Wertu emerged onto the travel scene, introducing a groundbreaking approach to sports-focused itineraries using artificial intelligence (AI). The startup, founded by Matan and Nir, strives to simplify the arduous process of planning sports trips by incorporating personalized elements based on travelers' preferences and AI-driven algorithms. With a 30-second pitch aimed at investors, Wertu addresses the challenges of coordinating sports trips, emphasizing the tedium involved in considering diverse preferences, time constraints, and various needs. The solution lies in Wertu's AI, allowing users to effortlessly create personalized dream trips within minutes, eliminating the typical headaches associated with planning such endeavors.

Wertu's distinctive strength lies in providing sports travelers with the utmost value for their money. The startup leverages its unique data, combining destination-specific information with insights into hotels, flights, and other service providers. This knowledge enables Wertu to tailor each trip based on the group's preferences, sporting proficiency, and budget. Despite its innovative approach, Wertu acknowledges the challenge of building trust as a new player in the travel industry. The startup's size may initially limit its bargaining power with suppliers, impacting fees. However, Wertu identifies significant opportunities within the booming adventure travel sector, projecting substantial growth from $6 billion in 2022 to an anticipated $81 billion by 2032.

The inherent threats to Wertu's success include competition with industry giants and susceptibility to external factors like pandemics, exemplified by the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry. From the customer's perspective, Wertu aims to alleviate the exhaustive process of planning sports trips, providing a streamlined solution that ensures users find the best deals in minutes. Wertu's strategic approach involves utilizing social media to attract customers, a tactic that has proven successful thus far. The startup substantiated the need for its services by engaging with numerous travelers, collecting feedback, and launching a lean product for validation. Currently operating as an affiliate, Wertu plans to shift its business model to become an online travel agency, offering a more comprehensive range of services for users to book directly on their platform.

The founding team, led by Matan and Nir, brings a wealth of experience in marketing and engineering, respectively. While Wertu is currently a small team of three, the startup acknowledges the need to address diversity and inclusion as it grows. Despite facing challenges in establishing partnerships with suppliers, Wertu believes its niche focus and the evolving landscape of travel behaviors position it favorably in the market. Looking ahead, Wertu envisions achieving strong unit economics within a year, poised for substantial growth. The ultimate goal is to make travel planning enjoyable and accessible to as many people as possible, whether within a small or large team, and whether as a private or public entity.