<p><i>This article was originally published on November 11, 2024</i></p>
What product or service does PacknGo offer?
<p><span class="p-body">PacknGo is a comprehensive trip planning app designed to simplify group travel, featuring real-time collaboration, group chat, and top destination suggestions for seamless planning.</span></p>
How did you come up with the idea for this business?
<p><span class="p-body">The idea for PacknGo came to me while planning a group trip to Paris and Amsterdam. Coordinating everything was a struggle—we tried using a group chat and a Google Doc, but disagreements over destinations led to endless back-and-forth. Without a clear way to vote, we often resorted to phone calls to settle things. Adding places we found and tracking reservations in the Doc felt like a chore, and by the end of the trip, figuring out who paid for what was another headache.</span></p>
Why did you decide to participate in the HI Hub Incubator program?
<p><span class="p-body">I chose to participate because nothing excites me more than traveling and discovering hidden gems around the world. When I learned that the incubator focuses on tourism, I knew applying was the right choice. I’m eager to collaborate with my mentors and gain valuable insights that will help elevate my venture, PacknGo, in the tourism industry.</span></p>
What do you enjoy most about creating your own startup business?
<p><span class="p-body">The best part is making a real impact for people who love to travel. It’s exciting to use tech and AI to help make travel planning fun and efficient for friends organizing trips together. We’re here to take the stress out of planning so people can focus on what matters most: having an amazing trip.</span></p>
What advice would you give to someone contemplating founding a startup?
<p><span class="p-body">Make sure you’re truly passionate about what you’re building. Steve Jobs said it best: if you don’t love it, the stress and hard work will wear you down. Entrepreneurship isn’t easy—it’s a constant grind. So if you’re not having fun, it’ll be way too tempting to throw in the towel.</span></p>
What is something you learned through this process that you wish you’d known before you created your startup?
<p><span class="p-body">I wish I’d done way more user interviews and testing before diving into development. Listening to your target audience early on is everything—they’ll tell you exactly what they want and what’s valuable to them. That feedback can save a ton of time and resources by steering you in the right direction from the start.</span></p>
What does the future of your startup look like in an ideal world?
<p><span class="p-body">In a perfect world, PacknGo would be the app all young travelers turn to when they’re planning a trip with friends—no more scattered Google Docs and spreadsheets, just a one-stop shop for everything related to their travel.</span></p>
Have you worked with any alumni or mentors on this project? If so, who and what was that experience like?
<p><span class="p-body">Not yet, but I can’t wait to! I’m really looking forward to connecting with mentors to get their insights and advice on making PacknGo the best it can be.</span></p>
