Seatfrog is a London-based provider of a rail ticketing app launched in 2018 and led by CEO Iain Griffin. The platform lets customers buy tickets, upgrade to first-class and switch trains via mobile apps on Apple and Android devices. It positions itself to help operators run profitable networks and increase revenue. Seatfrog has secured exclusive partnerships with sixteen major train operators covering over 3bn journeys across the UK and Europe. The company raised £6m in growth funding from Pembroke, Praetura and Octopus Ventures. It intends to use the funds to expand operations and broaden its business reach across Europe. Seatfrog connects rail and airline passengers to last-minute upgrade opportunities by auctioning premium seats via live mobile bidding. Its platform enables customers to bid for seats guaranteed to travel empty, with upgrades available up to 15 minutes before departure — a capability launched with Virgin Trains in September 2017. Led by CEO and co-founder Iain Griffin, the company positions itself to unlock incremental revenue for trains and airlines through these auctions. Seatfrog raised $6M in a Series A to accelerate growth and expand product capability. The company plans to use the funds to hire senior staff across its London and Sydney offices to scale operations. Advisory support will be bolstered by Luke Hakes of Octopus joining a board that already includes ex-Qantas CEO Simon Hickey and Howzat Partners executives David Soskin, Hugo Burge, and Sascha Hausmann. Seatfrog offers a mobile app that enables airlines to auction seating upgrades to passengers, who can bid and receive a new boarding pass on their phone if they win. The product is currently in beta and allows passengers to scan flight details into the app at any time before departure to be notified of upgrade auctions. Seatfrog emphasizes direct integration with airline systems, claiming airlines can be live on the app within 48 hours rather than months. The company argues its technology expands airlines’ ancillary revenue opportunity and cites the broader ancillary market as worth around US$60 billion. The cofounders began development in 2014 and the team includes CEO Iain Griffin and cofounders Ben Ient and Dirk Stewart. Seatfrog has added industry veteran Simon Hickey to its advisory board and raised seed funding to support the app’s launch.

Total raised

$14M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Apr 2023