Xplor
| Name: Kavan Brandon
NYU affiliation: Stern NYU status: Undergraduate |
Did you enter last year?: No
Do you have any teammates?: Yes How many, including yourself?: 2 |
Concept Name
Xplor
High Concept Statement
Xplor is Uber for tourism! It is a community marketplace for people to list and/or book customized, person-to-person, real-time or planned tours.
Status Quo
The current tourism model limits the average traveler to 3 main exploration options: 1.) Walk around by yourself (highly uninformative), 2.) A group tour (glaringly impersonal) and 3.) A private tour (significantly expensive). Globalization/technology have shaped a generation of mobile-friendly travelers who want to experience new places up close and personal.
Competition
The travel competitive landscape is highly fragmented. Research shows that people are googling local meet ups/walking tours, relying on travel blogs, books, friends, and social media sites for exploration recommendations. There are a few apps in the travel space that attempt to meet this need, but they are mostly focused on niche activities (like food, clubs, nightlife, day-life, traditional sites, museums, etc.) None have created a global marketplace that offers customizable, person-to-person, affordable options.
Solution
Xplor offers travelers customization and convenience without the hassle of planning and pre-booking. Xplorers also connect with locals. No more wondering around Times Square. Xplorers can book a guide for 30 minutes to meet up in 2 hours for an East Village bar crawl for a max. price of $15.
Revenue Model
Xplor will have two income streams initially. It will take a service fee with a ~12 point spread on all transactions conducted between “Xplorers” (Those who book a tour @ 9% commission) and Local Guides (Local residents who give a tour @ 3% commission). In the future, there might be an opportunity for business partnerships.
Which platform would you like to launch your app on?
iPhone
Which category best describes your app?
Travel