Papaya was founded in mid-2022 by Kush Sodhia, Haakon Brekke, and Julian Timings. Kush and Haakon bring their industry expertise from working together at Boston Consulting Group Bangkok on consumer and food retail projects across Southeast Asia along with Haakon’s previous work with Zalora. Julian brings a wealth of technical expertise having previously founded food startup Polpa in Thailand which was acquired by Pop Meals.&nbsp;

"Hospitality was one of the hardest hit industries during COVID and recovery has been slow. Sales are only now starting to hit pre-COVID levels and there is still a 35% shortage of staff across the industry in SEA. The industry has also lagged when it comes to understanding customers in a data-driven way." said Kush Sodhia, CEO of Papaya. “We founded Papaya to help operators use technology to solve these problems and are excited to have BEENEXT and A2D Ventures as new partners on this journey”

Papaya’s ordering and payments platform allows hospitality (restaurants, bars, hotels) operators to grow sales on average by 20% while reducing staff work by up to 30%, all while learning more about their customer base. The digital ordering and payments platform ensures customers can dine at the pace they want rather than relying on the availability of staff. As they use their phones to order, pay, and create accounts, Papaya can provide unprecedented customer-level insights back to the merchants to enhance the overall customer experience.&nbsp;

In an industry where operators are used to suffering high upfront adoption costs with new POS systems (much of which is due to hardware investment), Papaya turns this norm on its head with a completely web-based and cloud-based solution that can work on any existing hardware. “It’s 2024, operators shouldn’t be forced down a niche hardware route, they should be able to access their operation and their data live on their tablet in their restaurant, laptop in their home, or phone on the go”, says Haakon Brekke, COO of Papaya.

Since its launch, Papaya has gained popularity among a number of cafes and restaurants across Thailand including <a href="https://www.timhortons.com/">Tim Hortons</a>, <a href="https://www.bartelsthailand.com/">Bartels</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fatboysushi/">Fatboy Izakaya</a>, <a href="https://www.thecommonsbkk.com/">The Commons</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vistrobkk/">Vistro</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/okasanbangkok/">Okasan</a>, and many others. With the new capital, Papaya plans to expand its operations to Singapore, enhance its integrated technology infrastructure, and invest in marketing efforts to grow its merchant base.

“Papaya has a unique vision for the future of dine-in experiences,” said Ankit Upadhyay, General Partner at A2D Ventures. “We are impressed with their innovative approach combining fintech, data analytics, and POS solutions at low costs to their customers, backed by a strong team that’s passionate about solving problems for the F&amp;B retail sector. We are excited to support Papaya as they continue to grow and redefine dining–experiences across Thailand &amp; beyond.”

For more information about Papaya, visit: <a href="https://www.papaya.co.th/">https://www.papaya.co.th/</a>

Papaya is an omni-channel ordering and payment platform for hospitality operators to scale their businesses. Papaya provides the best digital ordering and payment customer experience across dine-in, takeaway, and delivery channels while providing an unmatched value proposition to the merchant. Customers dine at their own pace without having to rely on the availability of staff. Merchants turn more tables, enjoy higher basket sizes, need less staff training, and have more time to focus on true service instead of admin work. On top of that, Papaya provides unprecedented customer-level insights (live view of repeat customers, repeat order rates, etc.) that until now have been unattainable.

BEENEXT is a Venture Capital fund managed by serial entrepreneurs that focuses on assisting founders with their operational experience, network, trust, unique perspectives, and capital. Its vision is to support founders to build legendary long-lasting companies. And its mission is to be the most trusted founder-centric partner. BEENEXT aims to establish a platform of founders, by the founders, and for the founders across the globe, primarily in India, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Since its establishment in 2015, the team has invested in over 300 companies globally. 

For more information, please visit:<a href="http://www.beenext.com/"> www.beenext.com</a>

A2D Ventures is Southeast Asia’s prominent early-stage venture capital firm, syndicate, and investing platform. The firm invests in innovative and impactful companies across various sectors, with a focus on supporting entrepreneurs who are building the future of Southeast Asia. 

For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.a2dventures.com">www.a2dventures.com</a>

Papaya, a Thailand-based omni-channel ordering and payments platform for restaurants, bars, and hotels, announces that it has successfully secured funding. This investment round, led by leading venture capital firm BEENEXT, alongside A2D Ventures, is to fuel Papaya’s growth and expansion. Papaya was previously funded by Global Founders Capital and The MBA Fund. This new round’s success marks a significant milestone for Papaya and its founders. Papaya was founded in mid-2022 by Kush Sodhia, Haakon Brekke, and Julian Timings. Kush and Haakon bring their industry expertise from working together at Boston Consulting Group Bangkok on consumer and food retail projects across Southeast Asia along with Haakon’s previous work with Zalora. Julian brings a wealth of technical expertise having previously founded food startup Polpa in Thailand which was acquired by Pop Meals.&nbsp;"Hospitality was one of the hardest hit industries during COVID and recovery has been slow. Sales are only now starting to hit pre-COVID levels and there is still a 35% shortage of staff across the industry in SEA. The industry has also lagged when it comes to understanding customers in a data-driven way." said Kush Sodhia, CEO of Papaya. “We founded Papaya to help operators use technology to solve these problems and are excited to have BEENEXT and A2D Ventures as new partners on this journey”Papaya’s ordering and payments platform allows hospitality (restaurants, bars, hotels) operators to grow sales on average by 20% while reducing staff work by up to 30%, all while learning more about their customer base. The digital ordering and payments platform ensures customers can dine at the pace they want rather than relying on the availability of staff. As they use their phones to order, pay, and create accounts, Papaya can provide unprecedented customer-level insights back to the merchants to enhance the overall customer experience.&nbsp;In an industry where operators are used to suffering high upfront adoption costs with new POS systems (much of which is due to hardware investment), Papaya turns this norm on its head with a completely web-based and cloud-based solution that can work on any existing hardware. “It’s 2024, operators shouldn’t be forced down a niche hardware route, they should be able to access their operation and their data live on their tablet in their restaurant, laptop in their home, or phone on the go”, says Haakon Brekke, COO of Papaya.Since its launch, Papaya has gained popularity among a number of cafes and restaurants across Thailand including <a href="https://www.timhortons.com/">Tim Hortons</a>, <a href="https://www.bartelsthailand.com/">Bartels</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fatboysushi/">Fatboy Izakaya</a>, <a href="https://www.thecommonsbkk.com/">The Commons</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vistrobkk/">Vistro</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/okasanbangkok/">Okasan</a>, and many others. With the new capital, Papaya plans to expand its operations to Singapore, enhance its integrated technology infrastructure, and invest in marketing efforts to grow its merchant base.“Papaya has a unique vision for the future of dine-in experiences,” said Ankit Upadhyay, General Partner at A2D Ventures. “We are impressed with their innovative approach combining fintech, data analytics, and POS solutions at low costs to their customers, backed by a strong team that’s passionate about solving problems for the F&amp;B retail sector. We are excited to support Papaya as they continue to grow and redefine dining–experiences across Thailand &amp; beyond.”For more information about Papaya, visit: <a href="https://www.papaya.co.th/">https://www.papaya.co.th/</a>About PapayaPapaya is an omni-channel ordering and payment platform for hospitality operators to scale their businesses. Papaya provides the best digital ordering and payment customer experience across dine-in, takeaway, and delivery channels while providing an unmatched value proposition to the merchant. Customers dine at their own pace without having to rely on the availability of staff. Merchants turn more tables, enjoy higher basket sizes, need less staff training, and have more time to focus on true service instead of admin work. On top of that, Papaya provides unprecedented customer-level insights (live view of repeat customers, repeat order rates, etc.) that until now have been unattainable.About BEENEXTBEENEXT is a Venture Capital fund managed by serial entrepreneurs that focuses on assisting founders with their operational experience, network, trust, unique perspectives, and capital. Its vision is to support founders to build legendary long-lasting companies. And its mission is to be the most trusted founder-centric partner. BEENEXT aims to establish a platform of founders, by the founders, and for the founders across the globe, primarily in India, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Since its establishment in 2015, the team has invested in over 300 companies globally. For more information, please visit:<a href="http://www.beenext.com/"> www.beenext.com</a>About A2D VenturesA2D Ventures is Southeast Asia’s prominent early-stage venture capital firm, syndicate, and investing platform. The firm invests in innovative and impactful companies across various sectors, with a focus on supporting entrepreneurs who are building the future of Southeast Asia. For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.a2dventures.com">www.a2dventures.com</a>

Venture Capitals

Software

Startups

Papaya, a Thailand-based omni-channel ordering and payments platform for restaurants, bars, and hotels, announces that it has successfully secured funding. This investment round, led by leading venture capital firm BEENEXT, alongside A2D Ventures, is to fuel Papaya’s growth and expansion. Papaya was previously funded by Global Founders Capital and The MBA Fund. This new round’s success marks a significant milestone for Papaya and its founders.

Bangkok-based FinTech Startup Papaya Secures Funding to Revolutionize the Dining Scene in Southeast Asia

Seaplane Asia offers unique and sustainable transportation solutions, providing air charter and amphibious seaplane services to connect remote islands and coastal areas. Their services aim to enhance accessibility, reduce travel times, and deliver unparalleled travel experiences while minimizing environmental impact. Besides travel and tourism, Seaplane Asia’s versatile seaplanes are equipped for medical evacuations, search and rescue operations, cargo and logistics, monitoring missions, and corporate charters. Their portfolio includes well-known brands like Siam Seaplane and Siam Scenic in Thailand and Samra Seaplane in Cambodia.

In addition to seaplane services, Seaplane Asia operates Jetboard Asia, distributing high-end electric surfboards such as the Lampuga, and Siam Aero Services along with Samra Aero Services, retailing Bose Aviation products and other aviation accessories.

Founded in 2019, Seaplane Asia's leadership team includes Capt. Lionel Mougel, Fabrice Mouton, and Dennis Keller, who collectively bring extensive experience from aviation, maintenance, and business sectors. With a strong team of global and regional advisors, and under the leadership of Ms. Worakanya Siripidej, CEO of Siam Seaplane Thailand, the company is poised for substantial growth.

The newly acquired funds will bolster Seaplane Asia’s growth in Thailand and support further expansion across Southeast Asia. The company has established strategic partnerships with luxury resorts such as InterContinental Phuket and Pattaya, W Samui, and Rosewood Phnom Penh, enhancing their service offering. Collaborations with marinas like Ocean Marina Jomtien and private jet service provider MJets further underscore their commitment to providing a seamless and luxurious travel experience.

Ankit Upadhyay, Founder &amp; General Partner at A2D Ventures, expressed enthusiasm for the investment:&nbsp;“We are thrilled to support this blue ocean opportunity led by aviation veterans. We firmly believe that Seaplane Asia’s commitment to sustainability and direct waterfront access not only promises to enhance connectivity and convenience but also to open up a world of untapped potential for tourism, commerce, and community development in Thailand.”

Dr. Tomas Koch, Founder &amp; Chairman at TK &amp; Partners:&nbsp;“I am inspired by the evolution of Seaplane Asia from its early days to its present success. This company is on track to make a substantial impact on lifestyle travel, enriching the experiences of tourists and residents in Thailand and beyond.”

Seaplane Asia CFO, Schalk van der Westhuizen, highlighted the growth potential: “We are thrilled about the immense growth potential awaiting us in Southeast Asia. This investment round not only fortifies our presence but also accelerates our journey toward unlocking opportunities in this vibrant region.”

Seaplane Asia Limited, a pioneering lifestyle aviation enterprise established in 2019, is transforming the industry by providing uniquely memorable experiences to esteemed guests primarily through premium amphibious seaplane operations. Backed by a diverse set of investors, including aviation and business executives and firms, Seaplane Asia executes through its Hong Kong-based holding company, in collaboration with several leading partners, to deliver unparalleled services and world-class expertise.

With a mission to safely transport guests to their destinations while saving them valuable time, Seaplane Asia has established a strong presence in the region. The company’s portfolio includes Siam Seaplane in Thailand, Samra Seaplane in Cambodia, and the lifestyle brand Jetboard Asia, which exclusively distributes high-end electric-powered water sports and boats. Additionally, Siam Aero Services, a distributor for Bose Aviation, provides consultancy services to the region. There are also preparations ongoing to enter the Indonesian and Philippines markets. With over 60 leading hotel partners, global media coverage, and active regional marketing, Seaplane Asia is poised to make a significant impact in the global market and deliver unrivaled experiences.

TK &amp; Partners is a private venture capital firm focused on achieving exceptional performance for start-ups in Southeast Asia. We are founded and run by highly experienced leaders from top management consultants, corporations, finance companies, and start-ups in Southeast Asia and beyond. Our mission is to do much more than simply invest. We are dedicated to bringing the very best of our experience, expertise, and network to select exceptional startups and founders and partner with them to grow faster, bigger, and better.

A2D Ventures is Southeast Asia’s prominent early-stage venture capital firm, angel syndicate, and angel investing platform. The firm invests in innovative and impactful companies across various sectors, with a focus on supporting entrepreneurs who are building the future of Southeast Asia.

Email: <a href="mailto:contact@seaplaneasia.com">contact@seaplaneasia.com</a>&nbsp;

Website: <a href="https://seaplaneasia.com/">www.seaplaneasia.com</a>

Email: <a href="mailto:contact@tk-partners.net">contact@tk-partners.net</a>

Website: <a href="http://www.tk-partners.co">www.tk-partners.co</a>&nbsp;

Email: <a href="mailto:contact@a2dventures.com">contact@a2dventures.com</a>&nbsp;

Website: <a href="https://www.a2dventures.com">www.a2dventures.com</a>&nbsp;

Seaplane Asia, a pioneering seaplane and lifestyle company set to transform air travel and experiences in Southeast Asia, today announced the successful closing of its latest funding round. The round was led by TK & Partners, a leading venture capital firm in Southeast Asia, and A2D Ventures, a prominent Southeast Asian early-stage venture capital firm and angel investing platform, alongside the participation of several other investors. This funding aims to revolutionize waterfront accessibility and travel experiences across Southeast Asia. Seaplane Asia offers unique and sustainable transportation solutions, providing air charter and amphibious seaplane services to connect remote islands and coastal areas. Their services aim to enhance accessibility, reduce travel times, and deliver unparalleled travel experiences while minimizing environmental impact. Besides travel and tourism, Seaplane Asia’s versatile seaplanes are equipped for medical evacuations, search and rescue operations, cargo and logistics, monitoring missions, and corporate charters. Their portfolio includes well-known brands like Siam Seaplane and Siam Scenic in Thailand and Samra Seaplane in Cambodia.In addition to seaplane services, Seaplane Asia operates Jetboard Asia, distributing high-end electric surfboards such as the Lampuga, and Siam Aero Services along with Samra Aero Services, retailing Bose Aviation products and other aviation accessories.Founded in 2019, Seaplane Asia's leadership team includes Capt. Lionel Mougel, Fabrice Mouton, and Dennis Keller, who collectively bring extensive experience from aviation, maintenance, and business sectors. With a strong team of global and regional advisors, and under the leadership of Ms. Worakanya Siripidej, CEO of Siam Seaplane Thailand, the company is poised for substantial growth.The newly acquired funds will bolster Seaplane Asia’s growth in Thailand and support further expansion across Southeast Asia. The company has established strategic partnerships with luxury resorts such as InterContinental Phuket and Pattaya, W Samui, and Rosewood Phnom Penh, enhancing their service offering. Collaborations with marinas like Ocean Marina Jomtien and private jet service provider MJets further underscore their commitment to providing a seamless and luxurious travel experience.<img style="width: 100%;" src="https://vritimes-public.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/production/804b17d0df1a5e343470741dd76516c84b9b716ee814566d794b8e89ee3c325a/Rendering%20high%20quality%20PLA2.jpg" alt="Image" />Ankit Upadhyay, Founder &amp; General Partner at A2D Ventures, expressed enthusiasm for the investment:&nbsp;“We are thrilled to support this blue ocean opportunity led by aviation veterans. We firmly believe that Seaplane Asia’s commitment to sustainability and direct waterfront access not only promises to enhance connectivity and convenience but also to open up a world of untapped potential for tourism, commerce, and community development in Thailand.”Dr. Tomas Koch, Founder &amp; Chairman at TK &amp; Partners:&nbsp;“I am inspired by the evolution of Seaplane Asia from its early days to its present success. This company is on track to make a substantial impact on lifestyle travel, enriching the experiences of tourists and residents in Thailand and beyond.”Seaplane Asia CFO, Schalk van der Westhuizen, highlighted the growth potential: “We are thrilled about the immense growth potential awaiting us in Southeast Asia. This investment round not only fortifies our presence but also accelerates our journey toward unlocking opportunities in this vibrant region.”About Seaplane AsiaSeaplane Asia Limited, a pioneering lifestyle aviation enterprise established in 2019, is transforming the industry by providing uniquely memorable experiences to esteemed guests primarily through premium amphibious seaplane operations. Backed by a diverse set of investors, including aviation and business executives and firms, Seaplane Asia executes through its Hong Kong-based holding company, in collaboration with several leading partners, to deliver unparalleled services and world-class expertise.With a mission to safely transport guests to their destinations while saving them valuable time, Seaplane Asia has established a strong presence in the region. The company’s portfolio includes Siam Seaplane in Thailand, Samra Seaplane in Cambodia, and the lifestyle brand Jetboard Asia, which exclusively distributes high-end electric-powered water sports and boats. Additionally, Siam Aero Services, a distributor for Bose Aviation, provides consultancy services to the region. There are also preparations ongoing to enter the Indonesian and Philippines markets. With over 60 leading hotel partners, global media coverage, and active regional marketing, Seaplane Asia is poised to make a significant impact in the global market and deliver unrivaled experiences.About TK &amp; PartnersTK &amp; Partners is a private venture capital firm focused on achieving exceptional performance for start-ups in Southeast Asia. We are founded and run by highly experienced leaders from top management consultants, corporations, finance companies, and start-ups in Southeast Asia and beyond. Our mission is to do much more than simply invest. We are dedicated to bringing the very best of our experience, expertise, and network to select exceptional startups and founders and partner with them to grow faster, bigger, and better.About A2D VenturesA2D Ventures is Southeast Asia’s prominent early-stage venture capital firm, angel syndicate, and angel investing platform. The firm invests in innovative and impactful companies across various sectors, with a focus on supporting entrepreneurs who are building the future of Southeast Asia.For inquiries, contact:&nbsp;Seaplane AsiaEmail: <a href="mailto:contact@seaplaneasia.com">contact@seaplaneasia.com</a>&nbsp;Website: <a href="https://seaplaneasia.com/">www.seaplaneasia.com</a>TK &amp; PartnersEmail: <a href="mailto:contact@tk-partners.net">contact@tk-partners.net</a>Website: <a href="http://www.tk-partners.co">www.tk-partners.co</a>&nbsp;A2D VenturesEmail: <a href="mailto:contact@a2dventures.com">contact@a2dventures.com</a>&nbsp;Website: <a href="https://www.a2dventures.com">www.a2dventures.com</a>&nbsp;

Advertising / Promotion / PR

Airlines / Aviation

Seaplane Asia, a pioneering seaplane and lifestyle company set to transform air travel and experiences in Southeast Asia, today announced the successful closing of its latest funding round. The round was led by TK & Partners, a leading venture capital firm in Southeast Asia, and A2D Ventures, a prominent Southeast Asian early-stage venture capital firm and angel investing platform, alongside the participation of several other investors. This funding aims to revolutionize waterfront accessibility and travel experiences across Southeast Asia.