By MGSN’s Entrepreneur Team
A Quiet Revolution Behind the Paris Olympics
While the world’s attention was fixed on the spectacle of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a quieter revolution was underway across Europe—one led not by athletes, but by entrepreneurs. At the center of this movement was THINKLYN DEMO EUROPE 2024, a cross-border initiative spearheaded by the KLG Incubator. The program aimed to help portfolio companies build strategic networks and master event-based marketing across Ireland, France, and the UK.
Behind the scenes, a rising travel tech startup, Pillow & Tea, was orchestrating the logistics that made the entire initiative possible. From securing workspaces and accommodations to coordinating real-time transportation and concierge services, the company demonstrated that travel tech isn’t just about movement—it’s about enabling momentum.
“A lot of travel companies fall into the catch-all private car services,” noted one KLG global lawyer. “But Pillow & Tea went far beyond that. They built one of the most tech-savvy logistics and concierge systems we’ve ever seen.”
From Sea to Studio: Ireland’s Aran Islands
One of the most memorable moments of the bootcamp unfolded on the rugged Aran Islands of Ireland. With unpredictable sea conditions threatening to disrupt the event, Pillow & Tea’s proprietary content-based dashboard analyzed weather and tide data in real time.
Once the conditions were deemed safe, the company seamlessly booked ferries and deployed a full vendor team to the island—including historians, videographers, and hospitality partners.
“It wasn’t just about getting there,” explained a THINKLYN content strategist. “It was about creating an experience. We had incredible footage, rich storytelling, and a lunch that felt curated just for us.”
Focus groups praised the seamless coordination and personal touch. “We felt like every step had been thought through,” one participant remarked. “From the ferry to the restaurant, it was smooth, smart, and surprisingly personal.”
Paris in Motion: Navigating the Olympic Surge
In France, Pillow & Tea’s ecosystem proved indispensable. With Olympic crowds overwhelming Paris, the startup provided downloadable apps for navigating the Metro, TGV high-speed trains, and two private car services. Real-time alerts helped participants avoid delays and move efficiently through the city.
“The Paris Olympics were in full swing, and crowd control was tight,” recalled a KLG lawyer. “The ability to jump on a metro or get a car at the last minute thanks to Pillow & Tea’s dashboard saved us from long, hot, uncomfortable delays.”
Beyond transport, Pillow & Tea secured cost-effective rentals for offices, classrooms, and podcast studios—spaces critical for workshops and media production. A highlight was Entrepreneur Day at Station F, Europe’s largest startup campus, fully built out by Pillow & Tea.
“We didn’t know Paris was so endowed with such fantastic work facilities,” said a senior KLG executive. “Pillow & Tea made it all accessible.”
Across the UK: Precision and Flexibility
In the UK, Pillow & Tea replicated its success with precise planning. Knowing the last leg of THINKLYN DEMO coincided with peak tourism in London, the startup’s founder personally attended all preparation workshops to ensure flawless execution.
A standout contribution was the design and execution of integrated focus groups. These sessions combined event-based marketing with new product/service testing—often around concerts and major sporting events.
“The goal of integrating event-based marketing within the focus group experience was a difficult challenge,” said the lead THINKLYN developer. “But Pillow & Tea put the debate to rest. Their blind focus group in Paris was extraordinary, and in London, it was absolutely remarkable.”
Even the sponsors were impressed. A global M&A lawyer praised Pillow & Tea’s meticulous preparation:
“The London studio was phenomenal—exactly to my specifications. The elegant settings for the vegetarian meals were exquisite. Every detail was perfect.”
As one THINKLYN marketing lead summarized:
“It felt effortless. We didn’t have to think about logistics—we just showed up and got to work.”
Alongside the business infrastructure, Pillow & Tea curated tourism experiences and managed last-minute venue changes, proving their model wasn’t just scalable—it was resilient.
A New Standard in Travel Tech
Across three countries and dozens of events, Pillow & Tea transformed logistical complexity into strategic advantage. By combining local expertise with tech innovation, the startup enabled entrepreneurs to focus on growth, storytelling, and connections—without worrying about operational details.
“It was like having a travel team, a tech team, and a hospitality team all rolled into one,” said a THINKLYN focus group participant. “They didn’t just support the bootcamp—they elevated it.”
MGSN Disclaimer
This article was created by a Prompt Engineer who was part of the THINKLYN DEMO EUROPE 2024 development and planning. The Prompt Engineer wrote extensive prompts based on the experience and the experiences of varied participants of the innovative DEMO. AI was used for the structure and concise rewrite of content into the article format.
