January is the month when many of us start making travel plans for the year ahead. With so many destinations on all of our bucket lists, choosing where to go and navigating what to do can prove one giant headache.

Figures from ITTN show that 75 per cent of people are already researching their 2025 holiday, with 78 per cent planning a sun holiday, 24 per cent on a city break, and 21 per cent on a cruise. In addition, research from Priceline reveals that the average traveller spends two full work days planning and booking trips.

Where is Kevin? is a new platform aimed at helping people streamline their personal and business travel. The clever solution uses smart technology to learn individual preferences and curate trip suggestions using data. Where is Kevin? recently got accepted to the Lisboa Unicorn Factory, one of the top ten startup hubs in the world.

We caught up with Where is Kevin founder Tijana Trifunovic and asked her about technology, travel tips and where the name of her company came from.

Can you please tell us more about Where is Kevin, what’s it all about?

Of course! Where is Kevin is an all-in-one travel solution that enables seamless planning, combining features from popular platforms like Booking.com, Instagram, and Tinder. It uses smart technology to learn individual preferences and proactively curate trip suggestions, including flights, accommodation, exciting local experiences, venues and even transportation. 

Our team brings together seasoned entrepreneurs. We are backed by the founding member of a leading AI institute, a top North American venture capital leader, a global bank’s Senior Product Director of AI, and a team of sales professionals with connections to major companies such as AMEX, KPMG, and Deloitte.

The more you interact with our platform, Where is Kevin? the smarter it gets, to the point where it even knows what you want to do before you! This, in turn, means users don’t need to spend hours researching and booking experiences. Where is Kevin? Also fosters a social travel community, meaning travellers can share their personalised travel plans privately with friends or with other users.

More importantly, where did you get the name of your company?

Home Alone, no, really! There are many stories about travel and the stress of travel, but few are as memorable and fun as the movie Home Alone. If you haven’t guessed already, Kevin is the young boy that gets left behind. As his family struggles to get back to him, he turns out to be very resourceful and also has a great time on his own. This is where we derived our inspiration for the name of the company. We were all wondering where Kevin is now and thinking that perhaps he’s become a seasoned traveller, exploring the world’s hidden gems. Or maybe he’s a tech entrepreneur, leveraging his ingenuity to create innovative solutions. Just as Kevin McCallister navigated unexpected challenges and adventures, Where is Kevin? Aims to empower travellers to explore the world with confidence and ease.

Why (and when) did you decide to establish the business?

Travelling is one of my passions, and I’m incredibly lucky to be able to fly around the world, meet new people and explore exciting places. The problem is every time I look to plan my next trip, I find it stressful deciding where to go, what to do while I’m there, and making sure I get the best price.

Trips are a big investment in terms of both time and money and so travellers want to make the most of each one. That’s why currently I spend a lot of time researching via different websites and social media for destinations I’m going to like, followed by where I want to stay such as coliving, hotels, or Airbnbs as they all provide different benefits. Once I decide on where I want to go, I need to work out what I want to do, where I want to eat, and any activities such as a city tour or a nice sunset hike. As I decide on each one, I then carry on searching further across multiple websites to find the best prices. Last Summer I had arranged coliving accommodation in Lisbon, Portugal in the hopes that I would meet like minded people and they would help me find places to go and things to do. Unfortunately the trip ended up with everyone being in the same boat, hoping someone else had all the plans!

This is when the idea for Where Is Kevin? was born. I realised there must be an easier way of doing all of this, especially with the adoption of AI on the rise. So, I shared my pain points with some old colleagues, created a team and started building a personal travel assistant who knows your preferences, suggests the best places to go, and also makes bookings for you.

Let’s talk about smart travel, what are your tips for being able to take trips safely and securely through using technology in 2025?

When it comes to safe and secure travel in 2025, technology is your best friend! Some of my tips would be to be wary of data breaches – unfortunately, they are very common. Travellers need to fight back with strong, unique passwords for every account, and always enable two-factor authentication. I think that people really need to be cautious with social media travel deals. A quick Google search can reveal a company’s reputation before you hand over your details.

Rental car deals are also something to be wary of. You also need to be careful as some companies try to make hidden profits by claiming you damaged the car once returned. My tip would be to take a detailed video walk-around of the car before driving off. This can prove a lifesaver if there are any pre-existing issues. 

Public Wi-Fi is another security gamble. Instead, consider a travel data package for your phone. You can even tether your laptop for secure internet access while working remotely at a cafe or relaxing on the beach. Global eSIMs are becoming increasingly popular and offer great data deals.

Last but not least, travellers should always use cloud storage to back up their phones and download some digital tools. Reliable translation apps are great for bridging language barriers, and a good offline map app can be a lifesaver if you get lost.

Let’s talk funding…have you received much funding and if so, how difficult was it to secure? Was it challenging getting investors onboard?

Securing funding remains a hot topic for any entrepreneur, and Where is Kevin? is no exception. We opted for a strategic approach. We have a great bunch of seasoned founders and advisors who’ve been down this road before. They all believe so strongly in what we’re building that we decided to bootstrap the initial platform ourselves. That way, we could remain focused on building something that our users truly love. However, now we have our MVP and first clients interested, we are seeking funding to supercharge development and launch pilot programs with our target cities and some big-name corporatio

What advice would you have for other female founders who are looking to set up their own businesses?

Let’s face it: building a business from scratch is a rollercoaster! There will be days you just want to throw in the towel, especially when it feels like everyone’s got a similar idea. But trust me, that’s where the magic happens. I truly believe that being a female founder gives you a unique perspective, and that, combined with your passion, is what’s truly going to make your business stand out.

Speaking of magic, I would advise others to surround themselves with the right people. It’s like uncovering a cheat code. According to Forbes, mentorship is a key factor for women entrepreneurs reaching growth milestones. So, I would say it’s always a good idea to find supportive mentors, advisors, and other female founders. I think that every conversation and every shared experience is a goldmine of knowledge and inspiration.

Finally, don’t forget to remind yourself why you started this journey in the first place. Keep an eye on your goals, and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come from stepping outside your comfort zone.

In your opinion, what are the biggest walls facing today’s female founders?

I think that, when it comes to obstacles, there are a few things at play. Firstly, women are less likely to get the funding they need to get their startups off the ground. This can be due to a lack of access to networks or unconscious bias from investors. Secondly, many women face the difficult decision of delaying motherhood to focus on building their businesses. This is a challenge most male founders simply don’t have.

On the flip side, things are changing. I see more and more women taking charge of their careers and becoming entrepreneurs. We have the passion, drive, and skills to be successful business owners. The old stereotype of women staying at home is fading fast, even if it’s happening at different speeds in different places. So, to all my fellow female founders, don’t let obstacles hold you back!

Are there any new trends in technology that you hope to introduce to Where’s Kevin? in 2025?

Imagine planning a trip where an app knows exactly where you want to go before you even do it! 

We are harnessing the power of Generative AI. This means the app will learn about your wants and needs from previous trips and preferences and that it will be able to suggest experiences that match your vibe. Think of it like having a travel bestie who knows you better than you know yourself! In 2025, we hope to have visual search and natural language processing options. For example, if a traveller finds themselves stuck looking at a photo of a breathtaking waterfall and they have no idea where it is, Where is Kevin? can find it for you. In addition, we’ve partnered with a leading AR company to turn every journey into an adventure. To top it all off, we’re keeping an eye on blockchain technology. We believe it has the potential to revolutionise how we pay and interact within the travel industry. Once we’ve established our points system, we might even introduce a special token that makes the travelling experience smoother and more secure. 

What are your ambitions for the company?

Imagine booking your dream vacation with just a few taps on your phone. That’s the future we’re building at Where is Kevin? We’re inspired by how Amazon transformed shopping, and we want to do the same for travel. 

We’re using the very latest tech, AI, and machine learning to create a hyper-personalised travel experience. We are also taking a data-driven approach to expansion. Instead of us guessing where to go next, our community of users will guide us. This will save us time and money and ensure we’re setting up shop in the places our users want to explore. 

As a travel tech company, we’re embracing the remote work revolution. Our team will also be using Where is Kevin? themselves, soaking up new cultures and experiences.

If you could take any one lesson away from making the leap into entrepreneurship, what would it be?

One of the biggest things I’ve learned since jumping into the world of startups is the importance of having a killer team by your side. You know the saying, “iron sharpens iron” Well, that’s exactly what you want with your co-founders and colleagues. Surrounding yourself with people who bring different strengths and expertise to the table is key to tackling any challenge. 

Perseverance and the ability to continue on is another. Let’s be honest: building a business isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Around ninety per cent of startups fail. There will be bumps in the road and moments of doubt, and things won’t always go according to plan. That’s where perseverance comes in. It’s about learning from mistakes, adapting to change, and, most importantly, never giving up on your vision, even when things get tough.