Velout

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from Velout! 🌟💌 As the year comes to a close, we at Velout want to take a moment to send warm wishes to each and every one of you—no matter where in the world you are, no matter what you celebrate. 🌍❤️ This season is about more than just holidays—it's about: 🎁 #Connection – with loved ones, friends, and even strangers who become family. 🎄 #Reflection – on the journeys we’ve taken, the growth we’ve experienced, and the memories we’ve created. ✨ #Hope – for a future filled with kindness, inclusion, and endless opportunities to build bridges, not walls. 💙 May your hearts be full, your gatherings be joyful, and your days be sprinkled with laughter, good food, and meaningful conversations. 🌸 We wish you peace, love, and the chance to spend time with people who make you feel seen, heard, and cherished. Let’s use this time to: 🤗 Pause and recharge. 💡 Dream big for the year ahead. 🌈 Believe in the power of creating a better, more inclusive world—together. From all of us at Velout, thank you for being part of our journey this year. 🚀🌍 Your support, insights, and shared passion for connections, travel, and growth mean everything to us. 🙏💙 ✨ Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours! 🎅🎄💫 May 2024 bring love, adventure, and endless possibilities. 🌟 P.S. Let us know in the comments—how are you celebrating this season? Or where are you traveling to next? 🚗✈️🌍 We’d love to hear your stories! With gratitude and festive cheer, The Velout Team 🎄💙 #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays #SeasonOfJoy #SpreadLove #TravelCommunity #Velout #ConnectionMatters #Inclusivity #TogetherWeGrow

🚀 BIG NEWS: Velout is Going GLOBAL in 2025! 🌍✨ 2025 is calling, and we’ve got something HUGE to share with you: Our app is officially launching globally on both iOS and Android! 📱🎉 🎯 What Does It Take to Launch Globally? Let’s get real—building two apps (one for iOS and one for Android) has been a wild ride! 🧑💻 Both platforms come with unique challenges and requirements, especially when it comes to #safety, #data, and #verification processes. 🔒 Here’s what we tackled to make it happen: ✅ Extra screens 📱 ✅ Code rewrites 🧑💻 ✅ Global OTP verification for your safety 🌐 ✅ Policies to meet international standards 📜 It’s been a journey full of surprises, but we did it—because creating a safe, user-friendly, and global app for YOU is what matters most. 💪✨ 🧪 #BetaPhase: SUCCESS! We tested Velout with users across the world to ensure our systems work seamlessly. ✅ The verification process—a major step for safety and trust—was put to the test, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Every challenge we faced made us stronger and Velout better. 🌍 🎉 Why Go Global? As a travel tech startup, we dream big—connections don’t have borders. 🌏✈️ Whether it’s strangers you haven’t met yet or friends waiting around the world, Velout is here to connect you, wherever you are. The world is full of possibilities, and we want you to experience them all. 💙 "Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet." 🌟 🎁 What’s Coming in 2025? 🔹 Global Launch at the start of the year—mark your calendars! 📆 🔹 New Features already in the making—we’re just getting started! 🚀 🔹 Keep collaborating with Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Fokus Mensch Research Center to keep Velout human-centered and innovative. 🧠 🔹 Monthly Community Calls to connect, brainstorm, and shape the app together. 🤝 Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re making 2025 unforgettable—one connection at a time. 💫 Let’s make the world a more connected place. 🌍 #GlobalLaunch #TravelTech #Velout #2025 #iOS #Android #StartupJourney #SafeTravel #HumanCenteredTech #AppLaunch #News #Community #Connetivity #ConsciousTravel

🌟 The Perfect Gift: Empower Yourself to Travel Solo! 🌍🎁 At Velout, we believe travel has the power to build #confidence, #connections, and unforgettable #experiences. But what if fear or uncertainty holds you back? Enter Sonja Golla and her incredible Christmas-Special: 💡 What’s the Offer? 👉 2 hours of 1:1 coaching for the price of 1 🧳✨ This is the chance to gain personalized support, tips, and strategies to overcome your fears and embrace the joy of solo travel. Whether it’s planning your dream trip or finding the courage to explore the world alone—Sonja is here to empower you every step of the way. 🗓️ But hurry! This special offer is only valid until next week. ⏰ Make the leap, treat yourself (or a loved one) to the gift of confidence, adventure, and freedom. 🎯 Because at the end of the day, the only things we regret are the ones we didn’t do. Don’t let fear stop you from seeing the world. 🌍 🌟 Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gniE2TQt If you or someone you know is ready to travel but struggles with fear, doubts, or the right travel buddy (and yes, our app isn’t ready just yet 😉)—this is the perfect opportunity. Solo travel can change your life, and Sonja’s coaching can help you make that leap. ✨ Let’s turn hesitation into action. You’ve got this. Big thanks to Sonja Golla for empowering travelers worldwide—let’s help more people find the courage to explore the beauty this world has to offer. 🌟 #SoloTravel #Empowerment #TravelCoach #WeihnachtsSpecial #GiftOfAdventure #Mentoring #TravelCommunity #Velout #FearlessTravel #ExploreTheWorld #Empowering #Travelers

☄️✨ Empowering Diversity in Ventures ✨☄️ Last week, we had the privilege of being selected for the “Empowering Diversity in Ventures” program, organized by the amazing Kickstart team from Start2 Group! 🎉💡 Over three impactful days (virtual sessions on Dec 2-3 and an incredible on-site event in Munich on Dec 4), we dove deep into the topic of diversity in startups and venture ecosystems. 💡 Why Diversity Matters: Inclusion and diversity are not just buzzwords—they are the foundation for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth. 🚀 Whether it’s in startup teams, boards, or on the investor side, diversity fosters different perspectives, challenges biases, and creates more equitable opportunities for all. 🌍 📊 Breaking Biases: Did you know that just a few years ago, the percentage of female investors was staggeringly low? 👩💼 But change is happening! Programs like these are helping to shift the narrative, promote inclusion, and pave the way for more female and underrepresented investors and entrepreneurs. ✨ Still, there’s more work to do. By addressing implicit biases and amplifying diverse voices, we can create richer ecosystems and stronger ventures. #Highlights of the Program: 🔹 Virtual Sessions: Packed with insights from inspiring mentors and industry leaders, the online workshops were an incredible start. 💻 🔹 On-Site Networking in Munich: The highlight of the program! The opportunity to connect with like-minded founders, investors, and changemakers. 🤝 🔹 Mentor Hours: We’re thrilled to have access to four mentor hours with incredible advisors who will help guide us on our journey. 👩🏫 🔹 Slack Community: A vibrant space to connect, collaborate, and learn with other founders and the Start2Group team. 💬 🎉 Gratitude & Reflection: We are so grateful to be part of this diverse and forward-thinking community. 🙌 Huge thanks to the #Kickstart team for organizing such a meaningful program and for selecting us to join this cohort. 🌟 To all the founders, investors, and changemakers we met during these sessions—thank you for the inspiration, energy, and drive. Together, we are building a future where diversity and inclusion are at the core of every venture. 🌍💡 💬 Let’s Keep the Momentum Going! To our network: What does diversity mean to you? How has it shaped your journey in startups, entrepreneurship, or investing? Let’s share stories and continue to support each other in this space. 💙 #EmpoweringDiversityInVentures #DiversityMatters #InclusiveInnovation #StartupCommunity #InvestInDiversity #KickstartProgram #PurposeDrivenEntrepreneurship

🌟 All Episodes Are Out Now! Founders Odyssey #Podcast 🎙️ 🌟 Over the past seven weeks, we’ve had the honor of hosting inspiring human entrepreneurs on our #Founders #Odyssey Podcast, and guess what? All episodes are now available for you to dive into! 🌍✨ Each episode tells a unique story of #purpose-driven entrepreneurship—highlighting different life #journeys, #challenges, and #successes in diverse industries. From innovative tech founders to female empowerment coaches, our guests shared their insights, vulnerabilities, and passion for creating impact. 💡 💬 Why Listen? - Gain valuable lessons on leadership and resilience. - Learn about purpose-driven approaches across various fields. - Get inspired to follow your dreams, no matter your life situation! 🎧 Now it’s your turn! Check out the episodes, let us know your thoughts, and share your favorite moments! Together, let’s celebrate the magic of entrepreneurship. 🚀 #FoundersOdyssey #PodcastSeries #Entrepreneurship #PurposeDriven #Innovation #StartupLife #Inspiration 👉 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/egUfFR5C Let us know in the comments—what inspired you the most? 🎉 Huge thanks to all our amazing guests for sharing their stories. We’re grateful for your trust and insights! 💖 Cynthia Gaßmann, Agnieszka Pater, Gioia Lelli, Chandler Martin, Santa Bürkland (She/Her), Angela Melidoni, Belen Pistek

🌍✨ Reflecting on the Social Impact Award Summit 2024 in Mannheim ✨🌍 From November 27-29, Mannheim became a vibrant hub for social innovation, hosting the Social Impact Award (SIA) Summit 2024 under the theme “Shaping Tomorrow, Together.” 👫🌱 This inspiring event brought together around 200 participants from 19 countries 🌎✈️—a melting pot of social entrepreneurs, change-makers, and dreamers dedicated to addressing pressing social and ecological challenges. 🔥 Why the SIA Summit Matters: The SIA Summit serves as a global platform 🌐 for emerging changemakers to exchange ideas, collaborate, and drive impactful solutions. By fostering a diverse community, it empowers participants to learn from one another and co-create innovative approaches to societal issues. 🧠🌿 Highlights of the Summit: 🔑 Inspiring #Keynotes & #Workshops: Attendees explored sessions on climate action, finance, team dynamics, impact measurement, technology, and communications. 🌏 #Global Networking: Entrepreneurs from countries as far as Mexico, India, and beyond shared experiences, creating incredible cross-cultural connections. 🎄 #CulturalExchange: Beyond the workshops, participants bonded while exploring Mannheim’s festive Christmas market, proving that collaboration thrives in shared moments of joy. 💪 Our Involvement: We’re proud to share that our CEO and co-founder, Theodora Chatzipavlidis was part of the volunteer team, supporting the planning and brainstorming for this year’s summit. 🎤💻 She was deeply inspired by the innovative ideas, the energy of young entrepreneurs, and the global sense of purpose that united everyone. 💡✨ 🌟 Looking Ahead: The SIA Summit 2024 demonstrated the power of collaboration 🤝 and collective action in shaping a sustainable future 🌱. We’re excited to integrate the learnings from this empowering event into our own startup journey, and we remain committed to contributing to a brighter, more inclusive world. 🌈 A heartfelt thank you 🙏 to the organizers, speakers, and participants who made this summit unforgettable. Together, we’re not just envisioning a better tomorrow—we’re actively creating it! 💡🌍 More details here: https://lnkd.in/e9dpMjRr 💬 Let us know your biggest takeaway from the SIA Summit or what excites you most about social entrepreneurship in the comments! ⬇️ #SIASummit2024 #SocialImpact #ShapingTomorrowTogether #SocialEntrepreneurship #GlobalChangemakers #MannheimSummit #ImpactInnovation #YouthEmpowerment #CulturalExchange #SustainableFuture

🌍 Exploring Sustainable Tourism with the Tourism Lab by Give&Grow 🌱 Over the last six weeks, we at Velout took part in the inspiring #Tourismus #Lab (T-Lab) program by #GiveAndGrow. This course was packed with innovative tools, cultural insights, and strategies to rethink sustainable tourism 🌏✨. From exploring the concept of the "#MentalBackpack" 🎒—a metaphor for the cultural values and mental load we carry when traveling—to understanding how tourism impacts local communities and ecosystems, this journey has been eye-opening. Tourism is transformative, but it's vital to approach it responsibly 🌿. The T-Lab taught us how to align travel with #sustainability — creating meaningful connections without compromising cultural preservation or environmental well-being. We’re excited to integrate these insights into our mission of reshaping the travel experience for good 🚀. A huge thank you to give & grow gUG and the wonderful organizers who made this possible! 💚 Your dedication to education and awareness is helping us pave the way for a better tomorrow. Let’s continue creating impactful journeys—for ourselves, for others, and for the planet 🌍. 💬 Curious about the program? Let’s chat about it! 👉 Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ePAn7_BM #SustainableTourism #ImpactTravel #GiveAndGrow #TourismusLab #Velout #TravelTech #TravelWithPurpose #YoungEntrepreneurs #SustainableTravel #ConciousTravel #CulturalAwareness

🌟 All Episodes Are Out Now! Founders Odyssey #Podcast 🎙️ 🌟 Over the past seven weeks, we’ve had the honor of hosting inspiring human entrepreneurs on our #Founders #Odyssey Podcast, and guess what? All episodes are now available for you to dive into! 🌍✨ Each episode tells a unique story of #purpose-driven entrepreneurship—highlighting different life #journeys, #challenges, and #successes in diverse industries. From innovative tech founders to female empowerment coaches, our guests shared their insights, vulnerabilities, and passion for creating impact. 💡 💬 Why Listen? - Gain valuable lessons on leadership and resilience. - Learn about purpose-driven approaches across various fields. - Get inspired to follow your dreams, no matter your life situation! 🎧 Now it’s your turn! Check out the episodes, let us know your thoughts, and share your favorite moments! Together, let’s celebrate the magic of entrepreneurship. 🚀 #FoundersOdyssey #PodcastSeries #Entrepreneurship #PurposeDriven #Innovation #StartupLife #Inspiration 👉 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/egUfFR5C Let us know in the comments—what inspired you the most? 🎉 Huge thanks to all our amazing guests for sharing their stories. We’re grateful for your trust and insights! 💖 Cynthia Gaßmann, Agnieszka Pater, Gioia Lelli, Chandler Martin, Santa Bürkland (She/Her), Angela Melidoni, Belen Pistek

🌟 Web Summit 2024 - Part 3: The Heart of the Conference! 🌟 With over 75,000 attendees and endless opportunities, the Web Summit in #Lisbon truly transforms the way we think, connect, and innovate. But let’s dive into what happens inside the summit itself! 🔍✨ 🔸 Stages, Pitches, and Panels: The Web Summit features multiple stages covering topics like #SaaS, #marketing, #fintech, and more. It’s a mix of keynotes, panels, and live pitches, where startups present their ideas and get immediate feedback from investors. We didn’t have much time to listen to keynotes (thankfully, they’ll be uploaded!), but we managed to attend three live pitch sessions—an eye-opening experience to understand how investors think and what they value most. 💡💬 🔹 The Startup Showcases: The startup booths were buzzing with energy, featuring incredible ideas across industries. 🚀 We connected with Tripnly, TravelSpires, GemsAround.com, Bubbl, TravelTales, TravelPerk, Travelr, Boutique Setters, ShortTrips, Guidebook (Guide Group), and so many more! A huge shoutout to all the #TravelStartups representing at the world’s biggest tech conference. 🌍✨ 🔸 Pro Tips for Conference Planning: - #StartEarly: We began reaching out to investors and startups two weeks before the event. Planning wisely is key! 🗓️ - #BeSelective: Focus on quality over quantity when scheduling meetings. - #StayFlexible: Some of the best conversations happen unexpectedly—like meeting co-founders at booths or during quick breaks. ☕ 🔹 Meaningful Connections: The #connections we made were priceless: 🌈 At the community lounge we joined meetup prganized by i³ investing, and met the brilliant Sudha Kheterpal, who later gave us invaluable pitch feedback. 🙌 💡 We also connected with Ariane Landim from WA4STEAM, exchanging ideas and visions over coffee. 🔸 The Unexpected End to the Summit: Even after the Web Summit ended, the connections didn’t stop. At the Lisbon airport, we noticed Alexia de Souza—another attendee—wearing her Web Summit wristband. A quick glance turned into a two-hour conversation before our flight. Despite the exhaustion, it felt like a meeting of old friends: inspiring, insightful, and energizing. Thank you, Alexia, for taking the time to chat and continuing the spirit of the Web Summit. 🌍💬 🔸 The Food and Energy: The Web Summit organizers nailed it with diverse food spots and community areas! 🍴 Even though time flew by, everything was well-structured to keep us energized. 💬 Gratitude and Connections: To everyone we met—thank you for your insights, conversations, and collaborations. 🌟 This summit reminded us that the best innovations come from connecting with like-minded people. Whether it’s about travel, tech, or sustainability, the possibilities are endless. 🌍 Let’s keep building a better, more connected world—together! #WebSummit #Networking #TravelTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Velout #WomenInTech #Startups #SaaS #Lisbon

🌍 Web Summit 2024 - Part 2: The Power of Side Events! 🌟 When it comes to conferences as massive as the Web Summit in Lisbon (75,000+ attendees!), side events are the real game-changer. 🚀 They take the networking and learning beyond the conference walls and turn the entire city into a hub for #innovation, #connection, and #inspiration. Here's a glimpse of our side event journey: 🎉 Saturday Kick-Off: We joined a walking tour 🥾 and later the Hidden Garden Event, organized by the amazing staaake team. From casual strolls to insightful chats over pizza and drinks, these events created the perfect vibe to meet inspiring minds. A highlight? Connecting with Matt Brick, who instantly clicked with our mission and vision. It’s moments like these that pave the way for meaningful collaborations. 🙌 ✨ It’s also a joy to meet familiar faces, like reconnecting with Anna Maria Kochanska after more than a year—these conferences truly bring the global startup community closer! 🌎 👟 Monday Walks with Social+: We joined another walking tour, this time led by the brilliant folks from Social Plus (shoutout to their amazing team! Taylor, Rianne). When we saw us the next day, they welcomed us with friendship bracelets as part of their marketing, reminding us how small gestures can make big impressions. 💡 🚋 A Special Invitation by WeRoad: On Wednesday afternoon, we had the absolute honor of being personally invited by Fabio Bin, Co-Founder & CMO of #WeRoad, to join their private tram 28 experience in Lisbon. This close-knit event, organized by the fastest-growing travel community in Europe, took us on a journey through the rich history of Lisbon, all while connecting with the brilliant co-founders and team members of WeRoad. 💡 It was an incredible opportunity to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and understand their vision and drive. And who knows—this might just be the beginning of an exciting future collaboration! 😉 🌌 Night Summits: Once the conference lights dim, the Night Summits light up! From intimate community gatherings to larger social meetups, these evening events are the perfect way to connect in a relaxed atmosphere—building friendships, exchanging ideas, and making memories. 💡 Our Pro Tips for Conferences: - Research side events early 🗓️ - Have clear goals, but don’t be rigid—let the best conversations flow naturally 🗣️ - Not vibing with a chat? It’s okay to move on gracefully ✌️ - Enjoy the process! Networking should be fun, not a checklist. 📜 The Web Summit is more than just a tech conference—it’s a global community coming together to create, collaborate, and dream bigger. 🌟 Stay tuned for the next part of our journey, where we’ll dive deeper into the inspiring people we met and the incredible insights we gained! ✨ To be continued... ✨ #WebSummit #Networking #Velout #SideEvents #Startups #Innovation #TravelTech #Velout #LisbonSummit #Community #WomenInTech #Entrepreneurship #TravelAndConnect