Atlys Raises $4.25M to Simplify Visa Applications

Atlys Secures $4.25 Million Seed Funding to Simplify Visa Applications

As international travel resumes, both business and leisure travelers are again facing the complexities of visa restrictions. Applying for a visa is often a frustrating experience, but Atlys aims to alleviate this burden.

The company recently announced a $4.25 million seed funding round, spearheaded by Andreessen Horowitz. This investment round also saw participation from prominent figures including Pinterest co-founders Ben Silbermann and Evan Sharp.

Addressing the Pain Points of Visa Procurement

Atlys highlights that navigating the visa process for different countries can consume up to 13 hours of a traveler’s time. This estimate doesn't even account for the constantly evolving COVID-19 testing and vaccination protocols.

While many business travelers utilize agencies to expedite the process, particularly for frequent applications, Atlys proposes a solution that reduces the application time to approximately five minutes.

The company’s founder, Mohak Nahta, understands these challenges firsthand, having experienced the immigration process himself.

How Atlys Streamlines the Visa Application Process

Travelers can utilize Atlys’ iPhone application to answer a series of questions regarding their travel plans – destination, purpose, and origin, among others – and scan necessary documentation.

The app incorporates intelligent integrations, such as the ability to capture passport photos and conveniently retrieve them from Walgreens (with delivery options available).

Furthermore, it facilitates obtaining signed employment letters from managers via DocuSign.

Pricing and Future Plans

The cost of Atlys’ services varies depending on the origin and destination countries, with a maximum price point of around $50.

Mohak Nahta expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am thrilled to have such an incredible group of investors supporting Atlys and our mission.” He believes their guidance will be instrumental in simplifying travel for everyone.

The newly acquired funding will be allocated towards team expansion and broadening the company’s service coverage to include more country combinations.

Investor Perspective

Sriram Krishnan, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, emphasized the importance of “founder-product fit.” He noted Mohak Nahta’s deep understanding of the visa process, stemming from his personal experience as an immigrant.

Krishnan stated, “The magic of Atlys lies in its ability to connect many disparate systems behind the scenes, while offering a simple, streamlined end-customer experience.”

Atlys aims to connect numerous backend systems to provide a user-friendly experience.