May Tech Round-Up: Travel Tech Deep Dive
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Expedia was launched by Microsoft in 1996. With online travel nearly 30 years old, the OTA model has survived a lot of shocks. It now faces the dual market forces of agentic AI and Social Commerce - which are changing the way we find our next holiday, and book it.
This month, in the first of two deep dives, we dig into how Social Commerce is fast changing the shape of online travel – led in large measure by some clever Chinese companies. Enjoy, from the team at North Ridge Partners.
What We’ve Been Up To
We’re just closing the cross-border sale of a global travel sector SaaS business. Even in the face of Tariffageddon and market uncertainty, demand from investors was strong, delivering a great outcome for the owner. As we like to say, travel is unbreakable. Details to follow as soon as regulatory approvals are obtained.
Original Thinking From North Ridge Partners
At nearly 30 years old, Travel Tech is all grown up! But new forces like Social Commerce and Agentic AI now threaten to upend the way consumers book online travel. This month we lift the lid on how Bytedance and its social commerce platforms are changing the face of online travel around the globe. Click here to read.
Short of Time? Listen to the Podcast
Our favourite AI Travel Techies, Trip Booker and Delta Check-in, deliver the short version of our Social Commerce deep dive in a 10-minute podcast.
Click on the banner below to listen. Enjoy!
Big Tech
The elephant in the room: Google searches are falling.
Meta’s AI plans, explained, but familiar controversies resurface.
Microsoft briefly bounces back as the world’s biggest company. Its latest results reveal why the market is back in love.
Is Apple rotten? Apple tries to move iPhone production just as a US court slams its behaviour.
US antitrust case goes against Google (which reports a ripper of a result).
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Asia Pacific Tech News
Temu and Shein face new realities after the end of an import tax loophole.
US tariffs create opportunities for some Asian tech companies.
Bukalapak’s pivot pays off - or at least looks hopeful.
Grab beats Q1 earnings. Meanwhile, will or won’t Grab merge with Gojek?
EVP, some of the best in the business, suffer a StrongRoom AI moment.
Stuff We Found Interesting
Denholm’s denial: Can Elon turn the Good Ship Tesla around?
Is Big Blue back? IBM to spend $150bn in the USA over next five years.
M&A in 2D: Doordash to buy Deliveroo.
Well, that didn’t work! After going deep on AI, Klarna goes back to hiring people.
Tech Investment Banking Across Asia Pacific
North Ridge Partners advises tech companies across the Asia Pacific on strategy, capital raising and M&A. We’re experienced dealmakers who have built and sold many tech companies. In partnership with GP Bullhound, we have 200 bankers in 17 global offices.
Contact us here.
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