Member Article

Startup that aims to give travellers 'luggage freedom' receives six-figure investment

London travel startup up Portr, the on-demand luggage transfer service, has received a £151k investment boost from investment group Vela.

The cash investment, which represents the third time Vela have contributed funds to the firm, has also coincided with a £3m raise from the tech startup’s existing shareholders.

Since its foundation in 2012, Portr has received column inches for its on-demand airport luggage transfer service AirPortr, which aims to give travellers ‘luggage freedom’ by providing secure luggage transportation to and from the homes, hotels and offices for residents.

The service works by allowing users to book online on Portr’s website or app, a driver arrives to pick up their luggage, users then make their own way to the airport where their bags are waiting for them.

The service, which is primarily aimed at business travellers, launched at City Airport in May 2014 but has since expanded to Terminals 2, 3 and 5 at Heathrow Airport, and Gatwick South Terminal, with plans to expand to more Terminals imminently.

Commenting on the initial investment in March, Executive Director at Vela, Anthony Laiker, said: “Portr’s model is very scalable and therefore has the potential to grow strongly from here as travellers recognise and get used to what is a shift in the way in which passengers get their luggage to and from home office or hotel and their destination at an affordable cost. Testament to this is the high percentage of repeat customers that Portr sees using the AirPortr service.”

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