Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2026: Arcube

Arcube is a travel technology company that helps airlines unlock new revenue by aggregating 6,000+ ancillary suppliers, from lounges and eSIMs to car hire and insurance, into a single integration. Our AI retailing engine personalizes which products to show each passenger, at what price and touchpoint, maximizing conversion and spend. Proven with Etihad Airways and now scaling to 16+ airlines globally, Arcube enables carriers to launch new ancillaries in weeks, avoid heavy costs and become profitable retailers overnight.

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Below, we asked Arcube to share thoughts on 2026 strategic goals and lessons that have been learned since founding.

Strategic goals for 2026

In 2026, our focus is on scaling Arcube from a proven concept into a category leader. We plan to roll out with seven airlines across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America, helping partners unlock tens of millions in new ancillary revenue while giving millions of passengers access to more relevant services.

Our goal is not just short-term growth but building the foundation for long-term impact. By 2026, we want Arcube to be recognized as the fastest, most cost-effective way for airlines to become profitable retailers and to establish the data advantage that will fuel our expansion across the travel industry.

Lessons learned since founding

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that in travel, execution matters more than ideas. Airlines are cautious and risk-averse, so proving real revenue impact quickly is far more persuasive than any pitch deck. That’s why our early Etihad pilot, though small in scale, became the foundation for everything we’ve built since.

We’ve also learned the value of focus. As a startup, it’s tempting to chase every opportunity, but the discipline to double down on ancillary retailing and solve one painful problem for airlines has been critical. By narrowing our scope, we’ve been able to move faster, build trust with partners and show that even young founders can change one of the world’s most traditional industries.

A third lesson has been about fundraising in a traditional industry. Securing investment from senior airline executives gave us not just capital but credibility; it opened doors that would otherwise take years to access. In sectors like travel, the right investors become strategic partners, helping you navigate procurement, regulation and trust barriers far faster than you could alone.