“/>Image Credits: Kathleen Finley/Getty Images
Kolet is a new French startup created by four experienced co-founders in the French tech ecosystem that wants to make it easier to stay connected when you travel. The company has created an interesting strategy to distribute eSIM cards for travel and simplified the experience, as eSIM remains a confusing technology for most people.
Your smartphone in your pocket probably supports virtual eSIM cards. For example, they have been the default option for iPhones sold in the US for several years. That’s why many companies take advantage of this feature to sell temporary eSIM cards with a foreign subscription plan to save on roaming charges.
A few years ago you had to go to a phone shop when you landed and buy a physical SIM card. Thanks to eSIM, the experience is much better — or at least on paper, because the eSIM industry is a bit confusing.
For example, if you’re traveling to Argentina, you might look for the best travel eSIM option before heading to the airport. There are comparison websites like eSIMDB that help you compare plans. But there are so many options that it can be a little difficult to choose an eSIM provider based on a table like this one from eSIMDB:
After choosing a carrier, you usually need to download an app, create an account, pay for the travel plan, and add an eSIM to your phone. As an eSIM provider, you can either show yourself as the cheapest option on comparison websites or differentiate yourself from this crowded market with a different distribution strategy and user experience.
That’s exactly what Kolet plans to do, as the company will partner with other companies in the travel industry so they can promote Kolet on their own services. When you book a hotel room or flight, you usually receive a confirmation email. In this email, the partners will tell you that you can get a free trial Kolet eSIM with a 1GB data plan for the first two days of the trip.
“Our bet is that this industry is going to be key when it comes to democratizing eSIM because the first thing we do when we travel is either book our flight or our hotel,” Airbnb co-founder and CEO told me director of Kolet Eduardo Ronzano.
Eduardo Ronzano previously founded KelDoc, an online calendar and booking solution for hospitals. He then became an important figure in the angel investment scene in Paris, participating in dozens of pre- or seed investments, as you can see on his LinkedIn profile.
Once you’ve installed a Kolet eSIM, you can top up your plan in the app — plans start at €3.99 for 1GB in Europe with a 30-day validity period. Startups have some revenue sharing agreements with partners. Kolet’s first travel partners are the professional travel agency Resaneo and the air ticket booking platform Ulysse.
“What is also special is that we are in the process of creating our own eSIM, which enables us to have one eSIM for every country in the world. So you don’t have to reinstall a new eSIM every time you go to a new country,” said Ronzano.
Image Credits: The coal
Ronzano is joined by Anne-Carol Cohen, who acts as Kolet’s Chief Marketing Officer. She has held the same position at French unicorn Swile, food delivery company Frichti and ride-sharing service Freenow (formerly known as Chauffeur-Privé and Kapten).
Kolet’s CTO Jérémy Gotteland co-founded Cajoo, the short-lived express delivery service that was acquired by its German competitor Flink. Finally, the company’s COO Mehdi Chraibi previously worked at Millicom and Orange.
The company has already raised $5.5 million (€5 million) from venture capital funds Daphni and 9900 Capital. He has also asked some travel industry experts to become advisors to the startup.
The market opportunity is quite clear for Kolet. The company isn’t just competing with other eSIM providers, as many people don’t even know they can get an eSIM when they travel. By partnering with travel companies, these partners can spread the word about Kolet and grow the startup’s user base.
