The visa software course of—lengthy thought of essentially the most dreaded side of worldwide journey—is present process a digital transformation, and on the forefront of this revolution stands Atlys, a startup that has turned bureaucratic nightmares into streamlined digital experiences. What started as a aspect venture born out of private frustration has developed right into a $40 million-funded platform that guarantees to make worldwide journey accessible no matter passport power.
In an unique interview with ETTravelWorld, Atlys Founder and CEO Mohak Nahta shared insights into the corporate’s unconventional development methods, technological improvements, and bold imaginative and prescient to construct “a world with out borders.”
The Private Ache Level That Sparked a Revolution
Nahta’s entrepreneurial journey started in 2021 whereas working as a Software program Engineer at Pinterest. “The thought for Atlys was born out of private frustration,” he remembers. “I used to be a part of a staff planning to go to 5 nations over just a few months. As the one Indian passport holder on the staff, I needed to safe visas for every vacation spot whereas my American colleagues traveled freely.”
The expertise uncovered a obvious inefficiency: regardless of every nation demanding practically an identical paperwork, the method remained repetitive and opaque. “I envisioned an answer the place one may add their paperwork as soon as and turn out to be visa-ready for over 100 nations,” Nahta explains.
Having studied within the US and travelled to over 40 nations, Nahta was no stranger to visa hurdles, however this expertise proved to be the tipping level that led him to launch Atlys as a aspect venture.
Guerrilla Advertising at 30,000 Ft
The early days of Atlys had been marked by artistic, grassroots methods that bordered on the unconventional. Nahta’s most memorable development hack concerned frequent visits to San Francisco’s worldwide airport, sporting a daring T-shirt that learn, “Obtained Questions on Turkey e-Visa.”
“On the time, Turkey had modified its visa guidelines, and most travellers had been completely unaware and confused,” he explains. “I might method passengers ready in traces, chat with them about their journey plans, and stroll them by means of how Atlys may assist.”
The airport technique yielded Atlys its first few hundred customers, although it will definitely backfired. “After too many visits, airport safety grew suspicious and ultimately banned me from coming into the terminal space altogether,” Nahta laughs.
In one other unconventional transfer, Nahta signed up for dozens of Indian and Asian relationship platforms—not for love, however for analysis. “These platforms gave me a direct line into actual conversations with individuals who steadily struggled with visa challenges attributable to passport limitations,” he reveals. This technique proved surprisingly efficient in gathering insights into the emotional and logistical friction travellers confronted.
Know-how because the Nice Equalizer
Central to Atlys’s mission is the idea that know-how can clear up real-world journey bottlenecks. The platform has developed a number of AI-powered options that deal with core issues within the visa software course of.
“Our US visa mock interview bot replicates actual embassy interviews utilizing information from former consulate officers,” Nahta explains. “The Visa Chance Evaluator makes use of machine studying to provide customers a practical success rating based mostly on historic patterns.”
Maybe most spectacular is their AI-driven picture instrument, which eliminates the necessity for studio visits. “90% of customers seize a compliant picture in underneath a minute,” Nahta notes, highlighting the effectivity beneficial properties know-how can carry to historically cumbersome processes.
The platform’s Schengen software expertise exemplifies this method, turning bureaucratic mazes into game-like journeys. “Candidates typically end the method in simply round three minutes, a notable discount from the sometimes drawn-out process,” in accordance with firm information.
Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities Drive Development
One of the vital vital developments Atlys has noticed is the momentum in India’s smaller cities. “Cities like Chandigarh, Surat, Pune, Lucknow, and Jaipur are driving vital development, with software volumes rivaling these of Delhi or Mumbai,” Nahta reveals.
This development displays a broader democratisation of journey aspirations. “World aspirations aren’t confined to metros. Individuals from smaller cities are equally desperate to discover locations,” he observes. Common locations amongst these travellers embody the UAE, Vietnam, and Schengen nations.
“What’s thrilling is that these travellers typically face extra hurdles attributable to restricted entry to dependable visa steerage,” Nahta provides. “Atlys steps in to fill that hole by providing a mobile-first, self-serve expertise with readability, velocity, and transparency.”
Navigating Geopolitical Uncertainty
In an period of visa delays and geopolitical restrictions affecting outbound tourism, Atlys positions itself as a stabilizing pressure. “Geopolitical components and embassy backlogs are past anybody’s management, however the way you navigate them makes all of the distinction,” Nahta explains.
The platform’s predictive engine estimates visa timelines with what the corporate calls “near-clock precision.” Extra importantly, Atlys backs its guarantees with a refund coverage: if an software is delayed or rejected, the corporate returns the visa payment.
“In a high-stakes course of the place uncertainty can wreck journey plans and morale, Atlys presents peace of thoughts,” Nahta emphasizes.
Constructing Belief in a Gray Market
The visa phase has traditionally been suffering from brokers, lack of transparency, and inefficiencies. Atlys is trying to carry moral practices to this house by means of what Nahta calls “integrity-first” method.
“If an software is more likely to be rejected, our system flags it early and does not permit customers to proceed,” he explains. “That saves time, cash, and emotional bandwidth.”
The platform makes use of 256-bit AES encryption and follows GDPR requirements to guard consumer information, whereas empowering customers to deal with their whole visa journey inside a safe, clear app.
The $40 Million Imaginative and prescient
With over $40 million raised from main traders together with Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Elevation Capital, and DST World, Atlys is scaling each product innovation and worldwide enlargement.
The corporate is increasing cross-sell choices like Atlys Hood for insurance coverage, which presents prompt payouts for journey disruptions. “If a flight is delayed or a passport misplaced, we provide prompt payouts or embassy assist inside minutes,” Nahta explains.
Having empowered over 2 million travellers to safe their visas, Atlys is now focussing on markets together with India, the UK, UAE, and past, whereas constructing infrastructure for deeper localisation.
A World With out Borders
Wanting forward, Nahta envisions digital visa options as basic infrastructure for world journey. “Over 60% of nations have already adopted e-visas, with extra asserting plans to transition,” he notes, highlighting the momentum behind digital transformation within the visa house.
“Our imaginative and prescient goes past simply enhancing the visa course of,” Nahta concludes. “We need to assist each single particular person on the planet journey freely. The final word aim is to construct a world with out borders, a world the place your potential is not restricted by your passport.”
As worldwide journey rebounds and digital adoption accelerates, Atlys represents a brand new paradigm the place know-how does not simply make processes quicker—it makes them fairer, giving travellers from all backgrounds equal entry to discover the world.
