In 2015, Ariel co-founded TripActions to transform business travel. In the classic Blockbuster vs. Netflix analogy, TripActions set out to be the latter—replacing travel agents and complex expense reports with a best-in-class digital experience. The company's tremendous growth came to a screeching halt in 2020, when Covid stopped business travel altogether. But TripActions adapted and came back even stronger, now boasting over 9,000 customers and a valuation north of $7B. Ariel shares how a disastrous business trip to Ukraine was one of his aha moments, what it was like to lose all revenue in a two-day span when the pandemic hit, and why distributed teams have now unlocked a new category of business travel.
For Starters with Alexa von Tobel