Keeping It Real: Sally Bunnell on the Highs and Lows of Building Travel’s Most Disruptive New Video Platform

Sally Bunnell didn’t step on a plane until she was 20 years old—but she’s been making up for lost time ever since. Born and raised in a tiny town in rural Nebraska (population 700!) to a family of beekeepers, she’s now a full-time digital nomad with 117 countries under her belt and a bold vision for the future of travel. That vision? NaviSavi: a short-form video travel marketplace that’s transforming how people discover, plan, and book travel.

I first met Sally through the Female Founders in Hospitality group (shoutout to founder Nina Kleaveland!), and when we realised we were both based in London, we made plans to meet in person. Over drinks, I was struck by her infectious energy and her blend of creativity, hustle, and vision. Her journey has included incredible highs—and some near breaking points—but Sally’s resilience and ability to adapt have kept NaviSavi moving forward. I was curious to learn more about her entrepreneurial journey and how she’s turning short-form video into a game-changer for the travel industry. Here's herstory…

Tell us about your career path—and how NaviSavi came to be.

I grew up in rural Nebraska, got into radio and sports TV in college, and landed a dream job at The Late Show with David Letterman as assistant to Paul Shaffer. That took me into the music industry, where I worked my way up to running a record label, producing short-form video content that racked up over a billion YouTube views.

But as I traveled more, I saw a disconnect. The glossy, curated travel ads didn’t reflect my actual experiences. I wanted more honest, real-time content—so I came up with the idea for a TV show where real travelers shared video clips of their trips. I pitched it for three years and got rejected over and over. Eventually, I realized it needed to be a platform, not a show. In 2017, NaviSavi was born.

So what is NaviSavi today—and how does it work?

NaviSavi is a short-form video travel marketplace powered by real people. Users upload up to 30-second unedited vertical videos recommending places and experiences. Think FaceTiming a friend from your hotel room or favorite brunch spot.

It’s built on smart tech, including AI that tags and organizes videos by location, activity, and theme. Our AI also helps create custom, visual video itineraries tailored to user interests—making planning intuitive and deeply personal.

We believe creators should be rewarded. Contributors can get paid up front, and if their content is licensed—by airlines, hotels, or media—they earn royalties in perpetuity. It’s an ethical, scalable creator economy built on trust, not algorithms.

Our community is growing fast: over 5,000 creators, more than 150,000 geo-tagged videos, spanning 180+ countries. Even without marketing, we receive 2,000+ new videos weekly. It’s totally organic, and our editorial team ensures it stays authentic—no snark, no filters.

Travelers can search by keyword or destination, build playlists, plan trips, and book—all within the platform. Hotels can upload videos for free, boost direct bookings, and license high-quality UGC through our portal.

And here’s the kicker: UGC performs. Studies show it gets up to 4x more engagement than traditional marketing content. People trust people, and that’s what makes NaviSavi work.

What’s been the biggest challenge as a female founder?

Fundraising, hands down. Until last year, we’d raised under $500K—mostly from friends and family. There were moments I almost shut it all down. TechStars choosing us for their underrepresented founders program changed everything. That $120K gave us breathing room. Then we got a $100K grant from Nebraska, and we hit $200K in sales—before even launching the full platform.

Only 2% of venture funding goes to female founders. I even brought on a male co-founder at one point, just to get into the room. But I didn’t quit. I believe in what we’re building.

What keeps you going through the tough times?

NaviSavi isn’t just a name—it’s how we survive. I’ve always been relentless. I did pitch competitions, partnered with TravelMassive, networked like crazy. I cold-emailed strangers, showed up to every panel, refined my pitch after every ‘no.’

There were times I had nothing—no money, no answers. My team worked for free at times because they believed in this. I’ve sold stock, moved money around to make payroll, and kept going because I knew the industry needed what we were building.

What’s gotten me through? Belief, community, and grit. Female Founders in Hospitality, TechStars, the Nebraska startup scene—they’ve all had my back. If you believe in your idea, keep going. Build fast, talk to your users, evolve constantly.

How are travel professionals using it—especially concierges and advisors?

Concierges and travel advisors love us. They’re using NaviSavi to build playlists for guests—best nearby restaurants, cool local shops, hidden gems. Imagine giving your guests a curated, visual concierge experience that updates in real-time. For travel advisors and travelers, it’s like scrolling a social feed that actually helps you plan.

What’s next for NaviSavi?

We’re about to launch on airplanes, bringing NaviSavi content to in-flight entertainment systems. Travelers will be able to watch short, authentic videos of what to do when they land—restaurant recommendations, hidden hikes, cool hotels—all shot by real people. We’re also licensing destination guides to airlines, and we could be onboard 60+ carriers soon.

Beyond the skies, we’re building out new tools for creators, rolling out more B2B licensing options, and expanding our AI-driven video maps and itinerary builders. The goal? Make NaviSavi the go-to for real, trustworthy, bookable travel content—wherever travelers are discovering it.

What’s the easiest way for hoteliers to get involved?

Simple: pick up your phone, shoot a 30-second vertical video of your rooms, amenities, or views—and upload it. We handle the rest.

You can create custom playlists for guests, share local recs via QR codes at check-in or in-room, and boost bookings through real, authentic content. No algorithm games. No pricey production. Just storytelling that converts.

Head to NaviSaviapp.com to start uploading—or get inspired for your next trip!