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startup funding

Lola Travel Gets $15 Mil, A+ in Responsiveness, and a Wink

2017-01-12 by Phil Butler

The Lola Travel app

News Kayak founder Paul English has just raised $15 million in funding for his Lola Travel Co. is a shot in the arm for a travel tech industry stagnant since months. According to the news, Lola received a fresh infusion of capital from Charles River Ventures, General Catalyst and Accel.. Here’s a brief snapshot of a new company that says it’s going to provide on-demand, personal service to the world of travelers.

Tags: Accel Partners, AI, funding, General Catalyst Partner, Kayak, Lola Travel', Paul English, startup funding, startup scene, travel startups

buuteeq Gets Another $10 Mil to Make “Right Idea”

2012-10-03 by Phil Butler

buuteeq logo

Online marketing startup buuteeq, which we covered briefly some time back, has just announced having raised another $10 million in funding. The funding round, led by Madrona Venture Group and by Concur, brings buuteeq’s total capital raised to some $17 million thus far. Along with this news, the startup also announced the addition of Concur CEO, Steve Singh and Madrona Partner, and Tim Porter to the company’s board of directors.

Tags: booking solutions, funding round, hotel booking, hotel marketing, startup funding, VC

HouseTrip – A Startup Taking Aim At Travel Alternatives

2011-07-31 by Phil Butler

The HouseTrip landing

TechCrunch reported on a fascinating startup in April, a new take on vacation rentals called HouseTrip. The news back then was about the Swiss startup’s $2.7 million in funding from Index Ventures, but today it looks as if the company is spending the money wisely. Let’s take a look under the hood of what my old friend Steve O’Hear called; “another play in the holiday apartments space.”

Tags: Arnaud Bertrand, Budapest travel, Europe apartments, Europe hotels, Europe OTA's, Europe travel, HomeAway, Kempinski Hotel, Kempinski Hotel Corvinus, Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, Le Méridien Budapest, online travel, startup funding, startups, Stay.com, travel startup, travel tips, travel tools, vacation homes

ChaCha Dances Another Round Around Search

2011-01-25 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Doing the ChaCha

Indianapolis based, real time search service ChaCha has just closed another round of funding. According to the press, the human powered search engine startup gained another $3 million from investors to further expand their mobile product. ChaCha has so far raised a total of $75 in funding since its launch in 2005.

Tags: ChaCha, human powered search, mobile, mobile search, mobile travel, Online business, Qualcomm Ventures, Scott A. Jones, search engine, startup funding, startups, texting travel, travel technology, travel tools, VC

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Why We Embrace AI

At Argophilia, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to bring you the stories that matter. You may notice a certain precision in our data analysis, a specific flair in our visuals, or a rapid turnaround on complex topics. That is no accident—it is the result of our rampant use of artificial intelligence.

We use Gemini to help synthesize data, structure our reporting, and ensure our news remains as sharp as the reality we cover. When it comes to our imagery, we rely on the creative power of Midjourney and NightCafe, unless otherwise noted in our editorial credits.

We are not apologetic for this. In a fast-moving world, these tools allow us to focus on what really counts: investigating the issues, giving a voice to the marginalized, and maintaining the journalistic integrity you expect from us. We see AI not as a replacement for human judgment, but as an engine that amplifies our ability to inform, analyze, and tell the truth about our island and beyond.

We are writers and journalists first—but we are proud to be tech-enabled ones, too.

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Your go-to guide for foraging cretan horta

Stories of Interest

Crete summer storms July 9

Storms May Develop Over Crete’s Mountains This Afternoon

2026-07-09 By Argophilia Travel News

Crete will enjoy warm sunshine today, but afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms may develop over the island’s mountainous interior.

Heraklion greenery plan

Heraklion Promises Greener Future—Residents Still Waiting to See It

2026-07-09 By Victoria Udrea

The Municipality of Heraklion launched a new planting program in mid-April, claiming it will cover the entire city and surrounding villages.

17th Mesara Gastronomy Festival

Mesara’s 17th Gastronomy Festival Heads to Apoini This July

2026-07-09 By Victoria Udrea

Apoini hosts the 17th Mesara Gastronomy Festival on July 30, celebrating Crete’s European Region of Gastronomy 2026 with local flavors and traditions.

The Six Pufferfish Species Found in Greek Waters

2026-07-08 By Mihaela Lica Butler

From the infamous Silver-cheeked Toadfish, whose powerful bite and deadly toxin have made headlines across the Mediterranean, to tiny deep-water species that most swimmers will never encounter, these invasive fish are now part of Greece’s marine life.

spearfishing diver AI illustration

Search Intensifies After Missing Spearfisher’s Gear Found Off Frangokastello

2026-07-08 By Manuel Santos

A Frontex thermal drone and multiple vessels search for a 65-year-old missing spearfisherman in Crete after his gear was found 5 nautical miles offshore.

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