From creating a map of Tokyo sold online to a global platform that aims to become the digital travel companion for independent travellers. This is the goal of Hint, a start-up founded by Francesco Galati (CCO), Stefano Garavaglia (CEO), Daniele Di Caro (CTO) and Marcello Ascani (CGO) (pictured), which has announced the completion of a €500,000 pre-seed funding round, marking the start of a new phase of growth and the rebranding of the project as an AI travel app.
Several angel investors are taking part in the funding round, including entrepreneurs from the tourism sector and content creators such as Jacopo D’Alesio, known as Jakidale, and Luca Mazzucchelli.
The announcement was made by the founders, who unveiled the rebranding of the start-up that began as Mr. Franz and is now changing its name to Hint – a word meaning ‘tip’ or ‘suggestion’ in English – as it prepares to expand internationally. Unlike general-purpose AI systems that aggregate information from the web, the platform is based on advice gathered directly from local people who live in or are visiting the area, verified and organised to offer more reliable recommendations to travellers.
Galati says in a statement: “Mr. Franz was born out of a frustration shared by many travellers: spending hours sifting through unreliable reviews and content designed more for social media than for actual travellers. We want to build the world’s largest database of places genuinely recommended by locals – the first true digital travel buddy: an assistant that knows you and suggests the perfect places for you. With this revamp, Hint is the evolution we wanted to provide travellers with a recommendation system far more reliable than traditional online reviews.”
Hint began as an innovative editorial project: integrated maps on Google Maps featuring authentic places, restaurants, bars, neighbourhoods and attractions, all hand-picked by locals to avoid fake reviews and automatically generated content. Today, the project has evolved into an AI-powered platform designed to be a true digital travel companion, capable of understanding users’ tastes, habits and preferences to suggest personalised experiences.
The aim is to move beyond the traditional model of travel guides and review platforms by building a system based on real human data and recommendations verified by a network of local contributors, known as ‘franzini’.
Thanks to a system that matches travellers’ profiles with suggestions from local contributors, the platform offers personalised recommendations, cutting through the information overload that currently characterises online searches for restaurants, bars and attractions.
The project was launched in December 2024 with the release of an initial map dedicated to Tokyo. In just 30 days, the trial generated 145 orders and €9,000 in revenue, validating the business model. Just over six months after launch, the project had already exceeded €100,000 in turnover, with 2,148 orders recorded on the platform. It now has 15 active maps, over 14,000 community members, 25,000 monthly website visits and three million monthly social media impressions. The company reached operational break-even after two months of activity and is recording 30% month-on-month growth.
With this funding round, Hint will accelerate the development of its AI travel app, designed to support travellers at every stage of their journey: from planning to exploring destinations on the ground. The platform uses a hybrid model based on data collected from local contributors, psychometric matching between users and recommendations, and AI algorithms to personalise itineraries and maps.
The development plan for the coming months includes: over 200 global destinations within two years, the launch of the first version of the app by the summer, and the international expansion of the platform.
In the medium term, the start-up aims to generate over €4 million in revenue by scaling its model to cater to a global traveller base. Hint is also developing collaborations with international partners in the travel and fintech sectors, including Saily and Revolut, with the aim of integrating useful traveller services directly into the app.
“People need people. In an increasingly cold, detached and tech-driven world, we seek the warmth of a community and genuine advice. We all use AI, but we all know how misleading its answers can be. We need a tip from a friend. Our travel buddy is that friend!” adds Galati.
Garavaglia says: “We started out with maps compiled by hand by local people. Today, artificial intelligence is the driving force that will enable us to personalise every journey, whilst preserving the one value that never goes out of fashion – indeed, one that will become increasingly essential: the human touch.”
Ascani says: “I’ve been travelling for over ten years and have known Francesco for just as long. When he told me about the idea for Mr. Franz, I immediately thought it wasn’t just a project worth investing in, but one I wanted to devote myself to wholeheartedly. Today, with AI, we have the opportunity to create the first true digital travel companion for independent travellers.”
Stefano Ceci, a mentor at Mentor Capital and a professor at IULM, who brings many years of experience and innovation in the tourism sector, also sits on Hint’s board in the role of Chief Visionary Officer (CVO).
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