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Tumodo Secures $35 Million To Transform MENA Business Travel
The B2B travel platform combines data science, user-friendly design, and world-class service to bring businesses and employees the best travel experiences.
Tumodo, an innovative business travel platform founded in 2023, has announced the successful completion of a $35 million pre-seed funding round, co-led by prominent angel investors focused on the MENA region.
The substantial injection of capital will serve as a catalyst for Tumodo’s expansion in the UAE market, continued product development, and the exploration of new partnership prospects. Additionally, the company has ambitious plans to extend its reach across 25 countries worldwide by 2026.
Tumodo offers businesses a streamlined solution to book flights and accommodation for hundreds of employees in under two minutes. Notably, the platform provides complete transparency, free from hidden fees, allowing businesses to manage expenses with greater precision. The company is also working on an AI feature to simplify trip planning, offering seamless integration with corporate HR systems.
Stan Klyuy, Tumodo’s Chief Commercial Officer, explained, “[Tumodo’s] mission is to contribute to the MENA business travel market, ensuring not only its rapid recovery but also positioning it as a leader in technological innovation. We facilitate the establishment of efficient business processes, optimize travel expense management, and bolster employee productivity while ensuring compliance with travel policies. On average, our clients achieve a remarkable 35% reduction in their business travel expenses”.
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Tumodo has already gained the trust of over 100 businesses in the MENA region, boasting connectivity to major distribution channels, global hotel chains, and collaborations with over 400 airlines. In addition, Tumodo’s support specialists are available to assist in trip organization, helping to meet travel objectives while maximizing return on investment.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, even during the pandemic, business travel expenditures surpassed leisure travel spending. During 2021-2022, the growth rate of the business travel market exceeded that of leisure travel by 1-10% in many regions, reaching nearly 15% in the Middle East market.
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AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs
Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.
AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.
The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.
“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.
The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.
To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.
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Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.
Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.
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