Sea Saffron: what started as a university thesis became an award-winning tour company. Now it is one of the most successful startups in Valencia.
How Sea Saffron was Founded
Young entrepreneur, Eduardo Aguilar, recognised a gap in the market. In a sea of generic tourist activities, he saw the need for something different. Combining his love for his hometown of Valencia, his passion for gastronomy and his aptitude for business models, he launched Sea Saffron in 2017. In its early days, one of Valencia’s most prestigious startup acccelators, Lanzadera, gave the company its start.
Sea Saffron’s USP
When visiting Paris, the likelihood is that you want to visit the Eiffel Tower; however, is there a more unique way to see it? This was Aguilar’s philosophy when curating his tours. He knew that tourists visiting Valencia would want to see the most iconic sights but in a more intimate and authentic way.
The tours are specially designed to include the best of the sightseeing, local gastronomy and a wine-tasting of regional wines. The focus is always on local providers and showcasing the best of the region. And the highlight? The dining experiences take place in exclusive and emblematic venues: Valencia’s Highest Rooftop and the city’s most historic venue, dating back to the 11th Century.
Company Success
Sea Saffron is consistently recognised as the number 1 activity in Valencia on TripAdvisor. This received an accolade last year as the 7th best experience in the whole of Spain, according to TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. GetYourGuide also included them in their Top 3 Experiences in Spain.
Having been primarily focused on only the City of Arts and Sciences, the company was able to open their second venue in 2019 in the heart of Valencia’s Old Town. This allowed the launch of their second product.
Next Steps
Sea Saffron, like many young startups, is responding and adapting to the coronavirus pandemic. They have always been client-focused and have placed utmost importance on their client satisfaction and needs. With that in mind, they are looking to new consumption habits to guide their product development. The future of travel is changing and consumers will be enjoying their trips in new ways. Currently, their team is working hard to improve Branding and Product Development ready for when people are travelling again.
