View source for Company:Withlocals

{{Short description|Travel and holiday companies of the Netherlands}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Withlocals
| logo = Withlocals company icon.png
| type = [[Finance:Besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid|Dutch limited liability company]] (B.V.)
| industry = [[Sharing economy|sharing economy]], tour guide
| foundation = 2013
| location = Eindhoven, Netherlands
| key_people = Matthijs Keij (CEO)<br>
Marijn & Willem Maas (Co-founders)
| products = Private tours, local travel experiences
| revenue = 
| num_employees = 
| homepage = {{url|withlocals.com}}
}}

'''Withlocals''' is an experiential travel company that connects travellers to local hosts who offer private, personalised tours.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/withlocals-lets-you-travel-like-a-local-in-kuala-lumpur-with-personalised-tours-20171014-gz10ce|title=Withlocals lets you travel like a local in Kuala Lumpur, with personalised tours|date=2017-11-22|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017174148/https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/withlocals-lets-you-travel-like-a-local-in-kuala-lumpur-with-personalised-tours-20171014-gz10ce|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Coldwell |first=Will |date=2016-10-17 |title=Regional know-how: the best websites for contacting local guides |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/oct/17/best-websites-local-guides-holidays |newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}} |access-date=2019-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104012011/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/oct/17/best-websites-local-guides-holidays |archive-date=2019-11-04 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://travelmassive.com/blog/2019/04/an-introduction-to-withlocals/|title=Withlocals to become the global leader in personalized travel experiences|date=2019-04-04|website=Travel Massive Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021004253/https://travelmassive.com/blog/2019/04/an-introduction-to-withlocals/|archive-date=2019-10-21|url-status=live}}</ref> Describing itself as trying to achieve "mass personalisation"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eyefortravel.com/social-media-and-marketing/bye-bye-mass-tourism-hello-healing-touch|title=Bye-bye mass tourism, hello healing touch|website=www.eyefortravel.com|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017172653/https://www.eyefortravel.com/social-media-and-marketing/bye-bye-mass-tourism-hello-healing-touch|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sprout.nl/artikel/startups/serie-ondernemer-marijn-maas-scoort-35-miljoen-voor-withlocals-om-te-spelen-op-het|title=Serie-ondernemer Marijn Maas scoort 3,5 miljoen voor Withlocals, om in te spelen op het einde van massatoerisme|website=Sprout|language=nl|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017172718/https://www.sprout.nl/artikel/startups/serie-ondernemer-marijn-maas-scoort-35-miljoen-voor-withlocals-om-te-spelen-op-het|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref> rather than offering group or package tours,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Withlocals-data-driven-approach-to-private-tours-impresses-investors|title=Withlocals' data-driven approach to private tours impresses investors {{!}} PhocusWire|website=www.phocuswire.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017173133/https://www.phocuswire.com/Withlocals-data-driven-approach-to-private-tours-impresses-investors|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref> Withlocals is cited as an example of the role and impact of the [[Sharing economy|sharing economy]] on tourism<ref>{{Cite book|title=Meeting Challenges for Rural Tourism through Co-Creation of Sustainable Tourist Experiences.|last1=Agapito|first1=Dora|last2=Alemida|first2=Hugo de|last3=Campos|first3=Cláudia|publisher=[[Company:Cambridge Scholars Publishing|Cambridge Scholars Publishing]]|year=2016|isbn=978-1443898317|editor-last=Kastenholz|editor-first=Elizabeth|pages=51|chapter=Sensory perception and co-creation in rural tourism experiences|oclc=957317911|editor-last2=Carneiro|editor-first2=Maria João|editor-last3=Eusébio|editor-first3=Celeste|editor-last4=Figueiredo|editor-first4=Elisabete}}</ref> – particularly culinary tourism<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gökdeniz|first1=Ayhan|last2=Erdem|first2=Barış|last3=Dinç|first3=Yakup|last4=Uğuz|first4=Sabriye Çelik|date=January 2015|title=Gastronomi Turizmi: Ayvalık'ta Yerli Turistler Üzerinde Görgül Bir Araştırma|trans-title=Gastronomy Tourism: An Empirical Study on Domestic Tourists in Ayvalık|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309120814|journal=Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies|language=tr|volume=3|issue=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Vallbona|first1=Montserrat Crespi|last2=Pérez|first2=Marta Domínguez|date=2016|title=Los mercados de abastos y las ciudades turisticas|trans-title=Food markets and tourist cities|url=http://www.pasosonline.org/en/articles/910-crespi|journal=PASOS. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Heritage|language=es|edition=2|volume=14|pages=403|access-date=2019-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022100920/http://www.pasosonline.org/en/articles/910-crespi|archive-date=2019-10-22|url-status=live}}</ref> – and the [[Finance:Consumer behaviour|consumer trends]] for "authenticity" and "experiences".<ref>{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Jamie |date=2018-08-01 |title=Three apps and websites that offer travellers a local experience, and make sure money you spend benefits people on the ground |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2157662/three-apps-and-websites-offer-travellers-local-experience |newspaper=South China Morning Post |access-date=2019-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104012122/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2157662/three-apps-and-websites-offer-travellers-local-experience |archive-date=2019-11-04 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mody|first1=Makarand|last2=Koslowsky|first2=Kyle|date=2019-03-20|title=Panacea or peril? The implications of Neolocalism as a more intrusive form of tourism|url=https://www.bu.edu/bhr/2019/03/20/panacea-or-peril-the-implications-of-neolocalism-as-a-more-intrusive-form-of-tourism/|journal=Boston Hospitality Review|language=en|volume=7|issue=1|issn=2326-0351|access-date=2019-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022102702/https://www.bu.edu/bhr/2019/03/20/panacea-or-peril-the-implications-of-neolocalism-as-a-more-intrusive-form-of-tourism/|archive-date=2019-10-22|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Psychological ownership and consumer behavior|last1=Kovacheva|first1=Alexandra|last2=Lamberton|first2=Cait|publisher=[[Company:Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]]|year=2018|isbn=9783319771588|editor-last=Joann|editor-first=Joann|location=Cham, Switzerland|pages=197|chapter=Whose Experience Is It, Anyway?Psychological Ownership and Enjoyment of Shared Experiences|oclc=1034551562|editor-last2=Shu|editor-first2=Suzanne}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dv5fDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA26|title=The study of food, tourism, hospitality and events: 21st-century approaches|last=Maurer|first=Oswin|publisher=[[Company:Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]]|year=2018|isbn=9789811306389|editor-last=Beeton|editor-first=Sue|location=Singapore|pages=30|chapter=Tourism and food: Necessity or experience?|oclc=1040694357|editor-last2=Morrison|editor-first2=Alison}}</ref>

== History==
Founded in 2013 by brothers Marijn and Willem Maas in Eindhoven, the Netherlands,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ed.nl/economie/reisplatform-withlocals-uit-eindhoven-haalt-8-miljoen-euro-groeikapitaal-op~a53daff3|title=Reisplatform Withlocals uit Eindhoven haalt 8 miljoen euro groeikapitaal op|website=ed.nl|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017215022/https://www.ed.nl/economie/reisplatform-withlocals-uit-eindhoven-haalt-8-miljoen-euro-groeikapitaal-op~a53daff3/|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Verstegen |first=Gert-Jan |date=2017-10-11 |title=Eindhovense startup Withlocals haalt 3,5 miljoen euro op |trans-title=Eindhoven startup Withlocals raises 3.5 million euros |language=nl |url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/geld-en-werk/artikel/3693681/eindhovense-startup-withlocals-haalt-35-miljoen-euro-op |publisher=RTL Nieuws |access-date=2019-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104012603/https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/geld-en-werk/artikel/3693681/eindhovense-startup-withlocals-haalt-35-miljoen-euro-op |archive-date=2019-11-04}}</ref> the company was supported by startup accelerator Greenhouse group. it obtained $500,000 seed funding from Digital Equity group<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://startupbeat.com/withlocals-qa-id3458/7696/|title=With $500K in Seed funding secured, Withlocals wants to localize the travel experience in Asia|date=2013-09-23|website=StartUp Beat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017172644/https://startupbeat.com/withlocals-qa-id3458/7696/|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref> and a grant from the Horizon 2020 program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/news/withlocals-connects-travelers-locals-through-food-and-shared-experiences|title=Withlocals connects travelers with locals through food and shared experiences|date=2017-01-09|website=EASME - European Commission|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022104501/https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/news/withlocals-connects-travelers-locals-through-food-and-shared-experiences|archive-date=2019-10-22|access-date=2019-10-22}}</ref> It began operations by specifically targeting a market for sharing home cooked dinners across seven countries in Southeast Asia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://siamstartup.com/news/withlocals-co-founder-marijn-maas-aims-10000-new-home-dining-spots-across-asia/|title=Withlocals Co-founder Marijn Maas Aims for 10,000 New Home Dining Spots Across Asia|date=2014-05-16|website=Siam Startup|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017173528/https://siamstartup.com/news/withlocals-co-founder-marijn-maas-aims-10000-new-home-dining-spots-across-asia/|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.viaggiarelibera.com/viaggi-autentici-con-le-esperienze-withlocals-italia-e-mondo/|title=Viaggi autentici con le esperienze WITHLOCALS|last=M|first=Valentina|date=2016-01-13|website=Viaggiare Libera Turismo Sostenibile|language=it-IT|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022100920/https://www.viaggiarelibera.com/viaggi-autentici-con-le-esperienze-withlocals-italia-e-mondo/|archive-date=2019-10-22|access-date=2019-10-22}}</ref> It later received Series A funding of €3.5 million ($4.3M) in 2017, at which time it reported to offer 1,200 tour options with 900 local hosts in 24 cities – having changed focus to personalised tour guides.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2017/10/11/travel-experiences-marketplace-withlocals-picks-up-4-2m-in-series-a-funding/|title=Travel experiences marketplace Withlocals picks up $4.2M in Series A funding|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17}}</ref> In 2019 it secured Series B funding of a further €8 million at which time it was active in 30 cities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phocuswire.com/WithLocals-8-million-funding-round|title=Withlocals walks away with €8M to support peer-to-peer experiences service|website=PhocusWire|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017172639/https://www.phocuswire.com/WithLocals-8-million-funding-round|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://innovationorigins.com/nl/withlocals-haalt-e8-miljoen-aan-groeigeld-op/|title=Withlocals haalt €8 miljoen aan groeigeld op|date=2019-03-05|website=Innovation Origins|language=nl-NL|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017214828/https://innovationorigins.com/nl/withlocals-haalt-e8-miljoen-aan-groeigeld-op/|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref> Both rounds were supported by Dutch investment company INKEF Capital<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inkefcapital.com/portfolio/withlocals-2/|title=Withlocals|website=Inkef capital|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017172650/https://www.inkefcapital.com/portfolio/withlocals-2/|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref> and the latter by Keen Venture Partners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.keenventurepartners.com/portfolio/withlocals|title=Withlocals|website=Keen|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016160342/https://www.keenventurepartners.com/portfolio/withlocals|archive-date=2019-10-16|url-status=live}}</ref> A priority of the latest round of investment is to improve the Software localisation and range of tours offered in languages other than English.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://siliconcanals.com/news/withlocals-a-dutch-travel-scaleup-raises-e8m-to-expand-into-more-cities/|title=Withlocals, a Dutch travel scaleup raises €8M to expand into more cities|date=2019-03-06|website=Silicon Canals|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017214849/https://siliconcanals.com/news/withlocals-a-dutch-travel-scaleup-raises-e8m-to-expand-into-more-cities/|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref> As of mid-2019, Withlocals has more than 50 employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/04/linkedin-top-start-ups-to-work-for-in-the-netherlands.html|title=These are the top 10 start-ups to work for in the Netherlands, according to LinkedIn|last=Taylor|first=Chloe|date=2019-09-04|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017214844/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/04/linkedin-top-start-ups-to-work-for-in-the-netherlands.html|archive-date=2019-10-17|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Cities ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" class="center" caption="Images from various Withlocals tours">
File:Sharing a drink in Lisbon.jpg|Lisbon
File:Koi pond in Kyoto.jpg|Kyoto
File:Home dinner - Bali.jpg|Bali
File:Walking tour in Athens.jpg|Athens
File:Tastings Denpasar - Bali.jpg|Denpasar
</gallery>
As of mid-2019 the Withlocals platform has hosts offering tours in the following cities:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.withlocals.com/all-cities/|website=www.withlocals.com|title=All cities|access-date=2019-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021014508/https://www.withlocals.com/all-cities/|archive-date=2019-10-21|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
'''Africa'''
* {{flag|Morocco}}: Marrakech
* {{flag|South Africa}}: [[Place:Cape Town|Cape Town]]
'''Asia'''
* {{flag|Cambodia}}: [[Place:Phnom Penh|Phnom Penh]]; Siem Reap
* {{flag|Hong Kong}}
* {{flag|India}}: Kochi; {{wipe|Mumbai}}
* {{flag|Indonesia}}: [[Place:Bali|Bali]]; [[Place:Jakarta|Jakarta]]; [[Place:Yogyakarta|Yogyakarta]]
* {{flag|Japan}}: [[Place:Kyoto|Kyoto]]
* {{flag|Malaysia}}: Kota Kinabalu; [[Place:Kuala Lumpur|Kuala Lumpur]]; Penang
* {{flag|Nepal}}: Bhaktapur; [[Place:Kathmandu|Kathmandu]]
* {{flag|Philippines}}: Cebu; [[Place:Manila|Manila]]; Palawan
* {{flag|Singapore}}
* {{flag|South Korea}}: [[Place:Seoul|Seoul]]
* {{flag|Sri Lanka}}: [[Place:Colombo|Colombo]]; Galle; Kandy
* {{flag|Taiwan}}: [[Place:Taipei|Taipei]]
* {{flag|Thailand}}: [[Place:Bangkok|Bangkok]]; Chiang Mai; Chiang Rai; Nakhon Sawan
* {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}: [[Place:Abu Dhabi|Abu Dhabi]]; Dubai
* {{flag|Vietnam}}: [[Place:Hanoi|Hanoi]]; Ho Chi Minh City; Hội An; [[Place:Huế|Huế]]; Nha Trang
'''Australia'''
* {{flag|Australia}}: [[Place:Melbourne|Melbourne]]; Perth; [[Place:Sydney|Sydney]]
'''Europe'''
* {{flag|Belgium}}: Antwerp; Bruges; Brussels
* {{flag|Croatia}}: Dubrovnik
* {{flag|Czech Republic}}: [[Place:Prague|Prague]]
* {{flag|Denmark}}: [[Place:Copenhagen|Copenhagen]]
* {{flag|England}}: [[Place:London|London]]
* {{flag|France}}: [[Place:Paris|Paris]]
* {{flag|Germany}}: [[Place:Berlin|Berlin]]; [[Place:Munich|Munich]]
* {{flag|Greece}}: [[Place:Athens|Athens]]
* {{flag|Hungary}}: [[Place:Budapest|Budapest]]
* {{flag|Ireland}}: [[Place:Dublin|Dublin]]
* {{flag|Italy}}: Bologna; [[Place:Florence|Florence]]; Milan; Naples; Palermo; [[Place:Rome|Rome]]; Venice; Verona
* {{flag|Poland}}: Kraków; [[Place:Warsaw|Warsaw]]
* {{flag|Portugal}}: [[Place:Lisbon|Lisbon]]; Porto
* {{flag|Scotland}}: [[Place:Edinburgh|Edinburgh]]
* {{flag|Spain}}: [[Place:Barcelona|Barcelona]]; [[Place:Madrid|Madrid]]; Palma De Mallorca; Seville; [[Place:Valencia|Valencia]]
* {{flag|Netherlands}}: [[Place:Amsterdam|Amsterdam]]; Eindhoven
* {{flag|Turkey}}: Istanbul
'''North America'''
* {{flag|United States}}: New Orleans; {{wipe|San Francisco}}
* {{flag|Mexico}}: [[Place:Mexico City|Mexico City]]
'''South America'''
* {{flag|Argentina}}: [[Place:Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires]]
* {{flag|Colombia}}: Medellín
* {{flag|Peru}}: Cusco; [[Place:Lima|Lima]]

}}

==External links==
* [https://www.withlocals.com/ Official website]
* [https://teams.withlocals.com/ Official website for team building]

==References==
<references />


[[Category:Peer-to-peer]]
[[Category:Companies (Computing)]]
[[Category:Companies]]

{{Sourceattribution|Withlocals}}