Travel search firm Skyscanner aiming high
One of the brightest prospects for a global technology firm to grow in Scotland has reported a near doubling of turnover in the past year.
Edinburgh based Skyscanner reported 2013 turnover up by 96% to ?65.8m.
Users of its website and app have doubled, to reach 25 million each month.
Chief Executive, Gareth Williams, said the company is now worth at least $1bn (?612m) and he has plans to keep growing rapidly.
Last October, the firm secured an investment by Sequoia Capital, a leading US technology investment firm, which valued it at $800m (?490m).
Skyscanner runs a search engine for travel and its app has been downloaded more than 30 million times.
Expanded its workforce
The company began in 2003, and focussed on flights. During the past year, it has moved into hotel and car hire searches, buying a Barcelona technology firm, Fogg, to help develop the software.
It has also expanded beyond the European market, with offices in Singapore and Beijing. Its Asian traffic grew last year from 14% of traffic to 20%.
Last year, the company opened an office in Miami, to grow its business in North and South America.
The small team there has seen an 119% increase in monthly visitors, while European monthly visitors to the website were up 64%.
Click 1 to read more.