Suzanna Chiu

Suzanna Chiu is Head of Amadeus Ventures, the startup investment program of Amadeus IT Group. Amadeus describes the unit as its strategic funding program for investing in early-stage startups focused on the travel industry. The program looks for both strategic value and financial returns, and gives portfolio companies access to Amadeus’ global network, industry know-how and technology.

Chiu joined Amadeus in 2012 and has served as Head of Amadeus Ventures for most of her Amadeus career. Global Corporate Venturing reported that she began at Amadeus as senior manager of strategic planning in 2012 and was appointed to head of ventures in 2014, the year Amadeus Ventures was launched.

Before Amadeus, Chiu worked in management consulting and investment banking. Global Corporate Venturing says she began her career at Accenture in Hong Kong, then worked in investment banking after her MBA in Hong Kong and London. Its 2024 profile says she was a senior manager at Macquarie Capital Group for four years, focused on telecoms and technology M&A, a lead consultant at SESAMi for two years, and a consultant at Accenture for two years.

Chiu holds an MBA from London Business School. Global Corporate Venturing also reports that she studied at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, majoring in statistics with minors in computer science and psychology. She has been included in Global Corporate Venturing’s Powerlist Top 100 for 2019, 2020 and 2021, according to Phocuswright.

• Amadeus Ventures says it invests in early-stage startups focused on the travel industry and looks for “both strategic value and financial returns.”
• The firm looks for startups with “scalable business ideas, solid financial potential and exceptional teams.”
• The target startup should be working on ideas, business models or technologies with potential to disrupt and impact travel, with a crystallized business concept and product prototypes used by trend-setting customers.
• Amadeus Ventures emphasizes close commercial relationships with portfolio companies and alignment with Amadeus strategy, seeking “tight relationships” that create strategic value for both Amadeus and the startup.
• The program’s value proposition is not just capital: portfolio companies can access Amadeus’ global network, industry know-how, technology, selected customer events, startup competitions and internal industry experts.
• Current visible focus areas include AI for travel operations and hospitality, sustainability data and sustainable aviation fuel, mobility, data marketplaces, airline revenue management, airport operations, baggage, and traveler identity.