Singapore Biz-journalSingapore Biz-journal
Notification Show More
Aa
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • F&B
  • Health & Fitness
  • Technology
  • Education
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Reading: utu raises $33M to help travelers get more from tax-free shopping
Share
Singapore Biz-journalSingapore Biz-journal
Aa
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • F&B
  • Health & Fitness
  • Technology
  • Education
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Bookmarks
Search
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • F&B
  • Health & Fitness
  • Technology
  • Education
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Bookmarks
Follow US
© Copyright 2023 Singaporebizjournal | Powered by Inflex Media
Singapore Biz-journal > Blog > Lifestyle > utu raises $33M to help travelers get more from tax-free shopping
LifestyleStartups

utu raises $33M to help travelers get more from tax-free shopping

Editor
Last updated: 2023/07/18 at 11:04 AM
By Editor 4 Min Read
Share
SHARE

utu, a travel tech company that helps flyers get more out of their tax-free shopping, announced today it has raised a $33 million Series B from investors, including SC Ventures. utu also announced it has acquired CardsPal, a Singapore-based fintech that offers deals and promotions nearby to users.

During the pandemic-induced travel hiatus, utu worked to establish partnerships with travel, hotel chain and retail brands. The company notes that even though travel has rebounded, only about 1% of venture funding over the past 15 years has gone to travel, primarily short-term rental hospitality. utu’s goal is to create innovation in the tax-free shopping sector, which allows tourists to reclaim VAT on their purchases.

utu offers customers a Tax Free Card, which has two main offerings. First, tax-free shoppers can opt for frequent flyer miles or hotel points instead of VAT refunds. Or they can select an immediate store voucher that is equal to 120% of the VAT or GST they paid while shopping overseas. utu says that retailers, airlines, hotels and other organizations that partner with them can not only increase customer loyalty, but also grow their revenue from tourist shopping by up to 40%.

utu’s partners include 10 global airlines, like Air France-KLM, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, as well as Accor, one of Europe’s large hospitality brands. To facilitate payments, utu works with fintech partners with Nium and also uses its own proprietary tech. It plans to announce more partnerships later this year.

Customer pay VAT upfront, and can reclaim it through operators like Planet or Global Blue. But they don’t get back the full amount of VAT, which is where utu comes in.

utu co-founder Asad Jumabhoy spent eight years working in the duty-free business, before another 25 in tax-free shopping. While operating fashion and perfume stores at Changi Airport in Singapore in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Jumabhoy started a tax refund business that evolved into Global Blue. After selling Global Blue in 2012, Jumabhoy decided to take his understanding of retail margins, value-added taxes and customer shopping habits to develop utu.

“The way we think about our work is that we are unbuilding new product layers on top of the existing tax-free shopping infrastructure that unlocks value for all stakeholders connected to tourist shopping — brands, tourists and our VAT refund partners,” he said.

Jumabhoy said even though tax-free shopping is a common practice, there are still two problems. The first is that the process of getting VAT refunds is difficult, and secondly, tourists only get part of their VAT spending back. utu focuses on the second problem and wants to give tourists more value when they shop. For example, they can receive over 90% of their refund value in airline frequent flyer miles.

The CardsPal acquisition will give utu a digital marketplace, a promotions engine and self-service merchant registration portal. It will also expedite utu’s rollout in markets like France and Italy, plus another 50 countries that offer VAT and GST refunds.

utu’s funding will be used to grow its product distribution across all countries that offer a VAT refund service, invest in technology and new products and strengthen its management to execute its growth plan.

You Might Also Like

Best Perfume Store: A Go-To Destination for Premium Perfumes and Signature Scents.

Alyssandra: Empowering the Modern Professional Through Elegant Workwear.

Melmomilk design: Breathing New Life Into Plastic Through Jewelry.

Weave Smith: Celebrating India’s Rich Handloom Heritage Through Curated Artisanal Sarees with a Modern Edge.

The Form: Offering A Refined Approach To Everyday Fashion That Puts The Wearer First.

Editor July 18, 2023 July 10, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Leave a review

Leave a review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please select a rating!

More Popular from Singaporebizjournal

F&B

HUNG HUAT CAKES & PASTRIES – A legacy of pastries and cake baking excellence that continues to charm generations

By Editor 5 Min Read

Needle raises $1.2m to help optimize ecommerce marketing with AI

By Editor

The Heart Behind the Designs

By Editor 4 Min Read
Health & Fitness

Get physically and mentally fit at Singapore’s first brain-body gym Sparkd

Have you ever wanted to work your brain and body at the same time? Now you…

By Editor
F&B

TARTISTRY by M – A family that bakes together, tastes success together.

Life's journey is full of twists and turns, isn't it? For Maryam, the creative mind behind…

By Editor
Lifestyle

THE WEARHOUSE – A space to discover fashion forward clothing for the woman of today

Step into the enchanting world of THE WEARHOUSE, where the harmonious blend of modest fashion and…

By Editor
Lifestyle

PiperLuna: Redefining baby essentials with sustainable bamboo products, a customer-centric approach, and innovative designs.

In 2022, Ashley Chan embarked on a journey to redefine baby essentials with the launch of…

By Editor
F&B

Salt-N-Bake: Redefining Salt-baked Chicken with Freshness and Tradition

Salt-baked chicken is a cherished dish with deep roots in Hakka tradition. However, Salt-N-Bake, established by…

By Editor
Event More NewsLifestyle

Lolly Space: Crafting Unforgettable Celebrations for Kids and Families

In recent years, event spaces designed for family-friendly gatherings have become increasingly popular, particularly among parents…

By Editor
Singapore Biz-journal

Singapore Business Journal is Singapore’s fastest growing media platform for startup and entrepreneur stories through news, reports and interviews. We bring to you the most inspiring, motivating and informative business stories from successful entrepreneurs.

Follow Us:

Categories

  • Health & Fitness
  • Technology
  • F&B
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Startups

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Copyright ©2025 Singaporebizjournal | Powered-by InflexMedia

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?