What Tourlina does

Tourlina operates a mobile travel-companion marketplace that connects solo travelers — historically women, now also men since a 2024 redesign — with verified travel buddies, fellow travelers, and locals across 160+ countries. The product is delivered as a native iOS app (launched November 2015) and Android app (launched 2017), distributed globally via Apple App Store and Google Play in English, German, and Spanish. The core platform combines manual user verification (a team checks gender authenticity and identity for each new sign-up), travel-plan-based matching (users enter country and dates plus an itinerary description), a swipe-based companion discovery flow similar to dating apps, and in-app chat for trip planning. The company also operates a multi-language travel blog as a content-marketing surface for organic SEO and top-of-funnel acquisition.

Tourlina is operated as a sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmen) under Michael Klumpp Unternehmensberatung, registered in Munich, Germany (Lanzstrasse 20, D-80689 München), with international VAT-ID DE 197783794. The business is entirely bootstrapped and self-funded, with no external institutional investors, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and a stated headcount of 1–10. The company owns the registered trademark "Tourlina" in Europe and many other countries and has earned editorial coverage from outlets including the New York Times, National Geographic, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Hostelworld, Kayak, and El Tiempo.

The revenue model is freemium: the app is free to download, with an optional paid premium tier offering unlimited chats as an in-app purchase on a monthly cadence. Distribution is product-led and self-serve via app stores, supplemented by an ambassador program, organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter), and SEO/app store optimization across the three supported languages. There is no disclosed enterprise channel, no advertising business, and no API or SDK offering.

Name

Tourlina

Legal name

Michael Klumpp Unternehmensberatung

Website

https://tourlina.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Tourlina operates a mobile travel-companion app that connects solo travelers across 160+ countries via manual user verification, travel-plan-based matching, and swipe-based companion discovery. Originally women-only, it expanded to include men in 2024 and monetizes via freemium premium subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Companion App

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Private/Customized Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAC)

Keywords

• Travel companion app
• Solo female travel
• Travel social network
• Trip buddy matching
• Travel dating app

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Premium App Features: Free app download with optional premium features including unlimited chats. Users can purchase premium for expanded communication capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tourlina is a mobile travel companion app that helps solo travelers (primarily women, and now also men since 2024) find verified travel buddies, fellow travelers, and locals across 160+ countries. The app matches users based on shared travel plans, destinations, and dates through a swipe-based discovery mechanism with manual user verification for safety, and provides in-app chat functionality once users are matched.

Product overview

Tourlina operates as a travel social networking platform consisting of a mobile app (available on iOS and Android) and a companion travel blog. The core Tourlina App enables solo travelers to find travel buddies and companions through profile verification, travel plan matching, and swipe-based discovery with in-app chat. Originally launched in 2015 as a women-only platform, since 2024 it also welcomes men. The ecosystem also includes a Premium paid tier for enhanced features and a travel blog that provides destination content and serves as a marketing channel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tourlina App Mobile travel companion application available on iOS and Android that connects solo travelers with verified travel buddies, fellow travelers, and locals through profile verification, travel-plan-based matching, swipe-based companion discovery, and in-app chat functionality. Designed for solo female travelers primarily, expanded to include men since 2024.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bumble BFF: Bumble's friend-finding mode uses the same swipe mechanic for platonic connections. While not travel-specific, it competes for the same underlying use case of finding trustworthy companions in new places.
• Couchsurfing: Couchsurfing is a global hospitality and travel community that has long enabled travelers to meet locals and other travelers. Larger incumbent in travel-based social connection; comparable user intent though accommodation-anchored.
• Meetup: Meetup connects people around shared interests through local groups and events. A broader incumbent that addresses the same underlying need (finding compatible companions) but not optimized for travel-specific matching.

Others

• TourRadar: TourRadar is a multi-day tour marketplace connecting travelers with escorted tour operators. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but overlaps in traveler intent and could integrate companion-finding features over time.
• Hostelworld: Hostelworld is a hostel booking platform with social features (message boards, "Meet other travelers") that connect solo backpackers. Has historically recommended Tourlina, suggesting overlapping audience and complementary distribution.
• Airbnb Experiences: Airbnb Experiences connects travelers with local hosts and group activities. Not a direct companion-matching app, but a much larger incumbent shaping how solo travelers find companions and shared experiences worldwide.

Direct peers

• Backpackr: Backpackr is a travel social network focused on backpackers and budget travelers finding companions and sharing itineraries. Directly comparable to Tourlina's backpacker and budget-traveler persona.
• Travello: Travello is a social travel app connecting travelers, tour operators, and experience providers. Comparable to Tourlina in the travel social-network category, though Travello leans more heavily on B2B experience integration.
• GAFFL: GAFFL is a travel buddy matching app that helps solo travelers find companions to split costs and share trips. It is the closest direct competitor to Tourlina, offering destination/time-based matching and chat, but without the women-only heritage or manual verification.

Emerging players

• Solo Female Travelers Network: A Facebook-driven community and platform for solo female travelers seeking connection, advice, and meetups. Overlaps with Tourlina's original women-only positioning and same target persona.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Tourlina
• Facebookfacebook.com/tourlina
• Instagraminstagram.com/tourlina
• Pinterestpinterest.com/tourlina

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Tourlina