Alex Cheatle

Balderton Capital expands its footprint in Europe with the opening of its new office in France! As a leading European fund currently deploying over $1.3 billion in Early-Stage and Growth investments across the continent, strengthening of the team with PE expert like Zoe Mohl, who came on board in 2022, Solène Brébant and Elena Moneta (formerly of Morgan Stanley and Partech) as Associate and Principal, in the new Parisian offices. With diverse backgrounds encompassing investment, strategy, and operational experience, Solène and Elena will leverage their expertise to target future sector champions and support them in their development and international expansion (mostly in the US) This move into France is a significant milestone for Balderton, transitioning from managing European operations out of London. However, this shift hasn't hindered commitment to investing in the French startup ecosystem, with over 20 notable investments including Vestiaire Collective, Aircall, and Payflow (YC S21). Balderton thrives by capturing alpha through early-stage investments and providing valuable support for these ventures across the Atlantic. Their upcoming investments will be heavily focused on AI, aiming to showcase and amplify French technological expertise internationally. Exciting times lie ahead as they continue to nurture innovation and drive growth in the European tech landscape! #finance #vc #balderton #privateequity #investment #Paris #startup #AI #technology #internationalgrowth Bernard Liautaud

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A Saturday morning reminder on the crucial role The BTA members play in economic growth. It’s also a Saturday morning reminder of the diverse range of services that TMCs provide to corporates as they manage their most valuable assets, their employees, safely, efficiently, sustainably and cost effectively around the globe. It’s a Saturday morning reminder that TMCs are the glue that stick the deliberately fragmented content back together again to serve the corporate buyer and traveller. It’s a Saturday morning reminder that in the corporate space, booking in direct via a TMC is absolutely the best. #businesstravel #corporatetravel #yourbta #travelmanagement #indirectisbest

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We don't need to be fancy to work with constrained budgets. AI can add efficiency and the reduced investment in comms is troubling, but I will never stop preaching the power of a good repurpose and connecting old dots in new ways. Sharing wins across all relevant channels and reframing core messages to be relevant for the current conversation is how I built a successful career in the scrappy and wonderful world of local nonprofit PR. These things are wildly fun. The constraints force you to be creative and to understand the culture, the media landscape, and your organization. It makes the media win taste that much sweeter. It builds your skills in storytelling, persuasion, and pitching. Big budgets have their own fun, but small budgets make better stories. https://lnkd.in/gsb7sZjb

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The integration of training, financial support, and attention to fundamental needs like housing and transportation illustrates a comprehensive approach to helping individuals rebuild their lives. Click for more https://bsapp.ai/IgsNMmhkl #Canterbury #socialmedia #program #Bluestrawberry #business #Ltd #initiative #company #marketing #social #entrepreneur #ensure #individual #support #Ai

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CEO weekly diary #60: La belle France, Capping growth, Robotics Gradually over the last couple of years I have become a regular podcast consumer - definitely slipping into middle-age 👴🏻. Due to the tsunami of content out there I limit myself to only a few, my favourites of which currently are The News Agents (featuring Jon Sopel who will be a speaker at Irish Tourism Industry Confederation - ITIC conference) and The Rest is History. In an entertaining & informative way the latter takes one through key historical periods - I am currently enjoying the series on the French Revolution. How crazy and passionate French politics was…and still is to this day in many ways. Ok not in the ‘guillotine that fellow’s head off’ or ‘let them eat cake’ way but nonetheless pretty dramatic - look at Macron’s ascent to power creating a political movement out of nowhere and his dramatic assembly election call over the summer to stave off the far right. The French do drama well. And pomp and ceremony so well as shown with their hosting of the Olympics. I couldn’t help thinking of this during a meeting with key French trade partners during the week, plenty of domestic excitement and turmoil yet their love and loyalty to Ireland is sincere. Many of the French still think romantically of an Ireland from ‘The Quiet Man’ and “le Connemara” is a must on any holiday itinerary. There is good access by both air and sea which is important and altho undeniably challenging times ahead France is still Ireland’s 4th largest tourism market and important we nurture it. The tourism industry here is anxious that Budget 2025 sees an increase in investment in the sector some of which would be well spent stimulating demand in La belle France. I was on Today with Claire Byrne (https://lnkd.in/eJfECPB9) during the week adding my voice to the calls for the passenger cap at Dublin Airport to be lifted. It makes no sense from a tourism, trade and investment perspective for an island that is a small open economy to limit access to its principal gateway. The only argument against increasing capacity might be on emissions but even this is debatable and in the CB interview I didn’t think TD Steven Matthews made a clear argument. Even he seemed to acknowledge that a ‘carrot rather than stick’ approach is the way to go and green fuel, newer aircrafts and quieter planes should be incentivised. Have I mentioned the ITIC conference 🙈? Well with good reason as it is an awesome line up (www.itic.ie/conf24) 💪. There’ll be an interesting segment on AI and technology and how this will impact Irish tourism. On that theme I saw a display of some impressive robots in action during the week that can be a great help to hospitality businesses in terms of service and cleaning, freeing up us mere humans to do more value-added stuff. All very interesting and something that will impact all sectors of the economy, tourism included…🤖

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It’s no secret that 8 Phase Consulting Ltd. And mysa have been working together to help corporations build safer programmes. What you dont know about yet is what else has been happening with the Travel Risk Academy …. Which we can’t wait to share! For now find out more about our why in this excellent video below…and please watch out for more news and updates in the coming weeks as to how you can get involved!!

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n my quest to keep people informed of the wider realms of Travel Risk Management and to help frame why there are serious concerns in the travel sector when it comes to security and safety, I am sharing this video, put together by one of our RM1/6 and (former) ISOAHG members Gary Hurst . The accommodation sector is particularly challenging for organisations, including youth travel (shout out to ISO31031) organisations to manage, there simply isn’t a recognised global standard that anyone works to. Larger organisations with resources can apply their own checks, but that doesn’t help the majority of travellers who belong to SMEs or other organisation types. And it’s costly, inefficient and subjective. The work we have been doing in our groups challenges this and is looking to make accommodation safer for all. This video beautifully illustrates why it’s important to the accommodation sector.

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The new government has growth at the centre of its strategy and corporations who deliver that growth need to travel to sell things, to negotiate deals, to build things, to meet colleagues, to innovate, to fix things, to research things, to develop things, to teach people, to learn from people, to protect people, to play sport, to sail ships and many, many other reasons. The BTA member TMCs are central to helping the UKs economic growth and we believe passionately that we need a robust and integrated transport structure to allow our members and their customers to travel efficiently around the country and beyond. To set our the investment and changes needed to do this we have submitted a document to the Chancellor, on behalf of our members, on what we would like to see in her first budget. From rail reform to SAF support, from regional airport investment to EV infrastructure, it’s all in the document you can read below. The BTA is committed to working with government, both national & local, to represent our members and their clients interests at every opportunity. #businesstravel #yourbta #corporatetravel #travelmanagement

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Totally agree!! Everyone build their trusted circle inside chat where intimate communication happen every single second. For specific industries like travel and insurance, these high frequency and low barrier conversation are vital and whats more important is the data-richness inside a chat conversation, which significantly add to the depth of customer understanding. That’s also the 1st principle on why we are building Caribou, https://caribou.travel as a chat-based 1-to-1 travel booking agent. Travel products are sparsely distributed, we believe by increasing the depth of understanding to customer and the buying context, we can excel in the accuracy of recommendations thus higher ROAS, which is the most important key metric on the success of every OTA. We are looking to expand, let’s talk if you are interested in with chat-commerce or travel 👊 #caribou #chatcommerce #datarich Edmond Yip Stephen S.Y. Wong Lionel Kwok

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#ipw2024 in Los Angeles is about to start! Sustainable Journeys are here to meet with people and places who want to enable UK visitors to explore the USA, California and Los Angeles in a better more responsible way, by sharing how to visit sustainably. Last year, in a pioneering move, Los Angeles joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), of which we're also a member. Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a key force in LA's vibrant tourism sector and joining GSTC underscores the city's commitment to harnessing tourism as a sustainable economic and community development tool. Generating significant tax revenues and supporting numerous jobs, the tourism industry is integral to improving the quality of life for all Angelenos. Under the former Mayor Eric Garcetti, the city launched the ambitious Green New Deal, aimed at achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045 and other significant environmental targets. This plan, along with the 2020 Tourism Master Plan (TMP), sets a comprehensive roadmap towards managing tourism growth responsibly—balancing economic benefits with environmental sustainability and community welfare. The TMP outlines strategies for a Sustainable Tourism Program, involving key partners like the Los Angeles City Tourism Department and the Department of Cultural Affairs, to mitigate tourism's environmental impact and enhance local stakeholder engagement. In addition, a GSTC Destination Sustainability Assessment launched for Los Angeles County, aiming to leverage the GSTC Criteria to boost destination sustainability and inform strategic stewardship initiatives. Adam Burke, President and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism, expressed enthusiasm about joining GSTC, emphasising the goal to ensure tourism in LA is managed sustainably, benefiting every community across the region. Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, commended LA for its proactive steps towards sustainability, noting the transformative potential of responsible tourism to preserve cultural and natural resources, bolster local economies, and promote global understanding and peace. By joining GSTC, Los Angeles sets a precedent for major cities to follow, highlighting the importance of strategic, sustainable tourism management in urban settings. This initiative not only promises to safeguard LA's diverse cultural and environmental assets but also positions the city as a leader in the global movement towards more responsible and sustainable tourism practices. I look forward to discussing with Francine Sheridan and Hayley French how we can focus on this approach to sustainable tourism to change the narrative with visitors to equally enjoy and care for the destination, supporting sustainable Los Angeles. Visit California Brand USA U.S. Travel Association #SustainableTourism The image is courtesy of LA non-profit The Gentle Barn Foundation Facebook. A hug with Crystal the cow is just one way to support the place you visit! Find out more: www.gentlebarn.org

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As part of my commitment to the environment I will plant one tree for every booking you make with me, to help get my travellers started on rebalancing their carbon footprint. Together we can make trips planet and people positive! There is #OnlyOneEarth and protecting it is a global challenge and responsibility. The task might seem huge but together with our partner @trees4travel we can start the process towards positive change. Did you know that every tree planted is also backed up with a share into United Nations renewable energy projects. Working together for a cleaner, safer planet, helping in the fight against climate change. For more information visit - https://bit.ly/3zwtb8b #sustainabletravel #leisuretravel #reforestation #renewableenergy #reduceemissions #climateaction #climatechange #tripstotrees #PlanetAndPeoplePositiveTravel #carbonfootprint #MoreThanJustTreesMoreThanJustOffsets

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As part of my commitment to the environment I will plant one tree for every booking you make with me, to help get my travellers started on rebalancing their carbon footprint. Together we can make trips planet and people positive! There is #OnlyOneEarth and protecting it is a global challenge and responsibility. The task might seem huge but together with our partner @trees4travel we can start the process towards positive change. Did you know that every tree planted is also backed up with a share into United Nations renewable energy projects. Working together for a cleaner, safer planet, helping in the fight against climate change. For more information visit - https://bit.ly/3zwtb8b #sustainabletravel #leisuretravel #reforestation #renewableenergy #reduceemissions #climateaction #climatechange #tripstotrees #PlanetAndPeoplePositiveTravel #carbonfootprint #MoreThanJustTreesMoreThanJustOffsets

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Eight years on from the Brexit referendum, it’s clear that the UK’s departure from the EU has led to significant economic challenges. With the election of a new Labour government, we now have an opportunity to reconsider our position in Europe. Rejoining the EU single market could help restore economic stability, improve trade relations, and enhance our global influence. Public opinion is shifting, with the majority now supporting closer ties with the EU. It’s time to align with the evolving will of the people and explore pathways to reintegration. The potential benefits are clear: greater trade opportunities, a stronger economy, and renewed diplomatic influence. While the political challenges are real, the rewards for British businesses and society as a whole are undeniable. Read more: https://lnkd.in/euQuikEN #Economy #Brexit #SingleMarket #RejoinEU #Trade #BusinessGrowth #Labour #FutureOfBritain #GlobalTrade #business #uk #eu

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It was great to be part of the UK Government’s International Investment Summit and to hear about Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ desire for a partnership with business and her prioritisation of economic growth.    As one of the fastest-growing listed companies in the UK, Flutter Entertainment ’s recent period of success demonstrates the importance of getting regulation and fiscal policy right to achieve these dual aims.    Taking the two separately, I very much agreed with comments made by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt that UK regulation must be streamlined and implemented at a greater pace under Labour. For example, we at Flutter support the current implementation of the Gambling Act Review, which requires ongoing collaboration on a number of key areas, but the fact that it was complicated by three years of delay caused great uncertainty for the UK’s sports betting and gaming industry.    Consistency around fiscal policy is also paramount as it allows businesses like ours to invest with more confidence. With plenty of speculation around the taxation of our sector this week, it was perhaps timely that I warned of the unintended consequences of high taxes in an interview with the Financial Times published today. While my comments about balance were in relation to the US, the point can also be applied to the UK operating environment and elsewhere – setting too high a tax rate reduces competition, weakens the consumer offering, and can lead to a reduction in tax revenue. This is in no one’s interest.    At Flutter, we stand ready to play our part through our brilliant businesses, such as Sky Betting & Gaming in Leeds and tombola in Sunderland. As a leader in the space, we can help drive the UK’s digital economy and lay the foundations for long-term success, aligning with the Chancellor’s quest for growth.   FT interview can be found here: https://bitly.cx/pDE3

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Are trains a viable option when you travel long distance? 🚄 Late last year we did an interview with train guru Mark Smith, founder of the famous travel site, Seat61. He sees a bright future for trains with investments in both high-speed rail and night trains to cater to the increasing demand from travellers. See link in comments, Mark is a fascinating guy and a role model when it comes to having sustained impact on an industry. Challenges that remain are; 💰 Perceived as a high-priced alternative compared to flying. ⚖ Not an equal playing field as airlines receive more subsidies. 🤷‍♀️ Complex booking process, especially for trips crossing many borders. 👨‍⚖️ Lack of adequate passenger rights in terms of cancellations. Do these challenges restrict you from taking the train? What would need to happen for you to consider it as the default option? #trains #traintravel #rail #travel #sustainabletourism #responsibletravel #deeptravel #transport

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As a DMC, local operator or accommodation looking to be promoted by your B2B clients your main focus must be to make it easy for your Tour Operator and Travel Agents to sell you. One of the simplest errors I see suppliers make time after time is providing information in PDFs and other forms of documentation that cannot be easily cut and pasted and without easy access to copyright-free images. When working on my agency "Curious Travel" I often stop putting a supplier's product on my website or social media if it is too much like hard work. For B2B sales and marketing, I highly recommend low-tech solutions like an itinerary copy in a word document and sharing those documents and related images on a system like http://ed.gr/cnik7 - followed up with great training and support of course :) :) #DigitalMarketing #DAMSoftware #TravelTechnology

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