Cape Town-based insurance startup Hepstar has been selected to participate in the Plug and Play accelerator programme in Silicon Valley.
Hepstar is a tech-based travel insurance company that offers travel merchants a central point of call for accessing travel insurance content from multiple providers across multiple residencies.
It was among the 20 startups handpicked for the Plug and Play programme – which claims to be the largest in the world – from over 1,000 applicants globally.
The programme will see Hepstar connect with corporate partners in the insurance space.
“We are really excited about this opportunity. With partners like Turkish Airlines, Carlson Wagolit, TUI Group, Lufthansa and jetBlue Technology Ventures, Plug and Play provides a great opportunity to showcase our capabilities to some of the largest players in the travel sector,” said Hepstar chief operating officer (COO) Claudia Snyman.
“In regards to new modes of distribution for the travel insurance market, Hepstar’s strategy may be exactly the answer carriers and airlines are looking for,” said Kevin Wang, head of travel for Plug and Play Ventures.
Disrupt Africa reported in February of last year Hepstar received US$$2 million in funding from Amadeus Capital Partners, which it said it would use to expand its global reach, accelerate its tech development and grow its brand.
Key Hepstar clients include CarTrawler, South African Airways, ClickBus, IATI, Flightsite and Travelstart, while the company has expanded outside of South Africa.
