chatlyn, the AI communication hub transforming how hotels engage with guests across every touchpoint, announced today it has secured $9.3 million in Series A funding led by Smedvig Ventures. The round included participation from AnyDesk founder Andreas Burike, Austrian transport leader Blaguss, business angel Mathias Hiebeler (former owner of Grob aircraft, acquired by Helsing), and strategic hospitality angels. The company also received an innovation grant from the FFG, Austria’s national funding institution for industry-related research and development.
With this investment, chatlyn aims to accelerate its mission to become “the AI brain for hotels”—an intelligent system that supports hotel operations (front desk, reservations, marketing, and guest services) and autonomously optimizes guest communications to maximize revenue and satisfaction.
“Every day, hotels are missing revenue because a guest inquiry comes in at 2 AM and gets lost in the shuffle, or a staff member can’t quickly find the right response in the right language. In today’s world, you lose potential guests when you don’t respond immediately,” said Nicolas Vorsteher, CEO and Co-founder of chatlyn. “We want to bring back meaningful conversations to the hospitality industry and free up staff’s valuable time for in-person guest interactions. We’re building the AI brain for hotels – an AI that understands hospitality context, speaks 35+ languages fluently, and learns each property’s unique voice to deliver experiences that feel both personal and effortless.”
Breakthrough Technology Driving Rapid Adoption
Since launching in late 2022, chatlyn has rapidly scaled to serve over 1,000 properties across 30 countries, including luxury brands like St. Regis Mauritius, Singer Palace Rome, and InterContinental properties. The company recently opened its first Middle East office in Dubai, strengthening its presence in the region’s rapidly growing luxury hospitality market. The platform’s success stems from several industry-first innovations:
- AI-Powered Visual Webchat
- 98% Open Rate Communication
- Comprehensive Channel Integration
- Comprehensive AI Assistant Suite
With deep integrations into 20+ major hotel management systems including Oracle Opera, Protel by Planet, Mews, and Apaleo, chatlyn acts as the central nervous system for hotel operations.
“chatlyn has fundamentally transformed our guest experience from reactive to proactive,” said Garry Loefgen, Head of Commercial at InterContinental Vienna. “Our AI assistant handles over 70% of inquiries instantly in perfect German, English, Arabic, and many other languages, while our team focuses on creating magical moments. It’s like having a multilingual concierge that never sleeps and gets smarter every day.”
“The hospitality sector is experiencing its biggest technological transformation since online booking, and chatlyn has positioned itself at the epicenter of this AI revolution,” said Freddie Kalfayan, Principal at Smedvig Ventures. “Their rapid adoption by premium hotel brands, industry-first AI capabilities, and exceptional founding team convinced us they’re building the platform that will define the future of guest communication. The market opportunity is massive and underserved.”
“This funding represents more than capital – it’s validation of our vision to make every hotel conversation intelligent and connected to relevant operational systems,” said Michael Urbanek, CTO and Co-founder. “Our AI doesn’t just automate responses; it understands context, anticipates needs, and creates those delightful moments that turn first-time guests into lifelong advocates.”
