Travelsist Is Streamlining Airport Navigation for Everyone
After a decade-long career as a flight attendant and mother, Veronica Woodruff did not envision herself leading a tech startup — let alone one that could disrupt the entire industry. But through a mix of determination, chance encounters, and a clear vision, she founded Travelsist, a company dedicated to making travel safer, accessible, and seamless for everyone.
From Hackathon to CEO
Veronica’s educational background includes degrees in Human Communication, Practical and Professional Ethics, and Psychology from California State University, Monterey Bay, and a degree in Entrepreneurship from Babson College in Boston. Her entry into the tech world happened somewhat serendipitously. One day, she stumbled upon an ad for a hackathon, and despite not having a technical background, she decided to tackle the challenge. This bold leap into an unfamiliar space paid off. She learned an immense amount from the experience, even drawing on the expertise of her teammates — one of whom happened to be the CTO of a company. This exposure to collaborative problem-solving inspired her vision of starting a company.
After the hackathon, Veronica began attending more events and eventually landed herself at Tech Square, where the foundations of Travelsist were laid at the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC). With ATDC’s history of supporting Georgia-based startups, providing resources, mentorship, and a collaborative ecosystem, it was here that Veronica’s vision began to take shape. ATDC’s innovative environment helped launch her idea, even when she felt out of her element in a room filled with tech-savvy individuals. “I was initially uncomfortable being around so many technical people because I didn’t have that background,” Veronica admitted. However, her willingness to embrace vulnerability and ask questions, along with her natural problem-solving instincts, launched her forward. “It was the environment that forced me to stop thinking small. It is full of innovation, and other builders, dreamers, innovators, and visionaries surround you. A lot of the times, my peers there were always thinking big or larger,” Veronica explains. Unafraid to learn, seek guidance, and leverage the network of experts around her, she built her company and transitioned Travelsist to an ATDC portfolio company.
“When I participated in the hackathon, we had 48 hours to demonstrate a solution, and I ended up being paired with a CTO. He took 48 hours to teach me a general knowledge of tech. After the hackathon, I learned from the Tech Square ecosystem. I learned everything I know now: Figma, prototyping, AI, and machine learning; it was all from the ecosystem and taking courses or participating in incubators or community events. From there, I hired experts in areas I didn’t have expertise in and created Travelsist.”
An Easier Airport Experience for All
Travelsist’s mission is straightforward: to move travelers through airports safely, efficiently, and on time. “The idea came to me when I was traveling with my daughter, and every time I traveled, I noticed that there was no dedicated service available to meet and assist any travelers who needed assistance. To get assistance today, you must go through many channels to get the help you need,” explains Woodruff. Veronica recognized the unmet needs of specific groups — children, the elderly, and those with disabilities — who often require additional assistance when navigating the complex and frequently chaotic world of airports. As a result, Travelsist began focusing on offering on-demand travel services for these groups, ensuring that they received the specialized care needed to make their journeys smoother.
Travelsist initially went to market offering baby gear rentals and on-demand assistance, acting as a concierge service for families. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit upon Travelist’s launch, air travel came to a halt. During this downtime, Veronica used the opportunity to meet with airport and airline leaders. She discovered they all faced a common challenge: effectively assisting seniors and travelers with different disabilities.
“We evolved our solution and tailored our services to different demographics. There are over 120 disabilities that fall under ADA (The Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance, so it goes far beyond just mobility,” Veronica explained. “Airports today mainly offer wheelchairs as the solution, but we wanted to do more.”
To meet this challenge, Travelsist expanded its services by enhancing staff training, ensuring they had the skills to assist passengers with a wide range of needs. Their technology also streamlined the process, saving time for requesting and receiving assistance. “We have reduced the time it takes to request and receive help, and passengers can now get assistance from anywhere within the airport environment. We will send a trained, skilled individual directly to them,” she added.
AI-Powered Assistance: Vera
Currently, Travelsist operates via the Travelsist app, which customers can download, provide details about their trip and condition, and reserve assistance. From there, they get matched with a nearby Travelsistant whose skills match the job requirements. The Travelsistant then meets the customer and aids them from entry to gate arrival through the airport.
At the core of Travelsist’s upcoming offerings is Vera, an AI-powered assistant designed to streamline the airport experience. Vera is not just a chatbot; it is an intelligent system built to communicate travel needs, handle special requests, and ensure that every traveler receives the support they require — whether it is a parent traveling with young children, an elderly person needing extra time, or a traveler with a disability requiring ADA-compliant services.
“We want to reimagine or just redefine the experience you receive today when you get to the airport. It has not changed much in over 50 years when it comes to assistance, especially for those with extra needs. It’s just a category that has been overlooked for some time. With today’s technology, now is the right time to make these changes.”
Reimagining Travel in a Post-Pandemic World
Veronica’s vision for Travelsist goes beyond just providing a service. She wants to transform the airport experience from a stressful, time-consuming ordeal into a streamlined, user-friendly process. The pandemic, which crippled global travel for months, only emphasized the need for companies like Travelsist. As airports work to rebuild trust with travelers, having a service that makes the process smoother and safer is more important than ever.
Their initial market — Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta — has proven to be the perfect launching pad. Their next target is the Charlotte metro area, and they plan to expand to every airport in the world in the long term.
Veronica Woodruff’s story is a testament to the power of persistence, curiosity, and the willingness to embrace the unknown. From a flight attendant to the CEO of a tech company, she has turned a personal vision into a reality that stands to change how we travel.
Travelsist is operational and currently expanding its team.