Turbopass founders make their exit

The start-up offers city passes that give tourists discounts and free entry to attractions. Now two investors have acquired a majority stake in Turbopass.

The founders of Turbopass have managed the exit. The investment companies SIG and RiKa have acquired a majority stake in the start-up. The founders Martin Bleich and Hinnerk Rott are leaving the management team and retaining a minority stake in the tourism start-up. The new managing director is Paul von Schubert.

The new shareholders want to expand into new tourism markets and broaden the product portfolio. The start-up currently offers city passes that allow tourists to visit museums for free or at a reduced price, take part in tours and use local public transport. So far, these Turbopasses are available in Athens, Barcelona, Dubai, Florence, Hamburg, London, Munich, Mallorca, New York, Paris, Rome and Venice.

The exit process was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, the start-up says it has come through the pandemic well, even though the tourism industry as a whole has collapsed. "Turbopass is excellently and flexibly prepared for changes in booking and travel behavior. With the new owner and management, our start-up now has additional power for the future," says Turbopass co-founder Hinnerk Rott.

Martin Bleich and Hinnerk Rott founded Turbopass in Hamburg in 2013. The founders financed the development of their company via bootstrapping.