TRIPSODA, a Korean startup specializing in travel community commerce, has secured bridge funding through a SAFE investment from KAIST Venture Investment (KVI). A SAFE investment allows new shares to be issued based on the company’s future valuation during subsequent funding rounds, without determining the current company value.

Joon-Hyeon Ahn, Director at KVI and lead investor in this round, said, “TRIPSODA has consistently attracted users by understanding the unique needs of individual travelers seeking companionship. It was impressive to see the validation of Product-Market Fit (PMF) through the integration of differentiated Personal Branding (PB) products.” He added, “Given the market’s focus on high-engagement products, the conventional OTA (Online Travel Agency) bulk sales model isn’t as effective. This is where TRIPSODA demonstrates strong competitive advantages.”

TRIPSODA CEO, Cho Won-il, noted, “In the year since our seed investment, our key metrics have more than tripled. This new investment will be used to aggressively expand our adventure product offerings and strengthen our community connections. We aim to build a significant economic moat in the industry.” With this latest round, TRIPSODA’s total funding now stands at KRW 1.2 billion (approximately USD 900,000).

TRIPSODA, which has grown rapidly through its travel companion community, has also successfully launched its own adventure travel brands, such as ‘Miracle Mongolia’ (Mongolia), ‘Waypointers’ (Central Asia), and ‘Solar Carpet Ride’ (Egypt), positioning itself as a fast-growing player in the tourism sector.