Bob.io, Spanish tech service that transports and checks in luggage for passengers, raises €3 million

Bob.io, the Madrid-based air travel startup, has raised 3 million in funding to transform bag check, making airport logistics more streamlined and less stressful. The round included investments from K Fund, Big Sur Ventures, business angels Andreas Mihalovits and Carlos Domingo, as well as GAA Investments and TA Ventures.

The volume of air passengers will nearly double in the next fifteen years, from 4.4 billion in 2018 to 8 billion in 2035, according to the International Air Transport Association. The traditional baggage check-in routine will run aground, creating bottlenecks that make air travel and airport security even more hectic. Bob.io believes the solution is to rebuild the air travel experience around the customer, rather than simply building more airports with larger terminals. The Spanish startup, whose name stands for "bag on board," is offering a customer-centric, on-demand delivery service that consumers have grown accustomed to, thanks to giants like Amazon. If a passenger checks in for their flight at least four hours ahead of time, Bob.io will pick up the luggage at any point in the city and check it with the airline, for as little as €15. The sealed luggage will then appear, as usual, on the baggage claim belt at the destination airport. In addition to commercial agreements with several European airlines, including Iberia, Lufthansa, KLM, and AirFrance, Bob.io is partnering with travel agencies, hotels, and rental hosts to access a broader customer base. 

Founded in 2017, Bob.io currently operates in Madrid and Barcelona. The new funding will help the business expand to other areas and add on extra services. Felix Campano, the startup’s CEO, commented on what is coming next: “We are working on exciting plans with airlines and airport operators that will translate into an even better customer experience for passengers and generate a huge impact in the future of aviation. Our next natural move is the door-to-door service, taking baggage from the baggage belt at the destination airport and delivering it to the customer’s final destination. There is a strong interest in this service, 80 percent of our current customers have already requested .”