Atlys, a travel-focused startup, has successfully raised $12 million in a Series A funding round led by Peak XV Partners (formerly known as Sequoia Capital India) and Elevation Capital. The financing round also featured participation from existing investors such as Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), the musical duo Chainsmokers, South Park Commons, Pinterest founders, and other notable investors.
The primary mission of Atlys is to provide every Indian traveler with the opportunity to explore destinations worldwide without the hassles of complex visa procedures. Atlys has streamlined the visa application process, reducing it to less than three minutes for Indian travelers seeking visas to over 100 countries.
The newly acquired funds will be allocated towards expanding and enhancing Atlys’ platform offerings for travelers, increasing its customer base, and further bolstering the team through strategic talent acquisition. It’s worth noting that Atlys had previously secured $5 million in a seed funding round in 2021.
The global landscape is rapidly transitioning to electronic visas (e-visas), with over 60% of countries having already adopted this digital approach, and more nations planning to do so in the near future. Atlys is at the forefront of this transformation, providing a top-tier experience for travelers worldwide. With Atlys, travelers can easily initiate visa applications through a digital platform from anywhere in the world and receive their visas promptly.
As a passionate traveler himself, Mohak Nahta, the founder of Atlys, recognized the tedious, uncertain, and traveler-unfriendly nature of the traditional visa application process. He realized that a digital solution was imperative and embarked on the journey to create an app, leading to the inception of Atlys.
Atlys’ unique selling proposition lies in its ability to transform a typically anxiety-inducing process into a predictable one. Leveraging a vast dataset of over a million data points, Atlys predicts visa approval times, reduces rejection rates, and has developed the technology to make this a reality. As stated by Mohak Nahta, “We believe every Indian should have the opportunity to travel anywhere without the burden of complex visa processes. Atlys can help Indians get visas on time to over 100 countries and has reduced the time for applying for a visa to under three minutes.”
Atlys’ overarching goal is to eliminate uncertainty, excessive documentation, and high visa fees by offering a simplified solution for visa applications. Their traveler-centric approach provides a visa guarantee within a specified timeframe through their app and website, achieving a remarkable 99.2% success rate in delivering visas on time. Additionally, Atlys has formed partnerships with governments to facilitate visas and assist in reducing overstays.
“Travel is a rapidly growing sector in India, especially post-Covid, with over 10 million new passports issued in the country annually, contributing significantly to the number of aspiring travelers. Visa applications have long been a pain point for travelers, and Atlys is building a cutting-edge platform to revolutionize the visa application process for global travelers, reimagining international travel. We are thrilled to join Mohak and the team in their mission to empower travelers worldwide with more seamless journeys,” noted Shraeyansh Thakur, Principal at Peak XV.
Mayank Khanduja, Partner at Elevation Capital, added, “Atlys’ commitment to eliminating visa-related obstacles aligns with the growing aspirations of Indian travelers to explore the world. We are excited to partner with Atlys on its mission to revamp the visa application process and address broader travel-related challenges in India. Atlys’ strategy of providing a modern, cost-effective, data-driven visa service will encourage the quicker adoption of more efficient procedures.”
In addition to visa services, Atlys also aims to address various other pain points associated with international travel, including issues related to travel credit, remittances, and travel insurance.