Bristol-based online tour operator Heidi has raised £5.6 million in funding.
Heidi’s technology gives customers complete flexibility to create their own bespoke package: they can choose from over 6,000 properties in over 400 resorts, select their departure date and length of stay, and sort by features such as snow depth or proximity to the slopes. Customers can also book group trips where members fly in from various locations, and add-ons such as lift passes and ski rentals.
Heidi was founded in 2018 by brothers Marcus and Alexander Brandt, avid skiers with 10 years experience working in the travel industry.
With most operators only offering Saturday departures, they noticed a gap in the market for an online operator that could offer a more flexible service, so they raised funding from family and friends to launch the platform.
Heidi CEO Marcus Brandt said:
“The launch of Heidi was born out of our own frustration as avid skiers wanting to hit the slopes at days and times that fit our schedules.
Having started with limited investment and grown the company to its current size, we are now ready to take it to the next level. Our goal is to more than double our size over the next few years and become one of the top two ski travel companies.”
The company currently employs 44 staff and expects revenue to grow from £8.8m in the year to April 2022 to £37m in 2024.
Mercia Ventures led the round with participation from Active Partners and private investors.
As part of the deal, Mercia appointed Sarah Doyle, who has held senior roles at a number of consumer brands, as chair, and Miles Hill and Michael Revis, former CEO and CTO of Sykes Cottages, as non-executive directors.
Jan Oosthuizen of Mercia Ventures said:
“Marcus and Alexander have built a great business with strong values and a great culture.
“Heidi offers a unique proposition that appeals to both package holiday buyers who want more flexibility and independent travellers who want to book everything in one place.”
Billy Fox, an early stage investor at Active Partners, added:*
“With its unique approach to ski holiday bookings and in-house technology, Marcus & Alexander found product-market fit in a large, underserved market.”
The funding will enable the company to further strengthen its platform, expand its customer service team and create more than 20 jobs over the next 12 months.
Main image: Sarah Doyle, Adam Watts, Marcus Brandt, Jan Oosthuizen and Alexander Brandt. Photo: Uncredited.
