Personal experiences and hearing stories from family members and friends - countless travel startups have been created this way.

Freebird is one such brand that was formed from the frustrations of its founder, Ethan Bernstein, who saw how miserable it was for himself and his friends when a flight was canceled and how struggled to get rebooked.

The idea and eventual service came about in 2015 and the company has not looked back, having raised around $16 million over a number of investment rounds and secured a profile in the minds of business travelers and their travel management companies.

Bernstein's journey from idea through development, raising money and becoming an established brand is what makes Freebird an interesting story.

HIGH is a weekly show produced by PhocusWire and Mozio, aimed at getting the inside stories behind startups and innovation in travel and transportation.

Other episodes: on PhocusWire and Mozio.

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