Otamiser Secures $3 Million for Global Expansion

Belgium-based Otamiser, the world’s first online travel agency (OTA) ranking management platform, has raised $3 million in its first funding round. Led by Pitchdrive VC, this funding round will fuel Otamiser’s global expansion efforts. Pitchdrive, an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in technology startups, brings the expertise of leaders Wim Derkinderen, Boris Bogaert, and Koen Christiaens.

The fresh capital will support Otamiser’s ambition to scale its reach to 1,000 hotels and 100,000 short-term rentals worldwide by bolstering its commercial team. Currently, the platform is utilized by over 76 hoteliers and property management companies managing more than 10,000 units across nine countries.

Otamiser, since its launch in 2022, has shown remarkable growth, achieving an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of €1.8 million ($1.9 million USD) with a team of 32 employees, all without external funding. The platform enhances revenue for hoteliers and property managers by improving their OTA rankings and optimizing revenue management, leading to an average occupancy rate increase of 11 percent and a 24 percent rise in overall profits.

The leadership team at Otamiser includes CEO Bart-Jan Leyt, co-founder and CRO Korneel Defauw, CTO Lucas Ballyn, CCO Nils Casteur, and COO Jarne Vancompernolle. The company plans to enhance its existing data-driven tools and introduce a new AI-driven product for Airbnb operators, alongside expanding its commercial team to rapidly capture market share.

CEO Bart-Jan Leyts stated, “This raise is a testament to our innovative approach and the market’s need for our platform. With nearly 75 percent of bookings coming through platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb, positioning on these platforms is crucial. There is a huge demand from hoteliers and property managers to rank higher on OTAs. With this new capital, we’re going to enhance our existing Otamiser data-driven tools and launch a new AI-driven product for Airbnb operators. We will also expand our commercial team to capture market share quickly. We’re determined to transform the way the hospitality industry leverages online booking platforms. With Pitchdrive VC as our partner, we’re in the perfect position to ramp up our international expansion.”

Investors in this round include Stijn Christiaens, co-founder of Collibra; Jacob Quartier, formerly of Showpad; Peter van Praet, founder of Bavet; Viktor De Maertelaere of Hospitality House hotel chain; Lorenz Bogaert, entrepreneur behind Netlog and StarApps; and Henchman founders Jorn Vanysacker and Gilles Mattelin.

Pitchdrive VC co-founder Wim Derkinderen remarked, “From the first contact with Otamiser, we realised how much potential this team has. Their relentless drive, vision, and execution power—almost $2 million ARR accomplished fully bootstrapped—combined with their dedication is very uncommon and extremely promising. They operate in the enormous market of hospitality with very big upwards potential. Pitchdrive is not only leading the first funding round of Otamiser but we’re also excited to support them into the next phase of growth.”

Korneel Defauw, co-founder and CRO of Otamiser, added, “Just having a website used to be enough in hospitality but now, if you don’t rank high, you can be dooming yourself to weak occupancy and rates forever. On OTAs, around three-quarters of bookings can be claimed by the top 15 listings, so good positioning is, without question, one of the most important things an operator or property manager must achieve. By securing those coveted top spots, we significantly increase our customers’ chances of attracting more bookings and maximising revenue. This strategic advantage has become a key priority for everyone because the market today is so competitive.”