PE backs hyper-personalised, automated passenger communications for the travel industry

Referenssi

15below on its investment from LDC

Sell-side

Undisclosed

Rooli

Adviser to 15below on its significant investment from LDC

Sektorit

Teknologia ja teknologiapalvelut

Alue

Iso-Britannia

Clearwater has advised 15below, a specialist software developer in passenger communications for the travel industry, on its significant investment from private equity investor, LDC.

Founded in 2000, 15below is a market leader in hyper-personalised, automated passenger communications for the travel industry. Its proprietary software platform enables its customers, mostly airlines, to keep passengers informed at every stage of their journey with minimal human intervention. This includes operational updates on travel itineraries, booking confirmations and boarding passes, pre-departure communications, as well as real-time updates on schedule changes and unplanned disruptions.

The company supports more than 60 airlines, rail operators, travel agencies, and travel management companies worldwide, including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, and TUI, as well as being the strategic partner to global airline software system providers, Amadeus and Navitaire. Its automated technology is used to communicate with one billion travellers a year and has many benefits for airlines and their customers, with the removal of human error in passenger communications, as just one example. As a result, travel companies that work with 15below improve passenger experience whilst delivering cost savings and increasing customer loyalty.

Headquartered in Brighton, UK, 15below is led by Co-Founder and CEO, Nicholas Key with more than 90 employees across its international network in the UK, Australia, India, Germany, and Turkey. The business has grown rapidly in recent years as travel companies continue to invest and enhance the service they provide to customers.

With LDC’s backing, Nick and his management team at 15below will embark on their five-year growth strategy, which will include investments and further development in proprietary technology to support existing and new clients.

blonde female tourist checking incoming notification

We put our customers and their passengers at the heart of everything we do, and our ultimate goal is to help travel companies go above and beyond when it comes to communications and customer service. We’re incredibly proud of the business we’ve built over the last two decades and the strength of our proposition. LDC is known for its commitment to supporting growth and innovation in businesses like ours. Their ethos of placing a high value on people and culture resonates deeply with us at 15below, making them the perfect partner as we embark on this next phase of our journey. This partnership is not just a testament to our past achievements, but a vote of confidence in our vision for the future.
Nicholas Key, Co-Founder and CEO, 15below

The importance of technology in providing seamless, hassle-free communications to customers across sectors continues to increase, and this is particularly evident in the global travel industry which has bounced back significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Nick and the team at 15below are incredibly ambitious. They’ve not only developed a platform that meets this growing need but have cultivated a culture where talent can thrive and together this is fuelling the company’s growth. We’re excited to invest and support them to extend their capabilities, bringing to life more of the exciting ideas in their product roadmap.
Aylesh Patel, Partner and Head of South, LDC

15below has built a fantastic position as a best-in-class provider of passenger communication software to the global travel industry. It was an absolute pleasure to support the team as they selected a value-add partner in LDC, who demonstrated the same values that Nick and the team have installed across the business and have a track record of success in this space.
Jon Grant, Director, Clearwater

We are delighted to have worked with 15below to secure its partnership with LDC which aligns with its growth plans for the future. Working with the team was a pleasure, and this funding will support the business on its path of continued growth and strong momentum within the market. We’d like to wish 15below all the best.
Chris Smith, Partner, Clearwater