conference organization.[1][5][6] It serves leisure and business travelers seeking authentic, insider access to destinations, solving the problem of generic tourism by matching users with locals who share similar interests, values, and languages via a mobile app.[1][6] The commission-based model charges 29% on traveler fees (tiered for active guides), with secure Stripe payments and fixed-price half- or full-day services, and the company has raised about $480K in seed and angel funding from investors like Crosspring and Unpopular Ventures.[1]
Localie emphasizes a global network of "Localies" for hidden gems, cultural immersion, and relocation assistance, including online tours and language services, positioning it as an online travel agency leveraging big data and augmented reality elements.[1][5]
Localie started as a side project and hobby in 2018, evolving into a full-scale company by August 2019.[3] Its international team bootstrapped the idea around fostering genuine traveler-local connections, drawing from a passion for sharing adopted cities' cultures with global visitors.[1][4][5] Early traction came from building a verified network of guides and securing initial funding, with pivotal growth through mobile apps and features like chat-based matching and weekly payouts, humanizing travel amid rising demand for authentic experiences.[1][4]
(Note: A separate Canadian entity at localie.ca focuses on local takeout/food marketplaces, but primary sources confirm the travel platform as the core Localie.[2])
Localie rides the experiential travel trend, fueled by post-pandemic demand for authentic, sustainable tourism over mass tours, amplified by remote work enabling longer, personalized trips.[1][6] Timing aligns with mobile-first marketplaces and AI-matching in travel tech, where market forces like overtourism backlash and "bleisure" (business-leisure) growth favor insider networks—projected to expand as travelers prioritize cultural depth amid economic pressures on traditional agencies.[1] It influences the ecosystem by empowering local economies through verified guides, promoting buy-local vibes in tourism, and setting a model for commission platforms in niche verticals like relocation services.[5]
Localie is poised to scale its global Localie network amid rising demand for hyper-personalized travel tech, potentially expanding AR-guided tours or B2B enterprise tools for events. Trends like AI personalization and sustainable tourism will shape its path, with funding momentum suggesting Series A potential to rival platforms like ToursByLocals. Its influence could evolve into a full trip-orchestration hub, redefining access to "hidden" destinations and reinforcing its opening promise of insider magic over cookie-cutter itineraries.[1][4]
Localie has raised $180K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $180K Seed in January 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2023 | $180K Seed | — | Geek Ventures, Hartmann Capital, Sapphire Ventures, SID Venture Partners, Sony Innovation Fund, Phil Libin, Renaldas Zioma, Sebastien Borget | Announced |
Localie has raised $180K in total across 1 funding round.
Localie's investors include Geek Ventures, Hartmann Capital, Sapphire Ventures, SID Venture Partners, Sony Innovation Fund, Phil Libin, Renaldas Zioma, Sebastien Borget.
