Afro-Latina Entrepreneur Solves Airport Accessibility Issues
Veronica Woodruff, an Afro-Latina entrepreneur, has taken her experience as a flight attendant and transformed it into a groundbreaking tech solution.
Her company, Travelsist, is an AI-powered app that provides on-demand travel assistance at airports, making air travel more accessible for everyone.
“We’re on a mission to transform the travel tech landscape by leveraging innovative solutions to enhance airport experiences and make travel more inclusive.”
– Veronica Woodruff, Founder of Travelsist
From Observation to Innovation
During her decade-long career as a flight attendant, Woodruff witnessed firsthand the various obstacles passengers faced, particularly those with small children or special needs.
This inspired her to develop a solution that would make the airport experience smoother and more inclusive for all travelers.
A Mentor’s Guidance and a Personal Epiphany
Woodruff’s entrepreneurial journey began when a tech mentor recognized her potential and guided her through her first pitch session.
However, it was a pivotal moment when an investor challenged her to “solve a problem of her own” that truly ignited her passion for entrepreneurship.
Leveraging AI for Inclusive Travel Solutions
Travelsist is an AI-powered platform that acts as a travel companion, helping users navigate airports with ease.
Whether it’s a family with young children, someone with mobility challenges, or a VIP traveler, the app connects users with assistants who can guide them from airport drop-off to boarding the plane.
Venture Capital Backing and Accelerator Support
Woodruff’s innovative efforts have garnered significant attention, securing $1.1 million in venture capital funding. Additionally, Travelsist has participated in prestigious accelerator programs such as J.P. Morgan & Techstars and The Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) in conjunction with The Rockefeller Foundation’s Opportunity Collective (ROC).
Empowering Women and Fostering Inclusive Employment
Woodruff’s commitment to empowering women and creating inclusive employment opportunities is evident in Travelsist’s hiring practices. The company employs contractors from surrounding opportunity zones, with many of them being single mothers.
“The airport provides one of the safest environments for people to work in. It also provides the most jobs in every city and for women, we’re providing flexible, safe, competitive work options.”
– Veronica Woodruff
As Travelsist continues to expand, Veronica Woodruff’s vision of transforming the travel tech landscape and making air travel more accessible for everyone is becoming a reality.
