I had the pleasure of interviewing Tornike Tsiramua, Co-founder & CEO of Biliki AI, a second-time startup founder, bringing 5 years of entrepreneurship experience to the table, in addition to being an invited lecturer at the Business and Technology University (Tbilisi, Georgia) and a startup mentor in various local/international acceleration programs.
What motivated you to launch your startup?
During our journeys, my brother and I always followed a leave-no-trace principle and tried to leave places cleaner than we found them. These efforts had a local effect, but we wanted something more, something global. Using our previous startup experience, we started to research the market and found out that 90% of travelers actively seek eco-friendly travel, but half struggle to find it. Plus, tourism is responsible for 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. Here, we found an interesting challenge and opportunity for us.
To answer the market demand and overcome the challenges travelers are facing, last November, we launched Biliki AI. It helps eco-conscious travelers reduce their carbon footprint by 10% with eco-friendly travel recommendations.
Users only need to input their destination, dates, and interests. Within seconds, our platform offers AI-generated itineraries, carbon footprint estimations, options to book sustainable accommodations and experiences, and recommendations for eco-friendly transportation, including flights and car rentals, all tailored to travelers’ destinations, interests, and dates. This means users don’t need to search for different options on other internet sources. Users can also modify their interests for each day and make the trip even more personalized.
What is it that excites you about what you’re building?
That’s a wonderful question. We help people have a positive impact on the planet and future generations. Our travel recommendations help users leave a smaller carbon footprint, and we plant a tree for every booking they make through our platform. Trees are natural absorbers of carbon, and deforestation is a huge challenge for the world. Imagine a world where everyone has a daily, exhausting routine and just wants to have a well-deserved vacation with more eco-friendly options. Overcoming the gap and giving people this opportunity excites me the most. Within the next 3–4 years, I see millions of people happy with what we’ve built. The idea that we can influence an entire industry to move toward a more sustainable future, while still enhancing personal experiences, is incredibly fulfilling.
What has been your biggest challenge when growing your startup?
Nowadays, the biggest challenge is still marketing exposure. We are a Georgian-based startup, but we’re building for the world. For that reason, our target markets are the US and Western Europe, and we need to scale quickly to deliver our product to these markets.
What are your future plans for your startup?
We have a lean and agile tech team, led by co-founder & CTO, George Tsiramua. He and his team work on a daily basis to develop the product.
We plan to add new features to maximize our efforts and mission to make sustainable travel accessible for everyone, contributing directly to the SDGs by promoting responsible consumption, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting local economies and cultures.
We’re addressing a $120 billion market, focusing on North America and Western Europe, starting with California to experiment. To scale, we are seeking funds for market expansion and team growth.
Our guiding light is customer needs. Biliki AI is founded on the idea that every traveler deserves smart and fast travel experiences based on their preferences. Travelers can have Biliki AI — a travel assistant who knows their travel DNA.
Our long-term goal goes beyond a travel platform. Biliki AI is not just another travel platform; it is a one-stop sustainable travel planner that guides travelers into a new era of eco-friendly exploration. We plan to grow and stay private because we believe in this concept and that we can make a huge impact on the travel industry.
If you had to share “words of wisdom” with a founder who’s about to start their own startup, what would they be?
Don’t start Joking.
Start with purpose — “Why” matters more than anything. Building a startup is tough, and your purpose will keep you going during challenges. Make sure you’re passionate about solving a real problem. Surround yourself with a co-founder and a team who share your vision and value the same things as you.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
I am active on Linkedin, where I share my thoughts and experiences in the Startup industry, as well as trends in Sustainable travel and AI. It’s my passion to make a positive impact on my network and share some ideas and insights based on my experience. I am also on Instagram but it’s for fun and you can understand how passionate I am with traveling and football itself.
Source: Medium.com
