TLDR: Otsy bridges social and travel, making user content instantly bookable. With 84% of Millennials and Gen Z planning trips based on social posts, Otsy seamlessly connects inspiration to booking. Backed by a powerhouse team led by a former Kayak VP and a multi-exited founder & CEO the platform is fully built, with 20,000 users and 1,000+ creators. Its AI-driven, commission-based model, paired with massive ad revenue potential, positions Otsy for explosive growth in the booming travel tech market. Las Vegas Venture Capital Fund, FundNV, led due diligence for the State of Nevada and invested in Otsy’s round, recognizing its potential for 50x returns.
Through the SPV managed by Silka Investments VII LLC, led by Eszylfie Taylor, we are securing up to $500K in capital to maximize impact in Otsy’s seed round and accelerate growth. Eszylfie, a top financial advisor and Million Dollar Round Table member, brings deep expertise in wealth management, risk mitigation, and strategic investments.
Why Invest
An extensive due diligence process highlights Otsy’s significant potential: Otsy taps into the booming $1T+ travel market, led by a proven team with $100M+ in revenue and a former Kayak VP who drove $70M in ad growth. Its AI-driven, seamless booking platform combines social media inspiration with instant action, positioning it for explosive growth. With impressive early traction and significant ad revenue potential, Otsy offers a rare investment opportunity. However, with investors quickly coming on board, availability in this round won’t last long.
Otsy is a social travel marketplace changing how travel is discovered, planned, and booked. By integrating social media-inspired content with advanced booking technology, Otsy streamlines the fragmented and time-consuming travel planning, offering a seamless end-to-end solution for travelers and creators.
With a scalable commission-based model, AI-driven personalization, and a patent-pending live pricing system, Otsy delivers a superior user experience. In addition to a 20% commission on bookings, the platform will generate significant ad revenue. Positioned for rapid growth, Otsy taps into the growing demand for social media-driven travel, aiming to lead in this evolving industry.
Founding Team
Founding Team
Michael DeLucca, CEO & Founder: A seasoned entrepreneur featured in global publications, with $100M+ in revenue, two exits, $2M+ invested, and recognized as a leader in tech innovation and experiential travel.
Eric Zaner, COO: Former Kayak VP who grew ad revenue from $30M to $100M and contributed to its IPO and $1.8B acquisition, specializing in operational scaling and innovation.
Matthew Goble, Head of Growth: Ex-Tesla Energy Sales Director who built top-performing teams, invested $250K, and helped raise $1M+ to drive Otsy’s growth.
Mariah Revis, VP of Finance: UNLV MBA with 10+ years of Fortune 500 financial strategy experience, specializing in budgeting, forecasting, and operational efficiency for sustainable growth.
Jim Weglin, Solutions Architect: A 13x Salesforce Certified Technical Architect with a Master’s in Management Information Systems from UNLV, invested $50K in Otsy before joining.
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Senior Data Scientist: Ph.D. in Machine Learning with AI deployment expertise, driving research-backed innovation to boost Otsy’s predictive capabilities and automation.
Advisor Spotlight
- Russ Sach: Founding executive at Expedia, scaling operations from $100M to $3B. An expert in strategic partnerships and corporate development, he drives growth and shareholder value.
- Evanthia Aldrich: VP of Field Marketing for Marriott, specializing in strategic marketing and brand activations. Experienced at Marriott and Hilton, she drives engagement, enhances customer experience, and elevates brand perception.
Board of Directors
Our five-person, neutral board brings diverse expertise in technology, operations, finance, cybersecurity, and travel.
- Michael DeLucca: Founder & CEO of Otsy
- Mariah Revis: VP of Finance at Otsy
- Ikram Mansori: Neutral – COO of Vets in Tech. Cybersecurity expert with NSA experience, later advancing Trust and Safety at Twitter and the Tech Coalition to protect user integrity and communities.
- Piotr Tomasik: GP Fund Investor – Co-Founder & COO of Tensorwave. Former Co-founder/CTO of Influential (exited at $500M). Now Co-founder/President of TensorWave, which raised a $43M seed round.
- Robert Wright: GP Fund Investor – Member of the Wright Family Holdings & Seattle Hospitality Group- owners of Seattle Space Needle, Kenmore Air Harbor, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, and Sheraton Grand Seattle.
Investor Highlights
Backed by leading investors, including FundNV, Battle Born Venture Fund, Granite Capital Partners, Teak Capital, and Seattle Hospitality Group.
Go-To-Market Plan / Traction
- 20,000 Users: Rapid growth with 1,000-2,000 weekly downloads and a 50% conversion rate into accounts.
- Creator Economy-Driven Growth: 1,000+ creators with 100M+ combined followers, led by Matthew Goble (ex-Tesla).
- Unique Positioning: 84% of Millennials and Gen Z are influenced by social media into bookings.
- Pipeline: 300,000+ bookable experiences across 170+ countries with real-time pricing and availability.
- Hypergrowth Potential: Taps into 760M+ Instagram travel posts and 223B+ TikTok travel views, currently unbookable elsewhere.
Market Background
The global travel tech market is rapidly growing within the $600B online travel industry.
Social Media Influence: Video content is the most trusted medium, with 72% of users booking trips after watching related videos.
Direct Competition: Competitors like Atmosfy and TrovaTrip raised $12M and $15M respectively, highlighting strong investor confidence in the space.
Business Model
Otsy operates on a commission-based model with the addition of a one-time booking fee and optimized ad revenue:
Competitors
Otsy’s key competitors include:
- GetYourGuide & Viator: Focus on travel experiences but lack Otsy’s social-media-first and creator-driven approach.
- Atmosfy & TrovaTrip: Early-stage platforms targeting similar markets but with narrower offerings.
- TripAdvisor & Instagram: Users may be inclined to stick with established platforms that offer parts of Otsy’s functionality, using them in unison.
Otsy differentiates itself with:
- One-click booking via live pricing.
- Integrated creator monetization ecosystem.
- AI-driven personalized recommendations.
Risks
- Competition: Established platforms like Viator and new entrants such as Atmosfy may innovate quickly. Household names like Instagram and TikTok could add actionable bookings to their platforms.
- Adoption Rate: Scaling creator adoption and converting social views into bookings will be critical. Keeping creator incentives high and having enough content available is key.
Due Diligence Report
Completed by FundNV and Nevada Battle Born Venture Fund.
