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Hopper

Category: AI in Fintech

A mobile travel booking app that uses AI and big data to predict flight and hotel prices, advising customers on the best time to buy. Hopper was founded in 2007. The company is led by Frederic Lalonde. Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Team size: \~1,200. Total funding raised: $740M. Latest round: Series G Extension. Key investors include Capital One, GPI Capital, Goldman Sachs, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), OMERS Ventures, Drive Capital.

Founded
2007
Headquarters
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Team size
\~1,200
Total funding
$740M

Value proposition

Helping travelers save money by predicting future prices and offering a suite of flexible, fintech-based travel products.

Products and solutions

Flight Price Prediction & Booking, Hotel Price Prediction & Booking, Car Rentals, Hopper Homes (Short-term home rentals), Fintech Ancillaries (Price Freeze, Cancel for Any Reason, Flight Disruption Guarantee), Hopper Cloud (B2B platform for travel providers)

Unique value

Hopper operates as a 'mobile-only' platform and has evolved from a fare finder into a travel fintech company. A significant portion of its revenue comes from its unique, data-driven financial products rather than just booking commissions.

Target customer

Price-conscious leisure travelers who book their own trips via mobile devices.

Industries served

Travel & Tourism, Fintech

Technology advantage

Proprietary AI and machine learning algorithms built on a massive historical database of flight and hotel prices to provide price predictions with high accuracy. Its B2B Hopper Cloud offering allows other companies to integrate Hopper's technology and content.

How they differentiate

Hopper differentiates through its mobile-only focus, predictive AI for price forecasting ('buy now' or 'wait' recommendations), and a strong emphasis on fintech add-ons that offer users flexibility and price protection, which also serve as a primary revenue source.

Main competitors

Expedia Group, Skyscanner, Google Flights / Kayak

Key partnerships

Capital One (Strategic partnership evolved; Capital One acquired Hopper tech/team for Capital One Travel in Apr 2026, Hopper continues supplying fintech products), RBC (Exclusive partnership to power Avion Rewards travel portal, Mar 2026), Lloyds (Launched Lloyds Travel Booking portal, May 2025), American Airlines, Eden Reforestation Projects, Trip.com

Notable customers

Notable B2B partners for its HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) platform include Capital One, RBC, Lloyds, Trip.com, and Uber.

Major milestones

Achieved unicorn status in 2021 Reached a $5 billion valuation in 2022 Launched Hopper Cloud B2B platform (now HTS) Expanded product line to include hotels, cars, and home rentals Formed strategic partnership with Capital One (2021); Capital One acquired Hopper tech/team for travel portal (2026) Partnered with Lloyds as first UK bank to offer in-app travel booking (May 2025) Partnered with RBC to power Avion Rewards travel portal (Mar 2026) HTS named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in Travel for 2026 Eyes IPO with potential $10B valuation

Growth metrics

Reached $850 million revenue in 2024 (up 21% from $700M in 2023), totaling a $5 billion valuation. The app has over 120 million downloads. Fintech products generate ~40% of revenue. HTS B2B division now accounts for three-fourths of Hopper's business.

Market positioning

Positioned as a global travel platform and B2B travel technology provider (HTS), shifting from consumer app focus to powering travel programs for banks, airlines, and travel providers via AI and fintech solutions.

Geographic focus

North America (US/Canada) and expanding globally via HTS B2B partnerships including UK (Lloyds) and other international markets.

Patents and IP

Specific patents are not publicly detailed, but their core IP lies in their proprietary prediction algorithms and massive structured travel database.

About Frederic Lalonde

Frederic Lalonde is a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong background in the travel technology sector. He is the co-founder and CEO of Hopper, a mobile travel booking app that has gained significant traction and received numerous awards. Before Hopper, he co-founded Newtrade Technologies, which was later acquired by Expedia. During his time at Expedia, he held the position of Vice President of Hotels. He also has experience as a board member for MakeMyTrip. His expertise lies in entrepreneurship, leadership, and travel technology.

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