Our Vision

To make dream trips real for the next generation of travelers. 

At Globe Thrivers, we believe planning for travel should be as authentic, seamless and empowering as the trip itself. So we have created a virtuous cycle of value for all players in the travel space - travelers, travel agents, hotels, creators, and more. And the value is one of a kind: we thoughtfully bridge the latest in smart technology with real people’s travel stories to make every journey more meaningful to you. 

Hey Globe Thrivers

A Note From Our Founder

I’m Shir—traveler, dreamer, and someone who’s happiest exploring new corners of the world. A few years ago, I was living the dream as a travel creator, flying around the globe, immersing myself in different cultures, and meeting the most incredible people. Those trips were unforgettable, but the moments that truly stood out? They were the ones where I ditched the tourist traps, traveled like a local, and felt completely alive.

But here’s the thing: planning those trips was the worst. Seriously, the process was so disjointed and frustrating—bouncing between sites, reels, and spreadsheets just to piece it all together. I knew I wasn’t alone in this; travelers, agents, even hospitality companies were struggling.

Fast forward to my time in Tel Aviv, where I spent a few years building AI-driven businesses. That’s when it hit me: what if I could bring together my love for travel and my tech expertise to create something that actually makes planning easier? That’s how Globe Thrivers was born—a platform built to inspire, simplify, and connect.

But Globe Thrivers is so much more than just a tool; it’s a community. You, the adventurers who thrive on new experiences and chasing the unknown, remind me why I started this. To me, you’re like family—a group of like-minded explorers here to share, inspire, and make travel planning a lot less painful.

My goal is simple: To help you spend less time stressing over logistics and more time living your best life on the road. Let’s make those dream trips happen—and thrive while doing it.

See you out there!


- Shir

Founding Team

A diverse team of industry experts with deep experience in AI, SaaS, consumer, and travel-tech, united by a shared passion for solving travel’s biggest challenges.

  • Shir Ibgui

    Founder & CEO

    6+ years working in tech managing strategic partnerships and business development initiatives and a lifetime of traveling around the world and sharing her recommendations with her network.

    Email - Linkedin - Instagram

  • Josh Knowles

    Head of Engineering

    Independent software engineer with 20+ years working with companies and brands to bring their consumer-facing visions to life. Most recently founding engineer at One Drop, helping define and build the first versions of the entire platform, and growing to over 200 employees.

    LinkedIn

  • Amrita Uttamchandani

    Head of Marketing

    Brand marketer by trade, foodie traveler by passion. With 15+ years of CPG and tech marketing experience, I have helped brands authentically connect with people through inspired storytelling. Nothing fascinates me more than learning about people, their cultures, their feelings, their behaviors. And that's where my professional and personal worlds collide.

  • Melissa Weinstein

    Product Manager

    A Chicago native with over five years in tech, specializing in client onboarding and product management. Outside of work, I'm a travel enthusiast always seeking new adventures.

  • Daniel Botev

    Product Designer

    Swiss designer with 6+ years experience in product design. Co-founder of multi-award winning, lombardy based design studio Temple Design and most recently VP of product design at One Drop. When I’m not working, I’m on the look out for great places to eat at and eating at said place.

  • Rachel Gott

    UX Researcher

    I’m a UX Researcher living in Tel Aviv, and I love working with people to understand their needs, behaviors, and attitudes, as well as how they interact with our app! I gather data from users and collaborate with the product team to turn those insights into user-friendly designs. When I’m not diving into research, you can find me exploring new destinations and fueling my love for travel!

  • Amy Borenstein-Eigner

    Social Media Strategist

    I’m a social media strategist with 7 years of experience in tech and luxury brands. I’m obsessed with travel and experiencing different cultures. I moved to Italy to live that “Under The Tuscan Sun” life.

  • Lola Samiian

    Social Media Manager

    Born and raised right outside NYC. I'm a lover of all things travel and social media. I have been to 45+ cities across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Advisors

  • Robert (Masa) Matsuoka

    Engineering Advsior

    Over 20 years of leadership experience. VP Engineering for Tripadvisor, head consumer product engineering and an org of 250 engineers, also responsible for expansion of global engineering talent.

  • Hillary Paine

    Product Advisor

    Hillary is a San Francisco based product leader who is passionate about building digital products that solve core human needs. In her free time, she loves hiking, running, trying new local restaurants, and traveling to experience a variety of cultures. She is currently the VP Product at Tinder.

  • Nick Reasner

    Strategy Advisor

    Nick Reasner is the Director of Innovation & Customer Experience at Simon Property Group. He is a former 2x founder with one exit and has invented more than 20 patents. He is a travel enthusiast that has been to more than 30 countries!

  • Akta Mehta

    Growth Advisor

    Akta is currently the Head of Strategy for Google Workspace (ex-Microsoft, MBA). She has 13 years of experience in monetization for D2C products - from launching new products, co-founding growth teams, to driving YoY revenue growth for businesses she's worked on. Most importantly, she loves to travel to gain perspective and get immersed in different/new cultures and experiences.