Centuro Global is proud to announce that we have won the first-ever GBTA Venture Connect Europe Pitch, held in Hamburg.
The competition brought together a select group of innovators shaping the future of business travel. Each company pitched to an audience of investors and corporate buyers from across the sector.
Centuro Global secured the highest scores from both groups, taking the top spot and reinforcing our leadership in business travel and mobility technology.
A pitch built on real problems
Our CEO opened the pitch with the story of an unlikely figure – noodle-loving British social media sensation Big John Fisher. Last month, Big John was denied entry into Australia and sent home. He had a visa – it just wasn’t the right one.
Earlier in the year, hundreds of Korean staff were detained at a Hyundai factory in the United States for allegedly carrying out productive work on a business travel visa. They were all deported.
Across the world, countries are tightening their approaches to border compliance and business travel rules. Yet many companies still base these business-critical processes on spreadsheet data and outdated assumptions.
The result is widespread non-compliance. Research indicates that up to 80% of business travel is non-compliant. This creates real consequences: delays, disrupted operations, financial penalties, and anxiety for travellers who simply want to do their jobs.
Introducing the Travel Compliance Assistant
The pitch focused on Centuro Global’s answer to this growing global challenge. Our Travel Compliance Assistant removes uncertainty and delivers clarity in three steps.
Step 1: Instant pre-travel assessment
Before a trip is booked, our AI analyses the traveller’s profile in detail. This includes their job title, passport, and travel history. It then provides precise visa and compliance guidance in under 60 seconds.
Step 2: Auto-generated documentation
Once the assessment is complete, the system produces the materials the traveller needs. This includes pre-filled visa forms, travel letters, and a digital compliance folder.
Step 3: Visibility for all teams
Travel, mobility, and relevant in-house departments gain full visibility over every trip. This gives companies complete oversight and helps them prevent issues before they occur.
When fully integrated into a corporate travel programme, the impact is transformative. Less manual work. Smoother compliance. And most importantly, no unexpected problems at the border.
Why Centuro Global stands out
The judges recognised more than just a smart tool. They saw a system designed to transform how companies handle compliance in a world where rules are shifting faster than ever.
- A global rules engine that covers more than 200 destinations, more than 200 nationalities, and millions of compliance permutations.
- A model that combines AI with real human legal and tax experts when nuance is required.
- A long-term transformation strategy to make Centuro Global the compliance system of record for organisations worldwide.
Recognition from a changing industry
The travel sector is changing, and compliance technology is becoming a fundamental driver of success. We see our win as proof of how fast the industry is realising its new role.
A keynote statistic from Laura Donadio captured this shift. By 2030, Gen Z will make up 30% of the global workforce. Yet most travel policies were written long before this generation entered it. Companies need tools that are modern, flexible, and built for the future of work.
Looking ahead
We extend our congratulations to all the startups that pitched. The levels of innovation on display highlighted how rapidly the business travel ecosystem is evolving.
We are also grateful to GBTA for hosting an exceptional event and for creating a forum for new ideas, collaboration and meaningful change across the industry.
Winning the pitch is testament to our mission: to give companies the confidence to move people globally without fear, complexity, or confusion. As travel becomes an ever more critical growth lever, Centuro Global will continue to innovate.
