High-Level Overview
Lola.com is a Boston-based SaaS company specializing in corporate travel management and expense software, available via web browsers, iOS, and Android apps.[1] It serves businesses by offering a travel agency model for hotel and flight searches, bookings, administrative analytics on employee travel costs, and chat-based support with human agents, addressing pain points in business travel planning and expense tracking.[1] The company has raised over $80 million in funding, achieved early traction through acquisitions and app launches, and formed key partnerships like a five-year exclusive deal with American Express Global Business Travel in 2018.[1]
Founded in 2015, Lola.com launched from stealth mode by December of that year and expanded with a $20 million Series A in 2016 (led by General Catalyst and Accel) followed by a $44 million+ Series B (led by Charles River Ventures, with GV and others).[1] Growth included iOS/Android app releases in 2016-2017 focused on self-service booking and personalized recommendations, positioning it as a responsive alternative to traditional travel management tools.[1]
Origin Story
Lola.com was founded in July 2015 by Paul M. English and Bill O'Donnell, both former Kayak.com executives with deep expertise in travel tech.[1] The idea emerged from Boston's Blade incubator, which focused solely on this startup; by December 2015, it exited stealth, naming itself after "latitude" and "longitude" to evoke global travel.[1] Early momentum came from acquiring HopOn (a travel booking firm) in 2015 and Room77 (hotel metasearch) in 2016, plus launching a chat-enabled iOS app in April 2016 that connected users to human agents.[1]
Pivotal moments included the 2016 Series A funding and 2017 app updates for business travel self-service. Leadership shifted in 2018 when English became CTO and Mike Volpe (ex-Cybereason CMO) took CEO role, followed by the American Express partnership.[1] This trajectory humanizes Lola as a founder-driven innovator blending travel industry savvy with modern SaaS.
Core Differentiators
- Human-AI Hybrid Model: Combines chat with live travel agents for personalized support alongside self-service booking, setting it apart from purely automated platforms.[1]
- Business-Focused Analytics: Provides admin tools for tracking employee travel spend and policies, enhancing cost control for enterprises.[1]
- Rapid Iteration and Acquisitions: Quick app releases (e.g., iOS/Android in 2016-2017) and integrations from HopOn/Room77 bolster comprehensive flight/hotel metasearch.[1]
- Funding-Backed Scale: Over $80M raised enables robust mobile/web experiences tailored for corporate users, with partnerships like Amex GBT amplifying distribution.[1]
(Note: Other "Lola Tech" entities, like the London/Romania software agency acquired by DataArt in 2022 and dissolved in 2025, are unrelated to this travel SaaS firm.[2][3][4])
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Lola.com rides the corporate travel tech resurgence post-pandemic, capitalizing on hybrid work trends demanding seamless, policy-compliant booking amid rising business travel volumes.[1] Timing aligns with SaaS maturation in travel—fueled by AI personalization and analytics—where market forces like remote teams and cost pressures favor agile platforms over legacy systems from providers like Concur.[1] It influences the ecosystem by pushing human-touch innovations, influencing competitors toward chat/agent hybrids and influencing investor interest in travel SaaS (e.g., via backers like GV).[1]
Quick Take & Future Outlook
Lola.com is poised to expand in AI-enhanced travel orchestration, leveraging its funding and partnerships for deeper enterprise integrations amid projected corporate travel growth.[1] Trends like sustainable travel tracking and real-time expense AI will shape it, potentially evolving its influence through acquisitions or IPO paths. As a Kayak alumni creation, it exemplifies how founder expertise turns travel chaos into streamlined SaaS dominance—watch for global scaling next.