EL AL and JetBlue venture arms have unveiled the first five startups that will go through the Navigator accelerator program.
Navigator was created earlier this year via the EL AL investment arm, Cockpit Innovation, and JetBlue Technology Ventures, the airline's investment arm.
The first wave of startups, who each receive $50,000, will go through a four-month program with three months in Israel and a month in the Silicon Valley.
The selected startups are:
Cambiu - an Israel-based marketplace for currency exchange aiming to change how people buy currency.
Voyjer -an Israel-based platform of local experts that creates customised travel itineraries for travellers. Users provide the startup with what they want and are then matched with a local expert to provide the trip plan including tickets and reservations. 30SecondsToFly -a US-based startup with an articifical intelligence assistant 'Claire' for travel managers to book and take care of traveller trips including managing travel policy, expenses and duty of care.
SeatAssignMate - a US-based technology company specialising in airline and travel distribution. The technology uses IATA NDC to provide a universal check-in email with a live seatmap and ancillaries.
SWITCH.CM - UK-based technology company specialises in hotel API architecture and distribution. The startup enables airlines to automate hotel reservations and ground transport arrangements when flights are disrupted.
During the four-month accelerator program the startups will be able to test their products and services through travel and aviation companies.
In addition, selected program graduates may be offered additional business development for eight months through joint venture initiatives.