Kiwi.com is an online travel tech company offering a robust search engine for booking flights, accommodations, and car rentals. It specializes in finding unique flight connections. Main markets include global travel consumers, with significant traction in Europe. Kiwi.com operates independently, founded by Oliver Dlouhý and Jozef Képesi.
Kiwi.com started as Skypicker in 2012, founded by Czech entrepreneurs Oliver Dlouhý and Jozef Képesi. Their vision was to simplify the process of finding and booking flights, particularly complex itineraries. In 2016, the company rebranded as Kiwi.com to reflect a more global ambition, expanding beyond just flights to offer a comprehensive travel booking platform.
The company’s proprietary algorithm, which pieced together unaffiliated airlines into single itineraries, distinguished Kiwi.com in the travel industry, attracting customers and investors alike. Kiwi.com’s approach enabled travelers to combine flights from non-cooperating carriers, often resulting in cheaper fares.
Despite not owning any aircraft, Kiwi.com became a significant player in the online travel agency space. Their innovative virtual interlining technology, guaranteeing connections even with separate tickets, set them apart.
The company’s growth trajectory caught the attention of General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, which made a significant investment in 2019. This investment aimed to accelerate Kiwi.com’s growth and technological advancements.
As the travel industry faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiwi.com navigated through with a focus on technology and customer care, adapting its services to the changing landscape of travel restrictions and consumer needs.
Throughout its history, Kiwi.com has remained under the leadership of its founders, with Dlouhý as CEO, steering the company through expansions and challenges. The company’s mission to make travel accessible and seamless continued to drive its innovations and market expansion. While Kiwi.com operates in the global market, it maintains a strong presence in Europe, with its headquarters in the Czech Republic.
The logo features the name “KIWI.COM” in a bold, sans-serif typeface. The letters are black, delivering a stark, strong contrast against a white background, which ensures high visibility and a contemporary aesthetic. The dot in “.com” is distinctively colored in teal, matching the curved teal line that arches above the word “KIWI.”
This arched line not completing a full circle but suggesting one. The color and the curve lend a sense of dynamism and freshness to the design. The teal color is reminiscent of the kiwi bird or fruit, evoking a sense of natural freshness, vibrancy, and the company’s New Zealand namesake, though the company itself is not from there.
Overall, the logo’s minimalist design conveys modernity and efficiency, with a splash of color that hints at innovation and a user-friendly approach.