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Zo World

Full company profile

uuid0000ubh

Namestring
Zo World
Websiteurl
zo.xyz
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2020
Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
11–50
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersHaryana, India
HQ citystring
Haryana
HQ countrystring
India
HQ regionstring
Asia
Markets served

Serves global market

Keyword5 values
backpacker hostel accommodation, community travel platform, group travel tours, homestay accommodation services, gamified travel ecosystem
Industry1 code
1Travel Super-Apps & Multi-Service Marketplaces
CodeTHAKAAAMPrimaryYes
NAICS code2 codes
  • Traveler Accommodation7211
  • Tour Operators561520
Product category
Travel Accommodation Services
Social media profiles1 record
GTM motion1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model4 records
1Zostel Hostel Accommodations
TypeSubscription Recurring
Description

Revenue from backpacker hostel operations across 100+ properties in India and Thailand. CEO Aviral Gupta states the company generates profit at every property, indicating sustainable unit economics.

skift.com
2Zo Trips Tours
TypeTransaction Fee
Description

Group travel vertical offering shared routes and collective experiences for young travelers

skift.com
3Zo Villas Homestays
TypeSubscription Recurring
Description

Homestay business complementing the hostel network for diverse accommodation needs

skift.com
4Zo Houses Clubhouses
TypeSubscription Recurring
Description

Clubhouse properties for extended stays targeting founders, creators, and longer builder arcs

skift.com
Marketing channels4 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels2 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components5 values
Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
GTM typeB2C
B2C
Offering typeServices
Services
Brand1 of 5 records shown
1Zostel
Description

Community-led backpacker hostel brand offering shared accommodation for young travelers seeking social experiences.

skift.com
+4 more records
Core offering1 text field

Zo World operates an integrated travel ecosystem for young, social, budget-conscious travelers, combining community-led backpacker hostels under the Zostel brand with group tours (Zo Trips), homestays (Zo Villas), extended-stay clubhouses (Zo House), and premium curated stays (Zo Selections). All verticals are tied together by a gamified digital platform featuring a travel Passport, Quests, Badges, XP, Daily Loot Box rewards, a 7% referral commission, and a Pro Citizen membership tier, sold directly to consumers across 100+ properties in India and expanding into Southeast Asia and the United States.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 of 2 values shown
  • Profitable at every property
+1 more record
Product overview1 text field

Zo World is a platform-plus-modules travel ecosystem architecture comprising interconnected travel brands: Zostel (backpacker hostels enabling social stays across 100+ destinations), Zo Trips (group travel with shared routes and collective energy), Zo House (clubhouses for founders, creators, and extended builders), and Zo Selections/Villas (homestays for slower, more intentional travel experiences). The ecosystem integrates these verticals to appeal to young, adventurous travelers seeking convenience, variety, and community-driven travel, with operations spanning India and international expansion into Southeast Asia.

Product and service5 records
1Zostel Backpacker Hostels
CategoryBackpacker Hostel Accommodation
Description

Community-led backpacker hostel brand offering shared, social accommodation across 100+ properties in India and Thailand for young, adventurous travelers seeking to meet people and explore cities together.

2Zo Trips Group Tours
CategoryGroup Travel Tours
Description

Group travel vertical offering shared routes and collective travel experiences for adventurous travelers seeking organized tours within the Zo World ecosystem.

3Zo House Clubhouses
CategoryExtended-Stay Co-Living Accommodation
Description

Clubhouse and co-living concept offering extended-stay accommodations and community spaces for founders, creators, and longer-term remote workers and builders.

4Zo Selections Premium Stays
CategoryPremium Homestay Accommodation
Description

Curated premium homestay brand offering slower, richer, and more intentional stays for travelers seeking elevated local experiences within the Zo World ecosystem.

5Zo Villas Homestays
CategoryHomestay Accommodation
Description

Homestay business vertical offering more intimate and personalized residential accommodations for travelers as part of the Zo World ecosystem.

Scale indicator5 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Recent move7 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight6 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Peers10 records
1GoStops
TypeDirect peer
Description

GoStops is an Indian backpacker hostel chain targeting 18-35 year old travelers, directly overlapping with Zostel's customer segment and operational model.

2Moustache Hostels
TypeDirect peer
Description

Moustache operates experiential hostels across India (Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur, Rishikesh), competing head-to-head with Zostel in the community-led backpacker hostel niche.

3OYO Rooms
TypeDirect peer
Description

OYO operates franchised and operated budget hotels across India and increasingly Southeast Asia, directly competing with Zostel/Zo World in the Indian affordable-stay segment for price-sensitive travelers.

4Hostelworld
TypeDirect peer
Description

Hostelworld is the leading global OTA for backpacker hostels, directly comparable to Zo World's Zostel booking and discovery platform in the social-travel hostel category.

5Airbnb
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Airbnb is the global incumbent in alternative accommodations and increasingly social/community-led stays, competing with Zo World for budget travelers and homestay inventory worldwide.

6Booking.com
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Booking.com is the dominant global accommodation OTA, providing the primary price-comparison channel against which Zostel and Zo Villas must compete for direct bookings.

7MakeMyTrip
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

MakeMyTrip is India's largest online travel platform, offering a broad portfolio of hotels, packages, tours and experiences that overlaps with Zo Trips and Zostel inventory.

8Treebo Hotels
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Treebo is an Indian budget hotel chain operating franchise-style midscale properties, comparable to Zostel on affordable domestic lodging but with a hotel rather than hostel format.

9FabHotels
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

FabHotels is an Indian budget hotel franchise network competing for the same price-conscious Indian leisure traveler as Zostel, though in the hotel rather than hostel format.

10G Adventures
TypeEmerging player
Description

G Adventures is a global small-group tour operator targeting young experiential travelers, directly comparable to Zo Trips in the organized group-travel vertical.

Market position
Strengths5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat4 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks1 record

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights6 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment3 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile2 records

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
Yes
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Feature3 records

Each record includes

Title, Differentiator, Description, Source

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles2 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

Subsidiaries5 records

Each record includes

Name, Acquired on, Relationship type, Type, Business focus

No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds2 records

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors3 records

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Zo World

Travel Accommodation Serviceszo.xyz

Zo World firmographics

Firmographics
Name
Zo World
Website
https://zo.xyz
Company type
Private
Founded year
2020
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
11–50 employees
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Zo World industry classification

Industry
Product category
Travel Accommodation Services
NAICS
Traveler Accommodation (7211), Tour Operators (561520)
akta.pro primary industry
Travel Super-Apps & Multi-Service Marketplaces (THAKAAAM)

Keywords

  • Backpacker hostel accommodation
  • Community travel platform
  • Group travel tours
  • Homestay accommodation services
  • Gamified travel ecosystem

Where Zo World is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Haryana
HQ country
India
HQ region
Asia

Markets served

Zo World business model

Business model
GTM type
B2C
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

  1. Zostel Hostel Accommodations: Revenue from backpacker hostel operations across 100+ properties in India and Thailand. CEO Aviral Gupta states the company generates profit at every property, indicating sustainable unit economics.
  2. Zo Trips Tours: Group travel vertical offering shared routes and collective experiences for young travelers
  3. Zo Villas Homestays: Homestay business complementing the hostel network for diverse accommodation needs
  4. Zo Houses Clubhouses: Clubhouse properties for extended stays targeting founders, creators, and longer builder arcs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Zo World product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Zo World operates an integrated travel ecosystem for young, social, budget-conscious travelers, combining community-led backpacker hostels under the Zostel brand with group tours (Zo Trips), homestays (Zo Villas), extended-stay clubhouses (Zo House), and premium curated stays (Zo Selections). All verticals are tied together by a gamified digital platform featuring a travel Passport, Quests, Badges, XP, Daily Loot Box rewards, a 7% referral commission, and a Pro Citizen membership tier, sold directly to consumers across 100+ properties in India and expanding into Southeast Asia and the United States.

Product overview

Zo World is a platform-plus-modules travel ecosystem architecture comprising interconnected travel brands: Zostel (backpacker hostels enabling social stays across 100+ destinations), Zo Trips (group travel with shared routes and collective energy), Zo House (clubhouses for founders, creators, and extended builders), and Zo Selections/Villas (homestays for slower, more intentional travel experiences). The ecosystem integrates these verticals to appeal to young, adventurous travelers seeking convenience, variety, and community-driven travel, with operations spanning India and international expansion into Southeast Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

  • Zostel: Community-led backpacker hostel brand offering shared accommodation for young travelers seeking social experiences.
  • Zo Trips
  • Zo Villas
  • Zo House
  • Zo Selections

Products and services

  • Zostel Backpacker Hostels Community-led backpacker hostel brand offering shared, social accommodation across 100+ properties in India and Thailand for young, adventurous travelers seeking to meet people and explore cities together.
  • Zo Trips Group Tours Group travel vertical offering shared routes and collective travel experiences for adventurous travelers seeking organized tours within the Zo World ecosystem.
  • Zo House Clubhouses Clubhouse and co-living concept offering extended-stay accommodations and community spaces for founders, creators, and longer-term remote workers and builders.
  • Zo Selections Premium Stays Curated premium homestay brand offering slower, richer, and more intentional stays for travelers seeking elevated local experiences within the Zo World ecosystem.
  • Zo Villas Homestays Homestay business vertical offering more intimate and personalized residential accommodations for travelers as part of the Zo World ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

  • Profitable at every property
  • +1 more outcomes

Companies that use Zo World

Customer profile

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Zo World technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Zo World partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Zo World competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

  • GoStops: GoStops is an Indian backpacker hostel chain targeting 18-35 year old travelers, directly overlapping with Zostel's customer segment and operational model.
  • Moustache Hostels: Moustache operates experiential hostels across India (Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur, Rishikesh), competing head-to-head with Zostel in the community-led backpacker hostel niche.
  • OYO Rooms: OYO operates franchised and operated budget hotels across India and increasingly Southeast Asia, directly competing with Zostel/Zo World in the Indian affordable-stay segment for price-sensitive travelers.
  • Hostelworld: Hostelworld is the leading global OTA for backpacker hostels, directly comparable to Zo World's Zostel booking and discovery platform in the social-travel hostel category.

Broad incumbents

  • Airbnb: Airbnb is the global incumbent in alternative accommodations and increasingly social/community-led stays, competing with Zo World for budget travelers and homestay inventory worldwide.
  • Booking.com: Booking.com is the dominant global accommodation OTA, providing the primary price-comparison channel against which Zostel and Zo Villas must compete for direct bookings.
  • MakeMyTrip: MakeMyTrip is India's largest online travel platform, offering a broad portfolio of hotels, packages, tours and experiences that overlaps with Zo Trips and Zostel inventory.
  • Treebo Hotels: Treebo is an Indian budget hotel chain operating franchise-style midscale properties, comparable to Zostel on affordable domestic lodging but with a hotel rather than hostel format.
  • FabHotels: FabHotels is an Indian budget hotel franchise network competing for the same price-conscious Indian leisure traveler as Zostel, though in the hotel rather than hostel format.

Emerging players

  • G Adventures: G Adventures is a global small-group tour operator targeting young experiential travelers, directly comparable to Zo Trips in the organized group-travel vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Zo World social profiles

Digital presence

Zo World financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Zo World leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Zo World subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries5 records

Zo World funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Zo World M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zo World

What does Zo World do?

Zo World operates an integrated travel ecosystem for young, social, budget-conscious travelers, combining community-led backpacker hostels under the Zostel brand with group tours (Zo Trips), homestays (Zo Villas), extended-stay clubhouses (Zo House), and premium curated stays (Zo Selections). All verticals are tied together by a gamified digital platform featuring a travel Passport, Quests, Badges, XP, Daily Loot Box rewards, a 7% referral commission, and a Pro Citizen membership tier, sold directly to consumers across 100+ properties in India and expanding into Southeast Asia and the United States.

Is Zo World a public or private company?

Zo World is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.

When was Zo World founded?

Zo World was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Zo World based?

Zo World is headquartered in Haryana, India, in the Asia region.

How does Zo World make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Zostel Hostel Accommodations are the primary driver. The others are zo Trips Tours, zo Villas Homestays and zo Houses Clubhouses.

Who are Zo World's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are GoStops, Moustache Hostels, OYO Rooms and Hostelworld. Broad incumbents are Airbnb, Booking.com, MakeMyTrip, Treebo Hotels and FabHotels. G Adventures is listed as an emerging player.

Does Zo World have an API?

No public API is recorded for Zo World.

What industry is Zo World in?

Zo World's product category is Travel Accommodation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAAAM, Travel Super-Apps & Multi-Service Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 7211.

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Live signals
SkiftIndian Hostel Chain Zo World CEO on IPO Plans and ExpansionIndian backpacker hostel chain Zostel's parent company Zo World is preparing for an IPO in three to four years, with CEO Aviral Gupta stating the company needs to build an interconnected travel ecosystem first before going public. The company, which currently operates at 100 destinations across Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, generates profit at every property. Zo World's ecosystem strategy includes its hostel arm Zostel, tours vertical Zo Trips, homestay business Zo Villas, and clubhouses under Zo Houses, which Gupta believes will take the stated timeframe to fully integrate.EvrimagaciZo World Eyes Expansion Amid Valentine’s Booking BoomZo World, parent company of the Zostel hostel chain, has announced plans for an initial public offering in three to four years, pending the completion of a full travel ecosystem that includes hostels, tours, homestays, and clubhouses across 100 profitable properties in India. Hotel bookings across India for Valentine's weekend (February 13-16, 2026) have surged 58% year-on-year, with destinations like Agra (2,000%), Jaisalmer (1,400%), and Madikeri (1,100%) recording record-breaking increases driven by experiential travel demand and pre-wedding getaways. The company is positioning itself to capture this growing market by integrating its verticals—Zostel, Zo Trips, Zo Villas, and Zo Houses—to appeal to young, adventurous travelers seeking convenience and variety.ZostelAdventure Travel Experiences & TripsZo is organizing curated travel experiences to various destinations, including the Bahrain Grand Prix and multiple trips across India, Japan, Vietnam, and other international locations. The travel packages start at different price points, with the Bahrain experience beginning at ₹136,054. These offerings highlight a focus on providing unique travel adventures worldwide.Deccan ChronicleExclusive and Tech-Driven: The Future of Hospitality with Zo HouseZo House, founded by Zostel's founders, is India's first community-driven clubhouses for Web3 enthusiasts, offering NFT-based memberships and fractional ownership. It operates in Bangalore, Dubai, and San Francisco, with plans to expand into the top 50 global cities. The club blends luxury amenities with tech, including smart furniture and the Zo App.EntrepreneurZo World Secures EUR 15 Mn Capital From GEM GroupZo World Limited secured a EUR 15 million capital commitment from GEM Global Yield LLC SCS to fund its decentralized travel marketplace ahead of an anticipated public listing. The funding supports the development of the Zo Travel platform, which leverages local hosts and partners to create community-based travel experiences globally. This agreement coincides with a recent licensing deal for the Zostel brand to ensure high-quality supply for the upcoming launch.TechcircleZostel founders' led Zo World to raise up to $18 mn, go publicZo World has secured a share subscription facility from GEM Global Yield valued at up to €15 million ($17.8 million) to support its operations and future public listing. The startup, linked to Zostel through common founders, plans to list its shares on European or other exchanges within the next three years while receiving warrants for the investment.