Turbopass founders make the exit

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

The founders of Turbopass have made the exit. The investor companies SIG and RiKa have acquired a majority stake in the start-up. The founders Martin Bleich and Hinnerk Rott are leaving the management and retain 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 has so far offered city passes, which tourists can use to visit museums for free or at reduced prices, take part in tours and use public transport. So far, these Turbopasses are available in Athens, Barcelona, Dubai, Florence, Hamburg, London, Munich, Mallorca, New York, Paris, Rome and Venice.

The Corona pandemic had delayed the exit process. Nevertheless, the startup said it had come through the pandemic well, even though the tourism industry as a whole had slumped. "Turbopass is excellently prepared for a change in booking and travel behavior with flexibility. 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.