Updated
NileGuide, a travel startup that describes itself as a4‚¬Atravel agent, tour guide, and concierge wrapped into one,a4‚¬¯ has raised $3.5 million in new funding, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
When you look up a vacation spot on NileGuide, the San Francisco startup combines tips written by paid local experts with automatically-generated recommendations for restaurants, hotels, and more &8212' based on your personal preferences. You can also print out a customized guide or make your plans using the NileGuide iPhone app.
The company says it now includes 100,000 points of interests in more than 250 destinations. Back in May, NileGuide acquired travel Q&'A site Localyte and used it to launch a new a4‚¬AAsk Localsa4‚¬¯ service.
Ia4‚¬a4„ve emailed the company for comment and will update if I hear back. The filing doesn&'t say who invested in the current round. The company has now raised a total of $13 million, and its past investors include Austin Ventures, Lehman Brothers Venture Partners, Draper Richards, and KPG Ventures.
Update: I just spoke to chief executive Josh Steinitz, who confirmed the funding and said the money came from NileGuide&'s existing investors. He also said that my description of NilesGuide is a bit outdated &8212' the company is now super-focused on travel recommendations, with 100,000 experts &''chomping at the bit&'' to answer questions through the Ask Locals feature and 130 local editors.
&''There are a million travel guide sites out there,&'' Steinitz said. &''We can bring local expertise in two forms, professional and community. We hit both and no one else does that.&''
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Companies: Nileguide
Companies: Nileguide
Anthony is VentureBeat's assistant editor, as well as its reporter on media, advertising, and social networks. Before joining VentureBeat in 2008, Anthony worked at the Hollister Free Lance, where he won awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for breaking news coverage and writing. He attended Stanford University and now lives in San Francisco. Reach him at anthony@venturebeat.com. (All story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com) You can also follow Anthony on Twitter.
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